Retail powerhouse Sports Direct International (SPD) falls 5.9% to 670p after owner Mike Ashley cashed in £106 million worth of shares. The entrepreneurial Newcastle United football club owner has sold 16 million shares or 2.7% of the company. Ashley still holds over 61.7% of the UK's number one sports retailer, which pushed out another strong update yesterday revealing a 15.1% sales rise to £463.7 million for the nine weeks to 29 September.
New float Riverstone Energy (RSE) raises just over £760 million, making it the biggest oil and gas-related IPO since 2011 as we discuss in more detail here.
East African oil explorer Ophir Energy (OPHR) surges 8.7% to 325.5p as it confirms media speculation it is looking to sell down its interests in Blocks 1, 3 and 4 in Tanzania.
Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) confirms talks to potentially buy the fund management arm of Scottish Widows from Lloyds Banking (LLOY).
Department store operator Debenhams (DEB) falls 5.4% to 104.7p as full-year figures to end August reveal taxable profits down 2.7% at £154 million. Though results from the £1.4 billion cap are in line with expectations, a cautious outlook statement tempers enthusiasm for the stock.
Telecoms kit maker Spirent Communications (SPT) falls 3.9% to 118.7p after warning of customer-imposed delays which means that $12 million of revenue expected in the fourth quarter of 2013 may not be recognised until the first half of 2014.
Domestos-to-Cif maker Unilever (ULVR) sheds 13p (0.5%) to £24.83 as a third quarter update confirms disappointing like-for-like sales growth of 3.2%. Share price weakness would have been more material, had the £32 billion cap consumer goods giant not already flagged slowing emerging markets growth in a warning last month.
After seeing its share price obliterated this year on falling copper prices, massive impairment charges, lower metal grades and rising costs, Kazakhmys (KAZ) has today won over the market with a trading update. The shares jump 5.1% to 264.2p after reassuring investors that it is meeting production targets. That said, there is likely to be a short squeeze pushing up the shares on the slightest bit of market buying as many traders have bet on the company's stock continuing to fall.
Precious metals producer Aquarius Platinum (AQP) falls 3.2% after reporting a drop in quarterly earnings due to higher costs and lower recoveries from its Kroondal project.
Quantity surveyor Sweett (CSG:AIM) continues to trigger earnings upgrades as it enjoys strong trading. Today it says full-year results (to 31 March 2014) are set to beat management's previous expectations. That pushes up the shares by 8.3% to 52.5p. Stockbroker Westhouse raises its current year pre-tax profit forecasts by £1.25 million to £5.25 million. It must be noted that the bulk of this is due to a £1 million benefit from closing out an Australian derivatives contract. The stock is up 176% since we highlighted Sweet's potential in Shares just four months ago.
Public transport specialist Go-Ahead (GOG) sees little change to its shares, edging 0.1% lower as the train and bus operator's trading update reveals a robust performance and good progress a cost efficiency programme.
Building and engineering products specialist Alumasc (ALU) is flat at 135p after the group reports net debt so far this financial year is down £3 million year-on-year with the board's expectations for the full-year unchanged.
Leeds-based oil services tiddler Getech (GTC:AIM) gains 5.7% to 76.6p on news of a £864,000 data sale. The group provides geophysical info which helps companies understand oil and gas reservoirs and a series of earnings upgrades have helped drive a 567% increase in the share price in the last three years.
Transport software specialist Tracsis (TRCS:AIM) sees profit taking after a strong 18-month run for the shares. It falls 7.8% to 188p after full-year results show acquisitions-bolstered growth. The shares had hit a record 207.5p yesterday on a five-year framework contract win, and Shares interviewed chief executive John McArthur in July, explaining increasing automated track monitoring is an exciting space for the £48 million cap.
Innovation microcap Imaginatik (IMTK:AIM) leaps 34% to 0.1p after securing a significant three-year global innovation-solutions contract with a Canadian banking and financial services corporation. No financial details are disclosed.
