This book covers announcements issued through the London Stock Exchange by companies with a full stock market listing or whose shares are quoted on the Alternative Investment Market, which is also part of the LSE. Almost all these announcements, such as annual results, share buying by directors, profit warnings and updates on current trading are required under stock exchange rules or European Union directives. Foreign-based companies that have chosen to have their shares traded in London must abide by the same rules. Almost all these announcements, such as annual results, share buying by directors, profit warnings and updates on current trading are required under stock exchange rules or European Union directives. Foreign-based companies that have chosen to have their shares traded in London must abide by the same rules. The book is divided into three sections: Section A looks at what the rules are, why they have been imposed and how they have evolved to give private investors a much fairer opportunity of competing with professional investors. Section B lists and explains the routine statements that all companies issue on a regular basis: trading statements and profit figures. It tells investors what to look for, explains company jargon and shows how to read between the lines when all is not as well as it seems. Section C considers important announcements, such as profit warnings and directors' share dealings, that are issued on an irregular basis as they arise. It explains which announcements are likely to affect the share price and why. The book is packed full of actual stock market announcements illustrating each point and is for all those baffled shareholders who throw communications from their companies straight into the bin and any investors who read company pronouncements but naively take everything they see at face value.