As the large caps rose on Friday, the biggest gainers came from the world of the small caps.
Petroceltic’s (LON:PCI) shares rallied after major shareholder Worldview Capital is mulling a full cash take over approach for the oil and gas producer.
The AIM company kicked off a strategic review in December, and said it would consider asset sales or the sale of the entire company.
Also higher wasMobile Streams (LON:MOS) is pushing ahead with its move away from Argentina after annual revenues were again affected by the slide in the value of the peso.
The new government relaxed currency controls soon after coming to power last year.
As a result revenues at the app store specialist dropped to £8.1mln (£18.5mln) in 2015, with a small underlying loss now expected for the year compared to a profit of £313,000.
Staying in the tech space, StatPro (LON:SOG) has bought a US cloud-based risk analytics firm Investor Analytics in a move, which significantly enhances the group's presence in America and is set to be earnings enhancing in 2016.
StatPro will pay US$10mln in cash and a possible further up to US$6 million, payable after one year, dependent on new contract wins.
In mining news, new pit designs at Condor Gold’s (LON:CNR) La India gold project in Nicaragua have boosted its potential value by more than 50%.
The study, by renowned mine design consulting group Whittle, was completed last year but the results were unable to be released due to Condor’s strategic review and sale plans.
Elsewhere, Pantheon Resources (LON:PANR) is expecting to start commercial production from the VOBM-1 well, in east Texas, by the end of the first quarter.
The AIM quoted company told investors that its joint venture is currently in negotiations with nearby natural gas plants, and sealing such arrangements represent the final step in bringing the well online.
Fertiliser trader African Potash (LON:AFPO) said it recently met with the president of Uganda to discuss potential opportunities for co-operation.
Executive chairman Chris Cleverly and director Lord Peter Hain, former UK cabinet minister, met with His Excellency Yoweri Museveni and a delegation of officials in Kampala, to discuss potential opportunities to develop a fertiliser industry in Uganda to enhance the local agriculture sector.
Moving to the oil sector, Northern Petroleum (LON:NOP) completed the acquisition of producing oil and gas assets onshore Canada.
The deal means group production now stands at around 200 barrels of oil equivalent per day, comprising around 80 barrels of oil.
Providence Resources (LON:PVR) is to receive new 3D seismic data for its Newgrange exploration project, off Ireland’s west coast.
Searcher Seismic is conducting a large new multi-client 3D programme, scheduled for this summer, covering the southern Porcupine & Goban Spur Basins.
Finally, Windar Photonics (LON:WPHO) told investors that it realised revenues within its previously downgraded guidance.
Revenue for the twelve months ended December 31 amounted to €950,000.