Online payments processor Optimal Payment (LON:OPAY) lost about 10% after saying it would investigate claims there had been a possible data breach between 2011 and 2012. It also acknowledged its security had been compromised in 2009 and 2010.
If it has been tough time for TalkTalk and Optimal Payments, things were conversely looking up for a number of AIM firms specialising in cyber security.
IP Plus (LON:IPP), a secure payment specialist, reckons it will be a beneficiary of a tightening of security in the wake of high profile hack attacks.
Others likely to be given a boost include Eckoh (LON:ECK) and Falanx (LON:FLX), which have seen positive momentum in their respective share prices in recent weeks.
Strat Aero (LON:AERO), a company offering UAV or ‘drone’ based services, soared after winning new business. Through a deal worth at least £1.3mln it is to provide services to a civil engineering contractor for Anglian Water over a five year period.
Online video monetisation group Rightster (LON:RSTR) gained as much as 20% after its new management team was well received by investors.
Servision (LON:SEV), up 11% this morning, agreed a long term supply deal with a major global logistics group for its CCTV security systems.
In the natural resources sector Falkland Oil & Gas (LON:FOGL) was a notable loser, falling about 30% at one point, after it made a new discovery which was deemed uncommercial.
With contrasting fortunes, onshore driller Pantheon (LON:PANR) rose strongly after it had a very positive result in Texas, where it appears to have tapped a sweet-spot in the Eagle Ford shale.
In Louisiana, meanwhile, Andrew Bell’s Red Rock (LON:RRR) is teaming up with Randy Connally’s Northcote (LON:NCT) at the Shoats Creek field, following a deal on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, it was another encouraging week for African Potash (LON:AFPO), up as much as 28%, after hiring soon-to-be Labour peer Peter Hain to its board and securing another significant deal; this time with Ecobank Malawi which will guarantee payments from a series of recent supply deals.