Back office workforce optimisation specialist EG Solutions plc (LON:EGS) was a top market gainer today, jumping over 20% on news it has won a contract worth £692,000 which will see it supply its eg operational intelligence software to a public sector organisation.
Shares in commercial passenger aircraft leasing company Avation PLC (LON:AVAP) also rose today on the back of an impressive half-year trading update, that saw lease revenues rise 43% year-on-year and pre-tax profits surge 51%.
Oil and gas explorer Gulfsands Petroleum plc (LON:GPX) found support from news it has secured a £4mln financing facility with three of its major shareholders - Waterford Finance & Investment, Blake Holdings and ME Investments.
Chariot Oil & Gas Limited (LON:COPL) advanced on news it has expanded its interests offshore Morocco, snapping up an area close to upcoming drilling activity. The AIM quoted explorer already owns a 10% stake in the Rabat Deep project, where Italian partner ENI plans to drill an exploration well in 2018.
And 88 Energy Limited (LON:88E) benefitted from news it has appointed a rig contractor for the upcoming Icewine-2 appraisal well, which is now confirmed for the second quarter of this year.
Stockbroker WH Ireland thinks investors should keep a close eye on 88 Energy’s Icewine-2 well, with analyst Brendan Long saying: “it looks like it is designed to be mobile and quick to rig-up, handy indeed when the well location is immediately off the main highway.”
But Solo Oil PLC (LON:SOLO) slipped on news it has raised £2mln by placing 400mln shares at 0.5p a pop. The funds will be used to finance the well testing programme at the Ntorya discovery in Tanzania.
Elsewhere, Akers Biosciences (LON:AKR) announced that it has received US patent protection for a cartridge used in wellness monitors that link to mobile phones and tablets.
In the boardroom , Proxama PLC (LON:PROX), the mobile commerce group announced the immediate appointment of Kelvin Harrison as it non-executive chairman, with David Bailey moving to deputy chairman.
In other appointments, WideCells Group PLC (LON:WDC), the stem cell services group, named Alan Greenberg a non-executive director.
Meanwhile, e-Therapeutics (LON:ETX) revealed that Sean Nicolson, the firm’s executive director & company secretary will be leaving in order to focus on other business commitments.