21st Oct 2015 09:43
LONDON (Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers within the main London indices on Wednesday.
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FTSE 100 - WINNERS
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ARM Holdings, up 7.7%. The microprocessor designer said it expects to meet market expectations for 2015 dollar revenues, as it reported a rise in pretax profit for the third quarter. In the quarter to end-September the company reported a pretax profit of GBP102.9 million, up from GBP79.2 million a year before, as revenue rose GBP243.1 million, up from GBP195.5 million.
Merlin Entertainments, up 4.5%. The theme park operator said it has set up a joint venture with China Media Capital to develop a LEGOLAND Park in Shanghai as well as various Midway attractions across China. Merlin said the attractions under the Midway brand to be rolled out may include The Dungeons, DreamWorks Tours and others.
Sky, up 3.9%. The broadacaster said it made a "strong start" to its current financial year, as it reported a 10% rise in operating profit for its first quarter. For the quarter to end-September, Sky reported an operating profit of GBP375 million, up from GBP347 million a year before, on revenue of GBP2.79 billion, up from GBP2.74 billion.
Reckitt Benckiser, up 2,4%. The fast moving consumer goods company reported a fall in group net revenue in the third quarter of 2015, although it grew at constant exchange rates, leading the consumer goods company to raise its full-year revenue forecast on a constant currency basis. The company, which makes products including cleaning spray Cillit Bang and Nurofen painkillers, said group net revenue fell 1% to GBP2.19 billion in the third quarter, but rose 7% on a like-for-like basis at constant currencies.
Smiths Group, up 2.0% at 1,009.00p. Citi upgraded its rating on the engineering group to Buy from Neutral.
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FTSE 100 - LOSERS
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Pearson, down 16%. The media and education company cut its earnings per share expectations for 2015 following its sale of its PowerSchool business, the FT Group and stake in The Economist Group, as well as continued challenging market conditions and currency movements. Pearson had previously guided for earnings per share of between 75p and 80 pence, however, following these sales, as well as movements in exchange rates, this range is reduced by around 5p to between 70p to 75p.
Bunzl, down 2.4%. The outsourcer said it expects to complete a number of further acquisitions during the remainder of the year and said it has acquired Canada's Planet Clean, as its performance remained "consistent with expectations" it gave with its interim results in August.
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FTSE 250 - WINNERS
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Fidessa Group, up 3.6%. The company it expects to be able to announce a further special dividend with its full-year results in February, as it has continued to see strong cash generation in the second half of 2015. The trading, investment management and information services provider said it has continued to see customer markets "entering a new phase of recovery as the impact from regulatory and structural changes strengthens".
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FTSE 250 - LOSERS
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Home Retail Group, down 13%. The retail group reported a rise in profit in the first half of its financial year, but said full-year benchmark pretax profit will be below the lower end of current guidance due to trading uncertainty and increased investment in its Fast Track collection and delivery service. The owner of the Argos electronics and general merchandise chain and the Homebase DIY chain said pretax profit in the six months ended August 29 grew to GBP23.4 million from GBP13.5 million in the same period the year before, as it booked lower costs associated with exceptional items than in the prior year.
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MAIN MARKET AND AIM - WINNERS
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Trinity Exploration and Production, up 80%. The oil and gas explorer said it has agreed to sell its stakes in five licences in Trinidad to Touchstone Exploration Inc for a total of USD20.8 million, representing the first major milestone achieved since it launched its strategic review. The company will sell its interests in the WD-2, WD-5/6, WD-13, WD-14 and FZ-2 licences and the related fixed assets to Touchstone. Together, those licences represent all of the company's onshore acreage.
Metminco, up 30%. The mineral explorer said it appointed the LinQ Group as an advisor to assist the Company in identifying and evaluating the most suitable potential partner for the development of its Los Calatos Project. LinQ will also assist Metminco in its evaluation of financing options to advance the its strategy. LinQ Group is based in Perth, Western Australia, and has acted as an advisor in the mining and resources sector having advised companies about sourcing capital and structuring equity, debt and hybrid structured instruments.
Transense Technologies, up 27%. The technology company said it has agreed to sell its loss-making IntelliSAW division to US manufacturer Emerson Electric Co for USD5 million.
Thor Mining, up 17%. The miner said it has been given the green light from Australian authorities to take full ownership of the Spring Hill gold project.
Sweett Group, up 21%. The company said it sold its Asia Pacific and India businesses for GBP9.3 million in cash, as part of its strategy to improve profitability and cash flow, reduce debt and rebalance the risk profile.
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MAIN MARKET AND AIM - LOSERS
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Ortac Resources, off 23%. Shares in the miner dropped after it said it has raised GBP400,000 after conducting a large discounted placing. The company placed 800.0 million new shares at 0.05 pence per share to raise proceeds to allow the company to further develop its existing portfolio of mineral projects and for working capital purposes.
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By Arvind Bhunjun; [email protected]; @ArvindBhunjun
Copyright 2015 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Related Shares:
SkyPearsonThor EnergyRB..LOrtac ResourcesSmiths GroupMerlin EntertainmentsFidessa GroupBunzlTrinityTransenseARM.LHome ReitCSG.L