We kick today’s round-up with a certain energy, a gusto (of wind), as, while retailers may be complaining about the weather, utility company SSE (LON:SSE) said heavy rains and winds gave its renewable energy operations a boost.
Elsewhere in the energy sector, Ophir Energy (LON:OPHR) finalised commercial terms with a short-listed group of possible off-take partners for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) production from the Fortuna project.
It says the total requested demand for LNG exceeds the available off-take from Fortuna.
Meanwhile, Xcite Energy (LON:XEL) has agreed a new partnership with Azinor Catalyst for its UKCS Licence P.1979, its exploration acreage.
In oil, Nigeria-focused oil group Canadian Overseas Petroleum (LON:COPL CVE:XOP) ended its third quarter with cash of around US$3.5mln.
In other oil, DekelOil’s (LON:DKL) has won a new City fan in the form of the small-cap specialist Miton Group, run by top stock-picker Gervais Williams, which has taken a 3.35% stake in the palm oil specialist.
From oilers to miners, and Jubilee Platinum (LON:JLP) remains committed to the platinum business despite the recent weakness in the price of the precious metal.
The group recently sold its smelting and power generating operations in South Africa and is now fully focused on bringing its platinum tailings projects at ASA’s Dilikong chrome mine and with chrome group Hernic on stream.
In other precious metal news, Gold producer Stratex International (LON:STI) could be a step closer to receiving royalty payments after its former joint venture partner, Centerra Gold (TSX:CG.), cleared a major hurdle on its 1.2mln ounce (Moz) Öksüt gold project in Turkey.
Elsewhere, Kefi Minerals (LON:KEFI) has confirmed the Ethiopian government is to take a 20-25% stake its Tulu Kapi gold project in return for an investment of between US$15-20mln.
This is in addition to the government’s existing 5% carried interest, the company said.
Away from the gold, Michael Masterman has once again put his money where his mouth is by investing significant money into the company he chairs, W Resources (LON:WRES).
Masterman stumped up £75,000 as part of a wider £600,000 fund-raising announced on 5th November.
In the pharma space, Motif Bio (LON: MTFB) has agreed with regulators what it must submit to gain European Union regulatory approval for iclaprim, its next-generation antibiotic.
It has received written scientific advice from the Medicines Evaluation Board (MEB) in the Netherlands stating its phase-III studies on the treatment, plus microbiological data, should be filed for scrutiny.
Finally, the transformation of Real Good Food (LON:RGD) moved on apace in the first half of its financial year, with the company moving into the black.