Low-cost currency provider FairFX Group Plc (LON:FFX) enjoyed its best ever week last week thanks to heightened trading activity amid the UK’s EU referendum vote.
Revenues were 30% better than its previous record week, which was back in July 2015, and was up over 50% on the corresponding week in 2015. The foreign exchange trading firm also highlighted that its exchange platform and IT systems remained fully operational, while some of its peers weren’t accepting business.
“Our infrastructure enabled us to carry on providing our services to customers through the whole process,” said chief executive Ian Strafford-Taylor.
Allergy Therapeutics plc (LON:AGY) said it will take a new approach to finding the optimal dose for its grass pollen inoculation ahead of phase III clinical trials in the US. The dose ranging study, called G204, failed to find the optimal quantity of GrassMATAMPL required.
As a result it will use the process deployed during research on its Pollinex Quattro Birch product.
The next dose range study is planned to start next year with Allergy waiting until it hears the outcome of what’s called an End of Phase II meeting with the US Food & Drug Administration.
SalvaRx PLC (LON:SALV) chief executive Ian Walters called 2015 a “transformative year” – one which the business evolved to focus on the life sciences. His comments were made as the company posted results for the year December 31; figures that weren’t particularly reflective of the company’s state today.
The statement mainly tracked its metamorphosis from the company’s former incarnation as 3Legs, the oil company-turned-cash shell.
Akers Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:AKER, LON:AKR) has signed up its first distribution agreement for BreathScan OxiChek, a device that monitors oxidative stress in the body.
The deal is with Aero-Med, a division of American Fortune 500 healthcare services group Cardinal Health, and a roll-out will start with a team focussing on the New England region of the United States.
Aero-Med is expected to target large US markets; for example anti-aging, functional and integrative health and wellness treatment.
GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ:GWPH, LON:GWP) rose in Monday’s early deals after the cannabis based medicines company revealed positive results from a Phase 3 trial.
The successful trial was for a potential treatment of Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, a rare and severe type of childhood onset epilepsy.
In the trial Epidiolex, the drug, was given as an adjunct treatment to patients over a fourteen week period. The drug achieved the trials primary endpoint, which was to show a significant reduction in the monthly frequency of drop seizures compared to a placebo.
In the mining sector, Shanta Gold Limited (LON:SHG) has reached another milestone - kicking off its underground project at the New Luika gold mine after receiving all necessary approvals.
Development to begin mining at the underground project has now started in Tanzania, the firm told investors.
Chief executive Toby Bradbury said: "The start of the underground development is a major milestone for New Luika as it provides on-going long term access to high grade resources in the Bauhinia Creek and Luika deposits for at least the next five years.
"We are particularly grateful for the constructive and timely assistance of the Tanzanian authorities in the processing of the company's permits."
Mariana Resources Ltd (LON:MARL) took a further step to de-risk the Hot Maden gold-copper-zinc project in Turkey - engaging a consultant to produce a preliminary economic assessment (PEA).
RungePincockMinarco (RPM) will undertake the report, which will be NI 43-101 compliant and currently scheduled to be completed in late-Q3/early Q4 2016.
Galileo Resources PLC (LON:GLR) has executed the previously announced earn-in deal with Orogen Gold PLC (LON:ORE) over the Silverton gold-silver property in Nevada. The latter has the right to earn an initial 51% interest over the 6 sq km claim area through spending US$400,000 on exploration over 18 months.
Galileo executive director: "Andrew Sarosi, executive director, said: "We are pleased to have concluded this agreement with Orogen, which allows for an outside party to fund the exploration of Silverton.
Oil juniors Solo Oil PLC (LON:SOLO) and Aminex plc (LON:AEX) have confirmed an extension to the Mtwara Licence, of the Ruvuma PSA in Tanzania, as the group advances plans to drill an appraisal well on the Ntorya discovery.
In stock market statements the companies’ told investors that the expiry of the Mtwara licence, which had been due in December, had now be extended by a further year.
The Ntorya gas condensate discovery is located within Mtwara, and the drilling of the planned Ntorya-2 well will satisfy the partners’ drilling commitments under the licence terms. Thereafter, assuming operations go to plan, the partners can apply for a 25 year development licence for the Ntorya discovery.
Europa Oil & Gas Holdings Plc (LON:EOG) has secured an extension for the PEDL 143 licence, in Southern England, which is host to the Holmwood exploration project. Extending the licence to October 1 2018 allows a proposed drill programme to go ahead, the company highlighted.
Europa has a 32.5% stake in Holmwood and is the operator of the venture, which also includes partners Egdon Resources Plc (LON:EDR) with 18%, UK Oil & Gas Investments Plc (LON:UKOG) with 30% and Union Jack Oil PLC (LON:UJO) with 7.5%.
Hugh Mackay, Europa chief executive, said: “The licence extension was necessary to drill the 5.6mmbo Holmwood prospect in late 2016 / H1 2017.”
Highlands Natural Resources Plc (LON:HNR) has provided investors with the executive summary of a new competent persons report for the Helios Two helium and gas project in Montana.
RPS Knowledge Reservoir was hired to produce the document, which details prospective resource estimates and an indicative valuation of US$341mln for the project.
Elsewhere, plastics specialist Symphony Environmental Technologies plc (LON:SYM) said the UK’s decision to leave the EU on Friday will not adversely affect the business and the group was on track to meet market expectations.
As exporters, it said a weaker pound was beneficial for the business, as it helps to make its products more competitive in the international markets. It said it did not anticipate any negative effect on its current trade as it was not materially exposed to any changes in the UK or indeed European economies.
Biome Technologies PLC (LON:BIOM) shares slumped over 22% in early deals as it warned its full year performance would be below market expectations.
Group revenues for the mid-year point (June 30) are expected to be £2.2mln compared to £2.1mln in the same period of 2015. "Whilst this revenue is marginally ahead of last year's performance, it is below that of the board's expectations.
"This shortfall is due to a reduced demand for already commercialised products in the Bioplastics Division and some slippage of the Stanelco RF's division's order pipeline into the second half," the firm told investors.
Life sciences group Ergomed Plc (LON:ERGO) said its fast-growing subsidiary PrimeVigilance is opening an office in Boston next month. The business, which posted a 47% increase in revenues last year, specialises in pharmacovigilance, which is the process of monitoring the effects of medicines once they have been licensed.