Credit provider International Personal Finance (IPF) falls 17.6% to 445p, no doubt as more investors discover the £2.4 million fine imposed by Polish authorities at lunchtime on Christmas Eve over the way it calculates interest rates for consumer loans. Given today's fall reduces its market value by £228 million, the market is clearly worried about the longer-term financial implications to the business in Poland, one of its biggest operating regions.
Malaysian data centre group CSF (CSFG:AIM) slumps 30% to 5.5p after slipping into a loss-making position at its half-year results due to lower revenue and provision for onerous leases and bad debts. Making matters worse is a fight between CSF and its auditors, the latter questioning if the business is a 'going concern'. The auditor implies that potential delays to getting cash from contracts should be flagged as a material risk. CSF disagrees, saying any future cash shortfall could be 'mitigated with sensible cash management'.
Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZN) dips 0.3% to £36 after ending a dispute over royalties with Shionogi.
Churchill Mining (CHL:AIM) rises 31% to 23p after saying there should be news on its court case in Indonesia by early February concerning the ownership battle for a very large coal deposit.
Asia Resource Minerals (ARMS), the coal miner formerly known as Bumi, drops 4.2% to 230p after saying operations would stop until 1 January because it has reached its 2013 production target a week ahead of plan.
Computer products designer and manufacturer Concurrent Technologies (CNC:AIM) falls 2.9% to 35.45p despite saying full-year results would be 'broadly in line' with market expectations.
Drug developer ValiRx (VAL:AIM) drops 3% to 0.32p after raising £2.9 million through issuing new shares at 0.325p each. The proceeds will be used for oncology development work and general working capital.
