M&C Saatchi PLC (AIM:SAA) is in demand after another positive update.
The advertising and marketing agency said that trading had continued to be strong since its last report on 23 November.
As a result, it now believes full year 2021 operating profit will be materially ahead of expectations.
It said: "Activity in the final quarter has been strong across the group, particularly in the Performance Media and Global and Social Issues divisions and the UK Agency. The strong performance was largely driven by new assignments from existing clients, and we expect this continued trend to be reflected in the December results."
Its shares are up 7% or 10.5p at 160.5p.
2.17pm: Character Group (AIM:CCT) hoping for a merry Christmas
Toy specialist Character Group (AIM:CCT) is looking forward to a merry Christmas despite the supply chain problems hitting global businesses.
The company, which saw products from its portfolio featured in the Toy Retailers Associations' list of most sought after Christmas toys, said: "Although the supply chain issues that have plagued importers throughout the year have thwarted us from realising the portfolio's full sales potential, the careful and skilfully managed operation of the business has enabled optimum sales to be realised."
With both domestic and international demand remaining strong, its full year results to the end of August saw revenues rise fromm £108.9mln to £140mln, and underlying pretax profits climb from £5mln to £11.1mln.
It will unveil new rangesat the London Toy Fair in January next year, and said: "The reception received so far by the new introductions planned for our ranges in the coming months has been a very pleasing endorsement of our team's designs, plans and execution."
It added: "The board believes that margins will be under pressure due to high freight rates and increased materials and labour costs, however, it is satisfied that the group remains on target to meet current market expectations ."
Its shares are up 2.99% at 602.5p.
12.37pm: DX moves ahead as it inks distribution deal
DX (Group) (AIM:DX.) has accelerated after a link-up with a major electrical group.
The parcel and logistic firm's shares, which fell sharply at the end of last month when it failed to publish its annual report before its annual meeting due to corporate governance issues, are now up 5.88% at 27p.
The catalyst is news that DX has launched a long-term logistics partnership with Combined Independents (Holdings), part of Euronics, Europe's largest electrical buying group..
Under the terms of the partnership, DX Freight will manage the distribution of CIH's white and brown goods to its members' stores across the North of England, Scotland, Midlands and, Northern Ireland.
DX has a team of 40 staff supporting this new partnership and plans to add another 20 as the operation grows. It has also introduced a new dedicated fleet which will operate in CIH/Euronics branding.
11.30am: Haydale Graphene slides as aerospace sector prompts cautious outlook
Haydale Graphene Inds PLC (LSE:HAYD, OTC:HDGHF) has fallen back despite reducing its losses, as it warned on short term revenues.
The company - which had a three-year wearable technology program with the English Institute of Sport which produced heated garments worn by medal winners at Tokyo - said full year revenues fell by 2% in a challenging trading environment.
It cut its losses from £2.54mln to £2.17mln.
But despite the filing of a joint patent with Airbus for technology to potentially reduce the weight and environmental impact of a commercial airliner, the aerospace business is where the difficulties lie.
Chairman David Banks said: 'The board is encouraged by the very positive response from across several different industry sectors to our new products and technologies, which gives us confidence in our medium to long-term outlook.
"However, we are yet to see any sustained recovery in our Aerospace business and so we continue to be cautious with respect to short-term revenue. Haydale's proprietary technology now has the potential to deliver material change across many sectors in ways that our customers are increasingly recognising as important in their search for more environmentally friendly materials. As a result, Haydale is expanding the Group's capacity to functionalise nano and other materials and continues to invest in product development critical to our future success."
The company's shares have fallen 4.36% to 5.26p.
10.13am: Power Metal Resources boosted by positive news from Australia
Power Metal Resources PLC (AIM:POW) has powered ahead after positive news from Australia.
Its joint venture subsidiary New Ballarat Gold Corporation has begun its first diamond drill programme at O'Loughlin's prospect south of Buninyong.
Meanwhile a new exploration licence has been granted in Victoria, making nine in total.
Power Metal's chief executive Paul Johnson said: "Today marks an important point in the life of New Ballarat Gold Corporation as inaugural gold exploration drilling commences. We look forward to the results feeding out from the project.
"We also have the welcome news that a further large exploration licence, EL007282 (Blue Sky), has been granted, taking the total portfolio of granted licences to over 1,500km2 for the first time. To hold such a large land granted footprint in the Victoria Goldfields is a tremendous positive."
Power Metal shares are up 11.32% at 1.48p.
9.35am: Oilex flares up as Indian gas production moves closer to restarting
Shares in Oilex Limited have flared up as it looks set to restart production at the Cambay gas field in India after three years.
The company had been in dispute for a number of years with the state-backed Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation over ownership, but this issue is now resolved, and on Monday it announced a £2mln fundraising for the project.
Now it said: "Following a final court order issued on 13.12.21 and received by the company on 14.12.21, the previously imposed production cessation on the Cambay field has been removed and the company plans to resume gas production in the near future. The two currently active wells, C-73 and C-77H will be placed back on cyclic production and the gas will be processed and exported through the existing production facilities and pipelines."
Oilex's Chief Executive Officer, Roland Wessel added: "This is an important milestone for the company. Production has been suspended for the last 3 years and the re-establishment of gas production and associated revenues is the next step in monetising the significant gas resources in the Cambay field."
Oilex is up 16.67% at 0.18p.
8.40am: Midwich Group in demand as profits set to beat forecasts
Shares in Midwich Group PLC (AIM:MIDW) have gone cuckoo after a positive trading update.
They have jumped 7.24% or 42p to 622p as the firm, an audio visual distributor to the trade market, said its performance since its half year results in early September had been stronger than expected.
This was despite continuing problems with product shortages.
As a result the company said full year profits should be not less than £30mln, which is materially ahead of its previous expectations.
Meanwhile Sareum Holdings PLC (AIM:SAR) is up 10% or 0.5p at 5.5p.
The drug development company said the European Patent Office has issued an Intention to Grant notice for a patent in respect of an invention associated with Sareum's SDC-1802 TYK2/JAK1 Kinase Inhibitor Programme.
It expects the patent to be formally granted within four months, subject to certain formalities being completed.
Sareum's Dr John Reader said: "Our aim is to build broad robust patent protection for our proprietary TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor candidates as they advance through their respective development programmes, to ensure that Sareum retains full value in these programmes as part of its business development discussions. We are pleased therefore to receive this 'Intention to Grant' notice from EPO around our patent application for SDC-1802 as a potential treatment for T-ALL [a cancer of a particular type of white blood cell ]. We expect to complete the formalities that would lead to a full grant of this patent in due course."