Beverages behemoth SABMiller (SAB) jumps 4.8% to £35.69 as Dutch brewing giant Heineken (HEIN:AS) rejects a takeover offer. The Grolsch-to-Peroni Nastro Azzurro brewer's move is possibly designed to protect SABMiller from being gobbled up by Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI:BR).
Software group Micro Focus (MCRO) surges more than 11% to 936.5p as it confirms a $2.4 billion merger with US peer Attachmate. The cash generative UK group also says its 60p per share cash return remains unaffected by a deal that it sees as 'a rare opportunity to achieve a significant increase in the scale and breadth' of the business.
Value sausage rolls-to savouries seller Greggs (GRG) bakes in an 11.4% gain to 597.25p as a strong third quarter trading statement triggers earnings upgrades, a possibility foreshadowed by Shares recently. The running Shares Play of the Week reports like-for-like sales up 5.4% over the 11 weeks to 13 September, driven by store refits, product range improvements and favourable weather. With deflation in raw material costs helping margins, Greggs now says full year profits will be 'materially ahead' of management expectations.
Recently merged telecommunications-to-eletricals specialist Dixons Carphone (DC.) sparks up 3.4% to 384.7p as a key competitor exits the market. Rival Phones 4U has gone into administration, a shock development blamed on mobile network EE's decision not to renew its contract, which follows a similar move from Vodafone (VOD) earlier this month.
Fractured basement reservoir specialist Hurricane Energy (HUR:AIM) is up 11% at 45.5p. Analysis on its Lancaster appraisal well west of Shetland had shown potential productivity levels significantly ahead of expectations with the potential to start commercial production by drilling one more horizontal well. The results confirm a 'very good quality' reservoir which could deliver single well rates of 20,000 barrels of oil per day.
Testing kit specialist Immunodiagnostic Systems (IDH) dives 14.8% to 400p as it confirms that revenues will miss expectations this year as demand falls causing an early problem for its five-year growth plan.
Cough could drug maker Vernalis (VER:AIM) jumps 7.3% to 45.8p as its TuzistraTM treatment has been accepted for a full review by US regulator the FDA.
Cancer fighting proton beam machine-maker Advanced Oncotherapy (AVO:AIM) jumps 19.1% to 4.3p after it was tipped in the weekend papers.
Blood gas monitor maker Sphere Medical (SPHR:AIM) rises 1% to £24.7p despite its losses in the six months to July flat at £3 million. It has £6.3 million cash to fund the sales campaign of its Proxima device, which kicks off later this month.
Small cap IT and recruitment specialist Networkers International (NWKI) falls sharply as results to the six months end-June disappoint. Basic EPS falls 7% to 2.04p as its telecoms and banking teams struggle. The stock trades down 9.6p at 53p, down 15.3%.
Expansionist international flash sale site operator MySale (MYSL:AIM), whose backers include retail grandees Mike Ashley and Philip Green, is marked down 1.5p to 222p as maiden full year results show a hefty swing into the red after heavy investment spend and other one-off costs.
