Novacyt SA (AIM:NCYT, OTC:NVYTF, EPA:ALNOV) is heading higher after unveiling a test for monkeypox.
The diagnostics company has launched a research-use-only assay in response to the recent outbreak of the virus in non-endemic countries.
Chief executive David Allmond said: "Whilst the risk of transmission of the disease to humans currently remains low, we believe our RUO assays are important tools to assist scientists and clinicians diagnose and monitor emerging infectious disease threats.
"The launch of this new assay further demonstrates Novacyt's strength as a global first responder, in line with our strategy, as well as our commitment to expanding our portfolio in infectious disease."
2.36pm: Autins falls into loss and wary on outlook
Autins Group PLC (AIM:AUTG), which makes insulation for the automotive and other industries, has gone into reverse.
The firm has reported a 31.5% fall in half year revenues to £9.39mln and a loss after tax of £1.38mln, compared to a £0.01mln profit.
It felt the impact of a shortage of semiconductors on its target automotive market, as well as supply chain disruption and rising costs, made worse by the Ukraine war.
Chief executive Gareth Kaminski-Cook said: "OEMs continue to report record levels of order backlogs and the market expects new semi-conductor capacity to begin to ease during the latter part of 2022 after which an automotive market recovery should begin. In addition, the underlying demand for our flooring products remains positive and we continue to develop into other markets with dedicated resource.
"There is little doubt that we are now entering a period of high-cost inflation and we will continue to take actions to mitigate the impact on margins through efficiency improvements, purchasing cost control and price increases...
"Whilst it can be expected that the Ukraine war could suppress the trajectory of market recovery, the medium-term outlook remains positive."
Its shares are down 12.12% to 14.5p.
12.50pm: Naked Wines cheered by chairman's share purchase
Naked Wines PLC (AIM:WINE, OTCQX:NWINF) is toasting a share purchase by chairman Darryl Rawlings.
The shares are up 5.72% to 160.8p after Rawlings bought 74,500 shares on the US over the counter market at US1.93 each, worth a total of US$143,785.
After the deal he holds a 0.12% stake in the business.
11.53am: Abingdon Health soars after settlement with Department of Health
Abingdon Health PLC (AIM:ABDX) has surged after a settlement with the Department for Health and Social Care on outstanding invoices relating to lateral flow tests and component stock.
The full and final settlement means the DHSC will pay £6.3mln in cash before 22 July, with £1.5mln of this held under charge until the outcome of a judicial review is known.
It will also transfer to Abingdon all the outstanding component stock procured on behalf of the DHSC in 2020/1.
There will be joint ownership of the intellectual property of the AbC-19™ COVID-19 antibody test, and a lower royalty payable to DHSC on sales of the test.
The cash received from the DHSC will provide additional working capital, as well as funding the company's various growth initiatives.
Abingdon shares have jumped 60.53% to 15.25p on the news.
10.56am: CloudCoCo climbs on positive outlook
CloudCoCo PLC (AIM:CLCO) has seen its shares climb after an upbeat statement.
Half year revenues at the company - which specialises in IT services and communications solutions - rose 183% to £11.6mln, while gross profit more than doubled from £1.6mln to £3.5mln.
Chief executive Mark Halpin said: "The integration and optimisation of our four acquisitions is now largely complete, and with that we are moving through the second half in a strong position, with all parts of the group pulling in the same direction and on an exciting trajectory.
"We are now a very different proposition to a year ago, with an expanded customer base; increased capability; significantly larger sales, support and technical teams; a focus on cross-selling; and several forward-thinking strategic initiatives that are already delivering.
"With the marked headway that has been made, we expect to see additional growth in trading performance in the second half as our pipeline of larger multi-year deals is continuing to grow.
"There is still work to be done to enable the group to reach its full potential and the macro-economic environment remains unpredictable, but with the hard work that has taken place in the first half to lay the foundations for sustainable and profitable growth in the future, we are confident of continued progress in the second half and moving into 2023."
Its shares are up 9.52% at 1.37p.
10.21am: Oxford BioDynamics slumps by a fifth
Oxford BioDynamics PLC (AIM:OBD) has dropped sharply after increased losses and a warning it might need more funding.
The biotech company - which has just launched its flagship EpiSwitch CiRT product in the UK and US - saw half year revenues fall from £0.25mln to £0.09mln and its losses rise from £3.5mln to £4.1mln.
Cash and long term deposits fell from £8.1mln a year ago to £4.6mln despite a £3.62mln fundraising in October.
Chief financial officer Paul Stockdale said there continued to be doubts about its ability to continue as a going concern.
He said: "The total cash and fixed-term deposits are relatively low compared to the group's ongoing cost base and the group will need to generate increased revenue and/or additional funding during the remainder of the calendar year
"Early uptake of EpiSwitch CiRT has been encouraging, as have recent developments such as the signing of a master service agreement with a top-10 pharma company.
"At the date of this report, the quantum and timing of likely revenue from these developments remains difficult to predict
"Accordingly..the board has concluded (as it did in the annual reports for the years ended 30 September 2020 and 30 September 2021) that there continues to be a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt on the group's ability to continue as a going concern."
Its shares are down 22.58% at 12p.
9.33am: Orosur Mining shines after positive report from Argentina project
Orosur Mining Inc (AIM:OMI, TSX-V:OMI) is in demand after an upbeat mining report.
The gold company announced positive assay results from a soil sampling program at the La Esfinge prospect at El Pantano in Argentina, with encouraging results in both scale and composition.
Work will now be paused until after the winter recess which is expected to last until early September.
Orosur chief executive Brad George said: "It is early days at El Pantano, but it is highly encouraging to obtain such positive results from what is essentially an untouched grass roots project. We look forward to returning after the winter, but work so far has supported our strategy of carefully selecting attractive earlier stage projects on the best possible terms."
Orosur's shares have added 5% to 8.4p.
8.40am: Wandisco wanted after it signs its largest ever contract
Wandisco PLC (AIM:WAND) has seen its shares dance higher after signing its largest ever contract.
The data activation specialist has won an US$11.6mln deal with a top ten global communications company - one of the world's largest suppliers of internet of things applications - with 50% of the price be paid in advance.
This is Wandisco's third consecutive deal with this customer, worth a total of US$14.3mln.
Chief executive David Richards said: "The general availability of our product and its unique capability in moving data seamlessly, at scale to the cloud, gives us confidence that we will win more critical IoT migration contracts and take market share."
Its shares are up 11.52% at 300p.
Elsewhere Kore Potash PLC (AIM:KP2, ASX:KP2, JSE:KP2) has climbed 10% to 1.38p.
The company has signed heads of agreement with SEPCO Electric Power Construction Corporation for the construction of its 97% owned Kola Potash project in the Republic of Congo.