FTSE100 managed to close in positive territory on Thursday but it was a different story for the junior market.
FTSE AIM 100 - the biggest AIM stocks - finished 1.34% down at 3,307 and the AIM All share closed 0.61% off at 705.930..
It was a topsy turvey day with FTSE100 finishing up as it had started the day, buoyed by the Budget, but then fell back after the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street kept UK interest rates unchanged for the 84th month in a row.
FTSE100 closed around 13 higher at 6,188.
Pathfinder Minerals PLC (LON:PFP) was London's biggest gainer, forging over 143% ahead to 2.25p after it raised £200,000 through the issue of shares at 0.8325p each.
Half of the shares issued were taken by Nick Trew, the company's chief executive officer.
Meanwhile, 88 Energy ltd (LON:88E) shares were also higher - by the tune of over 25% to 3.85p after issuing equity, although in its case the rise was down to the Alaska-based oil group completing phase one of its Icewine project.
“Icewine #1 cored a new kind of hybrid resource play that appears to have numerous similarities to reservoirs known as Low-Contrast Low-Resistivity (LCLR), or Low Contrast Pay (LCP),” the company said.
Software company Sopheon PLC (LON:SPE) was 'there or there abouts' all day and topped expectations with its full-year results, prompting a rise of over 35% to 97p, as the company, which helps companies with product innovation, moved firmly into the black at the pre-tax level, while underlying earnings (EBITDA) more than tripled.
Full-year results from EnQuest PLC (LON:ENQ) were also well-received.
Shares jumped 22.41% to 17.75p as it revealed production averaged 36,567 barrels of oil equivalent per day, which was not only up 31% on 2014 but also above the top end of the company's guidance range.
Brokers queued up to applaud the definitive feasibility study (DFS) for potash mine developer Sirius Minerals PLC's (LON:SXX) giant polyhalite project in Yorkshire, but the share price still declined over 26% to 16.75p in the market.
The DFS ascribed a net present value of US$15bn using a 10% discount rate, which was massively higher than Liberum Capital's estimate of $4.6bn.
Gulf Keystone Petroleum Limited (LON:GKP) was a notable laggard, falling 20.75% to 9.51p as it unveiled a loss after tax of $135mln, which was at least narrower than the 2014 loss of $248.2mln.
On FTSE100 big cap miners were the gainers - with Fresnillo (LON:FRES) the biggest gainer, ahead by 9.99% to 1,007p.