Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are not the sort of investments to get the pulses racing, but then a racing pulse can stop you sleeping at night …
LXB Retail Properties PLC (LON:LXB) was up almost 15% at 22.5p after releasing its full-year results.
Net asset value per share was 29.52p, so it is small wonder the shares headed up towards that level.
A number of small stocks have been wanted today after announcing contract wins, among them PCI Pal (LON:PCIP), which calls itself a customer engagement specialist.
That makes it sound like a marriage bureau, and the fact that it also says it is focused on “secure payment solutions” just makes the whole operation sound even more suspicious; think “telemarketing”, however, and you'll be in the right area.
The company has won a further major reseller contract and two new UK local Government contracts in November 2017, through its partnership with global cloud contact centre telephony provider, 8x8 Inc.
The shares rose 6.8% to 54.5p on the news.
Strat Aero's to continue droning on; Collagen comforted by balance sheet strength
Strat Aero PLC (LON:AERO), the poster boy for volatile shares, was at it again today, plunging on a strategy and financing update.
The unmanned drones specialist saw its shares crash and burn (again) as it raised £590,000 through a placing of shares at 0.035p a share.
The shares fell 0.01p to 0.375p. Down 87% year-to-date.
There will also be an open offer so existing shareholders can buy shares on the same terms.
Funds raised will be used for working capital, to develop the business and maybe finance strategic investments in complementary businesses.
Collagen Solutions PLC (LON:COS), the supplier, developer and manufacturer of medical-grade collagen and tissue components, fell 0.5p to 3.125p after it revealed half-year losses had widened.
It made a pre-tax loss of £1.38mln in the six months ended 30 September versus a loss the year before of £0.98mln.
On the plus side, Collagen is well financed with £6.74mln in the bank at the period-end.
“The board remains confident of the company increasing shareholder value over the long term whilst mindful of revenue timing with some customers over the next period,” said chief executive Jamal Rushdy.
Israeli technology companies the flavour of the morning
The share price of TechFinancials Inc (LON:TECH) was in the march again today, on the back of zero news flow.
The shares, up 14% this morning, have almost tripled in the last week, though fans of the stock on the message boards are counting the days down to the launch of its blockchain-based diamond exchange.
READ TechFinancials to provide funding for blockchain-based diamond exchange
According to Cedex.com there are just over 38 days to go before the CEDEX token pre-sale starts.
“Interest in crytocurrencies has been massive for a while and there are a few companies in the listed sphere.” noted one such message board lurker, Tomboyb.
Introducing #CEDEX! https://t.co/TlCa8j7ZmK #diamond #investment #exchange
— Cedex (@Cedex56082561) November 27, 2017
On 23 November, the shares closed at 6.75p; the day after, the company announced the sale of two subsidiaries for US$400,000, since when the shares have been off like a rocket, rising to 29.5p this morning.
Who needs to invest in diamonds with share price accumulation like that?
Another Israeli software company, the unpromisingly named Albert Technologies Ltd (LON:ALB), was also in demand this morning as it announced it would exit from its indirect business to concentrate on its software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering.
The marketing platform provider, formerly known as Adgorithms, saw its shares rise 15% to 24.75p said its SaaS business continued to grow rapidly with new contract wins and increased pipeline activity.
“We expect to generate SaaS revenues of at least US$1.7m for the year ended 31 December 2017, having achieved an annualised run-rate of over US$3m in the final quarter to date. This revenue performance is ahead of our initial expectations for 2017 and represents a 9x increase over the previous year,” the company said.
Amphion Innovations and Herencia Resources top the tree
There was a bit of hasty adjustment by market makers to the bid/offer spread for Amphion Innovations Plc (LON:AMP) after a promissory note holder converted the notes into shares at an assumed price of 8p a pop.
As the shares were quoted at 1.37p overnight, it is small wonder the shares were bumped up to 1.77p, for a 29% rise.
The company issued 1.66mln, representing 0.8% of the enlarged share capital, to the loan note holder.
Amphion's rise was topped by Herencia Resources PLC (LON:HER), however, on news that the company's copper drilling programme had commenced in Chile.
The shares shot up 39% to 0.09p, and are up more than 440% year-to-date. Despite that, the shares are still down 86% over the last five years.
Proactive news headlines:
Amphion Innovations Plc (LON:AMP), the developer of medical, life science, and technology businesses, has received £133,173 through the conversion of promissory notes. The company issued 1.66mln shares, representing 0.8% of the enlarged share capital, to the loan note holder. The notes were converted at a price of 8p per share, prompting market makers to bump up the Amphion share price from 1.37p overnight to 1.85p.
Mporium Group PLC (LON:MPM) technology-led digital agency, Fast Web Media (FWM), has bagged a seven-figure contract - its largest ever contract win - with a FTSE 100 company.
Specialist bank PCF Group Plc (LON:PCF) kept up its record of springing pleasant surprises, releasing full-year results that were ahead of expectations.
Collagen Solutions PLC (LON:COS) it had made good progress in the first half “advancing and improving” its sales pipeline. The supplier, developer and manufacturer of medical-grade collagen and tissue components said it closed eight new deals compared with two in the same period last year.
Project management consultancy WYG PLC (LON:WYG) continues to expect a stronger second half after an admittedly disappointing first half of the current financial year.
Life sciences group OptiBiotix Health plc (LON:OPTI) is recruiting a food industry heavy hitter to the role of chairman. Former Express Dairies and Arla Foods chief executive Neil Davidson will take over from Adam Reynolds next month.
Satellite Solutions Worldwide Group PLC (LON:SAT) has landed a new commercial deal with a Europe-focused broadband operation. The sales and marketing agreement, with a joint venture between Viasat Inc and Eutelsat Communications, is described as a ‘first step toward building a retail consumer broadband business across Europe’.
Driver monitoring software specialist Seeing Machines Limited (LON:SEE) is to raise more than £30mln to beef up its R&D and product development programmes as momentum builds behind driverless cars.
Metal Tiger PLC (LON:MTR) is urging shareholders of Kingsgate Consolidated (ASX:KCN) to replace five directors in an upcoming extraordinary meeting. Metal Tiger argues that the strategy of the current board is not in the best interests of shareholders, as Kingsgate is mired in litigation and burning cash. Metal Tiger holds 6.7% of Kingsgate.
Rainbow Rare Earths Limited (LON:RBW) has mined and shipped its first concentrate from the Gakara mine in Burundi. The company is now the highest grade producer of rare earths in the world, and the only producer with an asset in Africa. The plan is to ramp up to production of 5,000 tonnes per year.