Medical technology giant Smith & Nephew (SN.) rises 1.2% to 887p after strengthening its sports medicine business through buyingmedical device company ArthroCare (ARTC:NASDAQ) for $1.7 billion cash.
High street lender Lloyds Banking (LLOY) falls 2.8% to 80.9p despite plans to eintroduce its dividend in the second half of the year after a five year absence. The market continues to be spooked by the rising compensation pot for its payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal, which now stands at almost £10 billion. We look at the dividend prospects in this article.
Low-cost carrier Ryanair (RYA) rises 5.39% to €6.65 after reportinga third quarter loss of €35 million, in line with guidance. The real share price driver is news that forward bookings in the fourth quarter and into full-year 2015 are running significantly ahead of the previous year, albeit at weaker yields following the group's aggressive policy of lower fares and seat promotions.
After a 25% jump its share price since late November, investors scramble to take profits on recruitment agency SThree (STHR), down 2.2% to 375p. Its full-year resultsshow a 17.8% drop in pre-tax profit before one-off items. There's no growth in the dividend, so the market clearly finds no reason to hang on to the stock.
The market shows its disappointment after Latin America-based power group Rurelec (RUR:AIM) reveals a $41m compensation payoutfrom its snatched Bolivian assets. This is just a fraction of its $142 million claim and investors sell the shares down 23% to 11.12p.
Education software and services supplier RM (RM.) rallies 9% to 125p despite full-year results showing the scars of a difficult year. But the mood is lifted by a future focus on higher margin services after ditching its hardware business. Shares explained why this was a sensible move in October.
A positive write-up by the Mail on Sunday helps Action Hotels (AHCG:AIM) jump 8.2% to 66p. The £101 million cap has agreements with the likes of InterContinental Hotels (IHG) and Whitbread (WTB) to use the Holiday Inn and Premier Inn brands in the Middle East. We looked at the company's prospects in this article published last month.
Mar City (MAR) rises 8.9% to 128.5p after the housebuilder's trading updatereveals that full-year margins are expected to be materially ahead of market expectations which means full-year results will smash forecasts.
Aviation support and aftermarket services provider BBA Aviation (BBA) adds 2.2% to 315.4p after announcingthe sale of APPH, a landing gear and hydraulic sub-systems supplier for around $120.6 million.
Iodine producer Iofina (IOF:AIM) gains 4.9% to 80p as it saysit is 'encouraged' by a meeting with Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation on its non-core Atlantis water project. The shares took a dive in December when the authorities blocked the project (13 Dec) which would look to sell water to producers in the Bakken shale formation and this setback was followed in short order by a profit warning (17 Dec).
US onshore oil and gas play Nostra Terra (NTOG:AIM) gains 9.4% to 0.29p as it announcesa $25 million credit facility with Texas Capital Bank. The company confirms that no warrants or equity will be issued as part of the facility which will be used for future drilling on its Chisholm Trail project, High Plains prospect and other assets.
