GoTech Group PLC (LON:GOT) climbed on news of a possible pilot with the National Health Service in 200 schools to assess the impact of its skills2achieve programme tackling childhood obesity.
Sportsdata, a subsidiary of GoTech, will work with the NHS to develop evidence based and associated case study material for S2A, a programme that has been developed in partnership the Youth Sport Trust charity.
GoTech said 70% of the schools in the proposed pilot would be in areas of deprivation.
The company added it is hopeful of being able to finalise the terms of the pilot with the NHS by the end of June and in time for the start of the 2017/2018 academic year.
Shares rose 15% to 3.15p.
North River Resources PLC (LON:NRRP) slumped as it proposed to delist from AIM, which with 77% of shareholders already committed to vote in favour at a general meeting looks set to go ahead on 17 March.
Shares tumbled 62% to 3.60p.
PCG Entertainment Plc (LON:PCGE) shares jumped by 60% to 0.232p as a placing of a major stake in the online media group was completed.
In total, 30.06% of PCG’s share capital changed hands with a final chunk of 100.5mln (7.51%) being sold by Beaufort Securities.
The vast majority of the shares were those issued when PCG acquired Center Point Development, but this business has now been sold on following a dispute between CPD’s vendors and its main supplier that proved impossible to resolve.
PCG itself will receive around £420,000 following the share sales.
12.45pm...Vernalis under the weather as losses rise
Vernalis plc (LON:VER) caught a cold as sales of its new prescription treatment Tuzistra (R) XR came in shy of expectations.
Sales of the cough/cold drug were US$800,000 (US$600,000) in the half year to December, though the number of prescriptions rose six-fold.
Overall group sales fell to £5.6mln (£6.1mln). Royalties from Frovatriptan dipped 7% to £1.5mln as generic competition resulted in lower prices for the migraine headache treatment.
Losses rose to £11mln (£10.2mln) with cash in the bank of £74mln.
Ian Garland, chief executive, said: "Midway through the 2016/17 cough cold season we have seen Tuzistra(R) XR prescriptions continue to grow steadily.
“We believe the emergence of high performing sales representatives in all regions across the US validates the market potential for Tuzistra(R) XR.
Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd (LON:FOG, CVE:FO) rocketed higher on news it is to receive C$600,000 from the exercise of share option held by chief executive Philip O’Quigley.
The Falcon boss is exercising 6mln options which were due to expire at the end of April, and he pays a strike price of ten Canadian cents per share.
Falcon has a shale gas play in Australia and South Africa.
Shares rose 17% to 17.6p.
9.00am ...Lighthouse shines as profits double
Lighthouse Group PLC (LON:LGT) was an early winner with a reminder of what a good business wealth management is despite recent changes by the regulators.
Profit before tax in 2016 rose by 119% to £1.9mln (2015:£0.9mln) with revenues per adviser up 6% to £99,000.
“The increase in average annualised revenue per adviser and change in revenue mix towards higher margin divisions largely offset the impact of the removal of platform-based trail income, said chairman Richard Last.
Shares rose 14% to 14.4p.
Shares in Grafenia Plc (LON:GRA) tanked on another profit warning.
The web and print supplies group indicated full year earnings will be “significantly behind” market expectations due to much lower than anticipated print volumes in January and early February an fierce price competition.
Shares crumbled 21% to 6p.
Telematics group Trakm8 Holdings PLC (LON:TRAK) also disappointed with a warning that while its in-vehicle user base has grown to 190,000 units, the switch to pay-as –you –go instead of licences has hit short-term revenues.
John Watkins, executive chairman, said: "We continue to be frustrated by the timing of new order wins and it is very disappointing that we have to substantially reduce expectations for this financial year despite having a very strong pipeline.”
Investors kicked the tyres and knocked the shares down by 32% to 74.6p.
Proactive news headlines
FairFX PLC (LON:FFX), the currency specialist, said customers can now make same-day payments directly into mainland China.
The latest development now makes FairFX one of the few providers capable of facilitating multi-currency transactions, including Renminbi, into China for personal as well as business payments.
Shares eased 0.7p to 42p.
Abzena plc (LON:ABZA) revenues were in line with expectations, buoyed by the UK (shares off 3% to 38.3p).
mporium Group PLC (LON:MPM) to showcase its IMPACT product to City audience. Shares up 3%
Eland Oil & Gas PLC (LON:ELA) was up 7% to 49.3p as production in Nigeria hit 150,000 barrels of oil since operations started in late January.
Copper junior Asiamet Resources Ltd’s (LON:ARS) chief executive Tony Manini is to become executive chairman with Peter Bird joining the board as chief executive. Shares were unchanged at 5.01p.
Miner Vast Resources PLC (LON:VAST) revealed significant operational improvements in the quarter to December. In spite of severe weather in Romania, the company’s Manaila mine increased production of copper concentrate by 44% to 889 tonnes at an average grade of 19.5%.
Zinc concentrate production increased by 371% to 165 tonnes and the shares rose by 10% to 0.645p.
Bacanora Minerals Ltd (LON:BCN) rose 5% to 81.2p as it acquired a 50% stake in the Zinnwald lithium deposit n Germany. Company has option to acquire all of the licence in two years for €30mln on top of €10mln including a contribution to a feasibility study.