Pubs operator Enterprise Inns (ETI) slumps 5.4% to 154.4p as investors voice disappointment at its trading update. Like-for-like net income is only up 1% in the 18 weeks to 1 February, below analyst expectations; most other pub companies are enjoying much stronger sales growth. Interestingly, former Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) chief executive Adam Fowle has joined the board as non-executive director.
Imperial Innovations (IVO) is to float its allergy drug developer Circassia in what would be the first biotech IPO (initial public offering) on the main market for several years. We'll look at the investment proposition in more detail here.
Shares in UK graphics chip design designer Imagination Technologies (IMG) leap 17% to 189.9p after extendingits technology licences agreement with Apple. This means that Imagination's graphics and video technology will continue to be designed into iPhones and iPads, a welcome boost for the under pressure company. Shares recently explained its struggles in this article; the company also features in today's issue of the magazine.
Medical technology giant Smith & Nephew (SN.) rises 1.9% to 891.7p as full-year resultsmeet expectations and fourth quarter numbers slightly higher than consensus forecasts.
Drug maker AstraZenca (AZN) falls 2.9% to £37.62 as its pre-tax profit for the year slumpsas generic competition continues to bite following patent losses for several of its brands. The Anglo-Swedish company indicates the market will remain challenging for the next few years. Cash generation has gone to $7.4 billion from $6.9 billion a year earlier.
A 25% pre-tax profit rise to $313.3 million pushes non-life insurer Beazley (BEZ) up 6% to 268.8p. Not only has the normal dividend gone up 6% to 8.8p for the year, but there's also a 16.1p special dividendfuelled by a strong underwriting performance that left its combined ratio - its premiums compared to its claims - at a record low of 84%.
FTSE 100 oil explorer Tullow Oil (TLW) falls 1.3% to 838.5p as profit takers emerge following yesterday's rise on rumours of a bid from Norwegian state energy firm Statoil.
Electrical retailer Darty (DRTY) rises 3.5% to 131.75 after a positive third quarter update. Total sales in its business have risen 3.2% on a like-for-like basis, France being the best performing region.
FTSE 100 catering giant Compass (CPG) nudges ahead 0.4% to 903.5p with 4% organic revenue growth since 30 September. The business keeps winning new contracts and commands high loyalty among its customers.
Fashion retailer SuperGroup (SGP) advances 2.6% to £15.30 as the market applauds its third quarter trading statement. Sales in the three-month surged ahead by 22.1% to £141.1 million and SuperGroup has held its margins by focusing on full-price trading rather than discounts to lure in punters. The £1.2 billion cap is a running Shares Play of the Week. You can read that article and our most recent view on the stock here and here respectively.
Latin American oil play President Energy (PPC:AIM) dives 17.8% to 38p as investors react to dilution implied by a £35 million placing and open offer. The company plans to drill prospects in Paraguay later this year to which an independent audit ascribes potential of more than a billion barrels of oil.
Travel operator TUI Travel (TT.) slips 1.4% to 418.5p despite narrowingfirst quarter losses against a strong prior year performance. Underlying operating loss has been reduced by £8 million to £108 million with 85% of the Winter 2013/14 programme sold, with higher average selling prices achieved in most source markets.
Specialty chemicals outfit Carclo (CAR) jumps 5.2% to 168.25p after Atmel - a major customer for touch screen and sensor technologies - toldinvestors at its fourth quarter analysts' call that it expected significant growth for its XSense business in 2014 and beyond which was likely to be positive for Carclo's Conductive Inkjet Technology business which supplies the coated film technology for the XSense production ramp up.
