Legal firm Gordon Dadds Group Plc (LON:GOR) gained as it reported a jump in full year revenues and profits in its first set of results since going public last August.
The company said pre-tax profit rose 23.3% to £2.96mln and revenue increased 25.3% to £31.24mln in the year ended March 31, boosted by acquisitions.
The group recommended a final dividend of 4p compared to nil payment last year.
“It has been a year full of activity and one which has produced very satisfying results that enable the board to recommend a final dividend payable to shareholders in September 2018,” said chairman Anthony Edwards.
In afternoon trading, shares were up 6.2% to 172.5p.
Shares in Arc Minerals Limited (LON:ARCM) moved higher after reporting 3mln ounces of gold averaging 2.16grams per tonnes at the Akyanga deposit.
The Akyanga deposit is part of the Casa project, located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The company said that near-term exploration target of a further 200,000 to 600,000 ounces of gold in the Akyanga east area has been set, together with further exploration targets along the 55km gold belt within its 133km² mining licence.
Shares rose 7.4% to 4.3p.
Ergomed shares plummet as it sees revenues missing market forecasts
Ergomed Plc (LON:ERGO) shares tumbled 26% to 175p after saying 2018 revenue is likely to be around 5% lower than market forecasts following delays to the start-up of some contracts.
The company, which provides specialised services to the pharmaceutical sector such as clinical research and drug safety and medical information, also said revenue for the first half is expected to be below management’s projections.
While it continues to invest in products and project personnel, it expects to do this at a reduced rate in the second half.
“It is unfortunate that delays and reductions in scope of a limited number of contracts has resulted in us investing ahead of the curve,” said chief executive Stephen Stamp.
“The business overall is in robust health, as demonstrated by a backlog approaching £100mln, and we are confident 2018 will provide a solid foundation for future growth."
Going the other way, Windar Photonics PLC (LON:WPHO) rallied on the back of distribution deal with Vestas Wind Systems for its wind sensor for use on electricity generating wind turbines.
Under the agreement, Vestas will get certain exclusive rights over the sale and marketing of Windar's 2-beam LiDAR system for specific wind turbine platforms in each individual regional market.
It is primarily directed towards Vestas' multibrand fleet under service.
The 2-beam LiDAR system can increase annual energy production by 1-4% by ensuring a wind turbine is always facing the optimal direction for harnessing the wind.
Shares in Windar shot up 13% to 86p.
Scisys Plc shares higher after making 'impressive start' to 2018
Software company Scisys PLC (LON:SSY) said it made an “impressive start” to 2018 with a record order book and strong cash flows.
Shares in the group rose 10.8% to 158p.
The group said it won notable contracts, including one with Airbus Defence & Space to develop the ground-control infrastructure for the EGNOS satellite-navigation augmentation system.
It added that its 2018 results are expected to be more evenly balanced between the two halves of the year than in 2017, when results were skewed greatly towards the second half.
Anpario PLC (LON:ANP) shares fell 10.4% to 430p after the maker of natural feed additives for animal health said the weaker pound continued to weigh on sales growth in the first six months of this year.
“Latin America has also not been immune to economic problems in certain key countries such as Brazil, Mexico and Argentina where more recently, however there may be signs of some recovery,” chairman Peter Lawrence warned.
Tandem Group slumps as it reports 'difficult' trading after Toys R Us collapse
Tandem Group PLC (LON:TND) slumped after saying trading at the start of the year has been “difficult” following the collapse of major customer Toys R Us in March.
The maker of sports and leisure products said in an annual general meeting statement that revenue in the 25 weeks to June 24 fell 30% compared to the same period a year ago.
National retailer overstocks that were carried forward from the previous year in both toys and outdoor categories have reduced order intake this year, it said.
“The well documented issues in a number of national retailers, most significantly Toys R Us who were one of our top five customers and an outdoor specialist, have also impacted on the sector,” chairman Mervyn Keen said.
“Although the May retail sales numbers showed some improvement, retail sales were weak in the preceding months. Lengthy spells of cold weather and periods of heavy rain coupled with cautious national retailer buying and a lack of confidence in consumer spending was acutely reflected in toy industry data with a significant year to date decline in sales reported.”
Shares fell 20% to 115p.
Pathfinder Minerals PLC (LON:PFP) was also under the cosh after updating ongoing legal battle to restore licensed areas in Mozambique.
The company, which has been trying to reinstate these areas since 2012, has complied and lodged final written submissions with the Mozambique Supreme Court.
Pathfinder said it was “confident in its application and is encouraged by the request for final written submissions, which shows that the court is advancing - albeit slowly - through its process”.
“The length of time it is taking for the Supreme Court to opine on the application for recognition is frustrating for us all,” it said.
Shares dropped 18% to 0.98p.
AorTech and Synairgen rally
AorTech International PLC (LON:AOR) has signed an agreement with RUA Medical for the development and supply of its soft tissue pericardial patch and large bore vascular graft.
In reaction, shares in AorTech jumped 14% to 54p.
AorTech is incorporating biostable medical grade polymer Elast-Eon into certain medical devices to improve their performance.
It said it has appointed RUA Medical as its development and manufacturing partner to “bring the immediate opportunities from this platform technology to market”.
Synairgen PLC (LON:SYN) shares gained after the company published encouraging data from the ongoing Phase II study of its SNG001 drug for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The data suggested the drug is having the desired effect in boosting the antiviral defences of COPD sufferers against getting colds and flus.
Patients inhaling the drug saw a “significantly higher” number of Mx1 and OAS1 antiviral genes, which translated into improvements in lung function and reduced asthma symptoms.
Shares rose 8.4% to 16p.
Other Proactive news headlines:
Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd (LON:FARN) said it plans to file a clinical trial application for Clevegen after a successful study into the safety and efficacy of the cancer treatment. Clevegen showed no toxicologically relevant changes in in any subject in dose escalation studies.
Arc Minerals Limited (LON:ARCM) has reported a 3mln ounce gold mineral resource at the Akyanga Deposit, part of its Casa project, located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kibo Mining PLC (AIM:KIBO) has finalised the joint venture agreement with Mozambique energy company Termoeléctrica de Benga SA regarding the development of the Benga Independent Power Project (BIPP).
Bushveld Minerals Limited (LON:BMN) said it has successfully completed the second phase of the three-phased expansion project at Bushveld Vametco, on time and within budget The AIM-listed firm said this will allow the company to take advantage of the high vanadium price which has persisted in the first half of 2018.
Live Company Group PLC (LON:LVCG) said its subsidiary, Bricklive Touring Limited, has signed a show licence agreement with Oracle Projects International Co. Limited and Live Digital, Inc. Limited to stage and promote its BRICKLIVE Animal Paradise shows.
Cradle Arc PLC (LON:CRA), the owner of the Mowana copper project in Botswana, said in its full-year results, it is encouraged by the long-term pricing fundamentals for copper.
Amur Minerals Corporation (LON:AMC) has reported that RPM Global has completed open pit optimisation analysis of the company’s Ikenskoe/Sobolevsky and Kubuk deposits located within its Kun-Manie mining licence in Russia.
Ariana Resources PLC (LON:AAU) has unveiled a Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) exploration target for its Salinbas gold project in Turkey.
Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas Ltd (LON:ECO, CVE:EOG) has announced the dates for public meetings to discuss its Environmental Clearance Certificate application in Namibia.
Tlou Energy Limited (LON:TLOU, ASX:TOU) said it is currently planning a drilling programme for production wells at its Lesedi coal bed methane (CBM) project to start in the third quarter of this year.
Jersey Oil & Gas PLC (LON:JOG) has told investors that the 3D seismic survey over the P.2170 licence area, which covers the Verbier discovery and Cortina prospect, has been completed. The AIM-quoted firm expects to receive the final imaged data from Petroleum Geo-Services in the first quarter of 2019.
Commercial properties specialist Circle Property PLC (LON:CRC) hailed another successful year, with its net asset value per share rising 25% in the year to the end of March.
StatPro Group PLC (LON:SOG) has appointed Gordon Bloor, as the CEO of its data services divisions, ahead of the firm’s restructuring next year. The AIM-listed provider of cloud-based portfolio analytics and asset pricing services noted that Bloor was previously CEO of Tenfore, a real-time data provider covering both Exchange traded and OTC markets.
Echo Energy PLC (LON:ECHO), the South and Central American focused upstream gas company, has appointed Shore Capital Stockbrokers Limited as its joint corporate broker with immediate effect. The firm said Shore Capital will work alongside Smith & Williamson Corporate Finance Limited and Hannam & Partners as the company's nominated adviser and joint broker respectively.
Metal Tiger PLC (LON:MTR), the AIM-listed investor in strategic natural resource opportunities, yesterday announced that Alastair Middleton had resigned from his position as Technical Director with immediate effect. The group said Middleton resigned to pursue other interests.
i3 Energy PLC (LON:I3E), the independent oil and gas company with assets and operations in the UK, announced that a copy of its new corporate presentation is now available on the company's website.