Biome Technologies PLC (LON:BIOM) was an afternoon gainer, adding 13% at 515p as it swung to a first-half profit after revenue increased strongly at its radio frequency (RF) technology business.
For the six months to the end of June, the AIM-listed firm reported a pre-tax profit of £216,000, against a loss of £219,000 for the same period a year earlier, as revenue rose to £4.4mln from £3.0mln.
The group said revenue was boosted by "exceptional" growth in the Stanleco RF Technologies division, which saw sales double to £3.5mln from £1.7mln.
Also on the up after results was Gamma Communications PLC (LON:GAMA) which gained 6.6% at 910p after it said it looks forward "enthusiastically" as first-half profit grew thanks to improved products sales.
The communications services provider saw its pre-tax profit increase to £15.5mln in the six months to the end of June, up from £12.1mln a year earlier, as revenue climbed 18% to £137.6mln from £116.3mln.
Gamma also upped its interim dividend by 11% to 3.1p per share, up from the 2.8p paid the year before.
And big data software company, Rosslyn Data Technologies PLC (LON:RDT) rose 12.4% to 7.25p on news it has won a data analytics contract worth more than US$650,000 with an unnamed high profile global defence, aerospace and security company.
The contract covers a three-year period with US$250,000 to be billed in the first year and US$200,000 a year in subsequent years.
12.30pm: EU Supply up on new contract with EU-funded aid organisation
EU Supply PLC (LON:EUSP) was in demand at lunchtime, adding 14.3% at 12.00p as the e-procurement software provider, revealed a new contract with a European Union-funded aid organisation.
In a brief statement, the AIM-listed firm said the contract is for delivery of its CTM product as SaaS and related services, and is expected to generate revenues of £110,000 over three years, including integrations.
ECR Minerals PLC (LON:ECR) was also a big gainer, adding 12.6% at 0.94p, as the miner confirmed the potential for a “significant gold discovery” at its Blue Moon prospect in Central Victoria, Australia.
In July, ECR told investors it was carrying out a technical review of the project after results from an initial drilling campaign provided “evidence of a significant near surface gold system”.
The review has backed up that earlier theory and suggested that there could be higher grade mineralisation a bit further below the surface, similar to the nearby 1mln ounce Fosterville mine.
Meanwhile, Safestyle PLC (LON:SFE) saw its shares jump nearly 24% higher to 49.55p after the windows and doors maker announced that it has settled its claims against rival SafeGlaze.
Both firms are based in Bradford and Safestyle had accused its rival of trademark infringement, malicious falsehood and misleading information as part of its sales tactics.
10.40am: WANdisco weak as first-half bookings decline
WANdisco PLC (LON:WAND) saw its shares sink nearly 10% lower in mid-morning trading to 860p after the software firm warned its first-half bookings have decreased as it transitions toward predictable, annual recurring cloud revenue.
The AIM-listed firm said it secured a lower number of bookings in the six months to the end of June, taking the total value of all contracts received in the period to US$9mln, down from the US$10.2mln reported a year earlier. Despite this, WANdisco said it still expects to achieve its full-year targets.
The market’s biggest casualty, however, was footwear retailer Footasylum PLC (LON:FOOT), which saw its shares drop by 47.6% to 44p as it cut 2019 earnings guidance and warned that revenue growth would miss market expectations amid a tough retail market.
The firm said it expects adjusted earnings (EBTIDA) for fiscal year 2019 to be “significantly lower” than previous guidance at less than half of the £12.5mln reported for 2018 due to revenues falling short of analysts’ forecasts and weaker margins from a higher amount of clearance activity in stores.
And Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC (LON:DPH) shares shed 15% to 2,650p as the veterinary pharmaceutical company warned of market challenges and emerging risks arising from geopolitical uncertainty.
The cautious comment even as the FTSE 250-listed firm lifted its full-year dividend by 18.9% as revenue and profits gained on the back of new product registrations in Europe and acquisitions.
9.30am: Oilers in demand
Frontera Resources Corporation (LON:FRR) was the biggest market gainer in early morning trading, jumping nearly 32% higher to 0.31p as the exploration company revealed the possibility of deals with “industry majors”.
The AIM-Listed group, which has wells in Georgia, told investors it had entered into non-disclosure and data exchange agreements with two parties with which it is currently progressing technical work and commercial discussions for a possible partnership deal.
Staying with oilers, Hurricane Energy PLC (LON:HUR) saw its shares gain 13% at 55.65p as the offshore oiler struck a significant partnership deal with Spirit Energy, a unit of FTSE 100-listed British Gas owner Centrica PLC (LON:CNA).
The deal will put in place a new well programme to deliver first production from a second development area in the West of Shetland region.
Funded by Spirit, Hurricane now expects to bring the Greater Warwick Area online in 2020, a year after the early production system kicks in at the Lancaster field.
And in a complete different direction, SkinBioTherapeutics PLC (LON:SBTX) took on 11.5% at 21.75p after the firm revealed that its SkinBiotix technology was successful in stability-testing.
The cream uses extracts of probiotic bacteria that have been shown to increase the skins barrier integrity by enhancing the formation of multi-protein complexes called tight junctions.
"Demonstrating the extended stability of the cream formulation was a key step to commencing the human study. This remains on track to start this month," said SkinBio chief executive, Dr Cath O’Neill.
Other Proactive news headlines:
Tissue Regenix Group PLC (LON:TRX) said it remained committed to hitting its target of breaking even by 2020 as its interim results revealed the company delivered strong financial and operational performances.
SIMEC Atlantis Energy Limited (LON:SAE), a diversified sustainable energy generation company, has drawn shareholders' attention to the announcement about the planned investment at Liberty Steel’s Newport steel facility, which is next door to SAE's Uskmouth power plant.
Strategic Minerals PLC (LON:SML) (USOTC:SMCDY) has signed an agreement in principle to sell a suite of gold tenements currently held by its subsidiary Central Australian Rare Earths. The buyer is Great Southern Mining LTD (ASX:GSN).
Shefa Yamin (ATM) Ltd (LON:SEFA) has signed a letter of intent with renowned Israeli jewellery designer Yossi Harari.
Collagen Solutions PLC’s (LON:COS) chief operating officer and chief business officer have joined the regenerative medicines group’s board with immediate effect. COO Tom Hyland joined Collagen in 2014 and has recently provided oversight of the firm’s development business and the reconfiguring of its Glasgow operation. Lou Ruggiero joined as CBO back in April to focus on speed of delivery and execution within the commercial arena.
Middle East-focused oil and gas rig specialist ADES International Holding Ltd (LON:ADES) expects solid revenue growth in the second half of the year as oil activity picks up. Turnover dipped 9% in the six months to June to US$79.7mln as ADES carried out remedial work on rigs in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Big data software company, Rosslyn Data Technologies PLC (LON:RDT) has won a data analytics contract worth more than US$650,000.
Shanta Gold LTD (LON:SHG) has commenced underground decline work at Ilunga, part of ongoing development at the producing New Luika project, three months ahead of schedule. First ore is expected in mid-2019.
IronRidge Resources Limited (LON:IRR) has strengthened its senior management with the appointment of a chief operating officer (COO), new geologists, and a renewed commitment from its chief executive (CEO).
Sunrise Resources PLC (LON:SRES) has completed bulk sampling for commercial-scale trials at its CS pozzolan-perlite project in Nevada. One hundred tons of natural pozzolan has been mined and supplied to a potential large customer for commercial-scale testing.
NQ Minerals PLC (AQSE:NQMI) has begun flotation commissioning at its Hellyer project located in Tasmania, Australia.
IXICO PLC (LON:IXI) is to seek shareholders' approval for a reorganisation of the company's share capital. The data science company that delivers insights in neuroscience, said shareholders holding fewer than 100 shares account for more than three-quarters of the shareholders on the register, resulting in significant costs and a considerable administrative burden to the company.
Strat Aero PLC (LON:AERO) has received shareholder approval to complete its acquisition of the controlling stake in GyroMetric from Braveheart Investment Group PLC.
Learning Technologies Group PLC (LON:LTG) has announced the appointment of Aimie Chapple as non-executive director with immediate effect. The group said that, in a 25-year career at Accenture, Aimie worked with major clients in the US, Europe and Asia on large-scale change programmes across a wide range of industries, holding a variety of senior leadership roles at Accenture UK & Ireland.
Chariot Oil & Gas Limited (LON:CHAR), the Atlantic margins-focused oil and gas exploration company, announced that Chris Zeal has been appointed as Independent non-executive director with immediate effect. The firm said, most recently, Zeal was managing director at Jefferies Hoare Govett (a division of Jefferies Inc.) specialising in corporate broking and investment banking and, prior to that, held a similar role at Citigroup.
HemoGenyx Pharmaceuticals PLC (LON:HEMO) announced that its CEO, Dr Vladislav Sandler, will present at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology conference 'From Laboratory to Clinic: Accelerating Experimental Medicine Approaches' taking place at Trinity College, Oxford, from Tuesday 4 September until Friday 7 September 2018. Sandler's presentation is entitled "Mouse-Human Hematopoietic Chimeras for Disease Modelling and Drug Development" and describes Hemogenyx's new platform technology that it uses as an engine for novel product development.
Solo Oil PLC (LON:SOLO) announced that, in relation to the US$5mln Convertible Loan facility previously announced on 14 November 2017, and the US$1.5mln advance loan drawn at that time, it has now repaid in full all principal, interest and fees payable under the facility.