Underground access specialist Shaft Sinkers (SHFT) dives 37.7% to 8.25p after saying it needs an urgent cash injection 'to satisfy near-term liquidity requirements'. The small cap has struggled over the past few years due a slowdown in the mining sector - its key end market - and a major legal battle with former client, Russian potash giant Eurochem.
Luxury goods leader Burberry (BRBY) bounces 2.5% (36p) higher to £14.55 on a strong first quarter trading statement. For the three months to 30 June, the British brand's overall retail sales grew 17% to £370 million, up 12% on a like-for-like basis and driven by double-digit growth across Asia Pacific (China) and the Americas.
Performance materials specialist Low & Bonar (LWB) surges 5.75% to 82.75p after the group's half-year results show revenues at the £255.2 million cap adding 10.2% to £196.3 million. Operating margin at Low & Bonar added 40 basis points to 5.9% while profit before tax rose to £5.2 million in the six months to 31 May 2014 compared to 3.4 million in the same period a year earlier.
Housebuilder Barratt Developments (BDEV) adds 1.2% to 369.5p after an upbeat pre- full year trading statement. Average selling prices are up 13% while profit before tax for the year is expected to be ahead of the top end of analysts' estimates, at around £390 million.
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) leads the FTSE 100 fallers down 2.4% to £19.09 on news that sovereign wealth fund Qatar Holding has sold down about a third of its 15% holding in the bourse.
A robust and optimistic half-year trading update from machine-to-machine (m2m) technology supplier Telit Communications (TCM:AIM) sees the shares rise around 5% to 229p, just a fraction off their 241p all-time record. Revenues increase 27% to $138 million, including a 283% hike from its m2mAir airtime services.
Car parts-to-bicycles seller Halfords (HFD) skids 8.9p lower to 483p as investors take some profits following a good recent run. The running Shares Play of the Week's strong first quarter trading statement shows retail like-for-like sales accelerating by a better-than-expected 7.9% in the 13 weeks to 27 June, driven by booming cycling product sales.
High-flying Associated British Foods (ABF) adds another 40p, rising 1.33% to £30.40 on a positive third quarter trading statement. The groceries-to-fashion group now expects to deliver improved rather than flat full-year earnings per share, with flourishing budget fashion chain Primark's performance more than offsetting currency headwinds and lower sugar profits.
Heavily sold branded fashion retailer SuperGroup (SGP) gains 1.5% to £10.58 as full-year results reveal 19% growth in pre-tax profits to £62 million in the year to 26 April, good going in a period of hefty infrastructure investment. Annual sales rose almost 20% to £431 million, albeit curtailed by disappointing fourth quarter retail like-for-like sales, as Shares explains here.
Higher than expected output in the first half prompts Premier Oil (PMO) to signal it may raise production guidance for 2014 as a whole lifting the shares 2.7% to 331.9p. The company produced 10% more oil and gas in the first six months of the year than the same period in 2013 reaching an average output level of 64,700 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) - however for now full year guidance is maintained at 58,000 to 63,000 boepd.
Builders merchanting and DIY group Grafton (GFTU) nudges 1.9% higher to 583p after like-for-like revenue rose 11.3% in the six months to 30 June. Better weather conditions together with solid volume growth in the residential repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) market are supporting the group's progress.
Emerging markets fund manager Ashmore (ASHM) rises 2.9% to 365p as the year-end trading update confirmed it pulled in net inflows of £1.6 billion in the fourth quarter. This reverses the trend of the previous two quarters when it suffered net outflows as the US Federal Reserve started tapering its quantitative easing drive. For the year as a whole the firm recorded $7.5 billion of net outflows, reversing some of the previous two years’ gains.
