-Rapid Covid-19 test gets UK approval -Saliva-based Covid-19 test launches across EEA-UK application submittedInternational specialist diagnostics company Novacyt (NCYT:AIM) has become one of the first companies to launch a saliva-based rapid antigen self-test after receiving a CE mark. This means it can be marketed across all 30 EEA countries. (European Economic Area)The test provides...

Shares in international specialist diagnostics company Novacyt (NCYT:AIM) came under further pressure (26 Apr) after it received a claim of £134.6 million from the DHSC (Department of Health and Social Care).The shares dropped 12% to 167p on the news and languish around 85% below the highs reached in January 2021 before news of the DHSC dispute emerged.The claim relates to a second contract...

Shares of medical diagnostics company Novacyt (NCYT:AIM) surged 13% to 178.25p on Friday after it announced French diagnostics firm Biosynex had acquired a 5.5% stake.Biosynex's shares traded almost 10% higher to €16.7 and although its intentions are unknown, the move suggests both sets of shareholders see a potential tie-up as beneficial for both firms.The companies are of similar size,...

UK stocks edged higher after a remarkable reversal overnight in the technology-focused Nasdaq 100 index in the US. From a loss of 4% at the London close the index clawed its way back to a gain of 0.5% at the bell.Sentiment was also helped by US software firm IBM which posted better than expected revenues for the fourth quarter. However, investors are unlikely to commit to 'buying the dip'...

Shares in international diagnostics specialist Novacyt (NCYT:AIM) jumped 20% on Friday to 396.6p after the company's real time genesig Covid-19 PCR test was added to the approved list of products under new CTDA (Covid Testing Devices Authorisation) regulations.Novacyt said the approval will 'significantly' lower the financial impact that it previously quantified as £3 million of lost revenues...

UK stocks edged lower into the close on Wednesday as investors awaited clues to the speed of a possible US rate rise from the publication of the latest meeting notes from the Federal Reserve.At 4.45pm, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 12 points or less than 0.2% at 7,169, with losses for miners offsetting gains for house builders after more strong data on home prices.COMPANY NEWSPersimmon...

UK stocks edged higher in early trading on Wednesday as any optimism generated by another batch of positive earnings updates was offset by concerns about the spreading Delta coronavirus variant.At 08.15am, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 4.28 points, or less than 0.1%, at 7,185.39.The modest rise came after the release of inflation data, with the UK's consumer price index up 2.0% in July,...

Stocks continued their advance on Tuesday as investors took central bank attempts to soothe their inflation fears at face value and Fed chairman Jerome Powell prepared to testify before the House of Representatives.At 12.30pm the FTSE 100 index was up 24 points or 0.33% to 7,086 points led by property, industrial and energy stocks, while the FTSE 250 mid-cap index gained 140 points or 0.6% to...

Stocks advanced gingerly in early trading as investors waited for Fed chairman Jerome Powell to testify before the House of Representatives in order to get a better feel for the near-term outlook for US interest rates and liquidity.At 9am the FTSE 100 index was up 20 points or 0.3% to 7,082 points led by property, industrial and energy stocks, while the FTSE 250 mid-cap index gained 95 points...

Shares in clinical diagnostics company Novacyt (NCYT:AIM) sank 12% to 367.6p on Friday after warning that disruption to a second government supply contract will have a material impact on first quarter results.Today's warning is the second in as many months and the shares have now halved since the company first announced it had not agreed an extension of a supply contact with the DHSC...

The successful development of vaccines was a triumph for the world and was for the most part great news for equities too, however it negatively impacted sentiment for one particularly sub-set of the market.The initial excitement surrounding biotechnology companies involved in developing Covid-19 testing kits and treatments for sufferers of coronavirus rapidly evaporated as the focus moved from...

Leading UK shares fell throughout morning trading on Friday as a jump in retail sales lifted the pound and hurt export-orientated companies.The benchmark FTSE 100 lost 0.47% to 6,905 by lunchtime with large dollar-earning exporters like consumer staples companies Unilever (ULVR), Diageo (DGE) and British American Tobacco (BATS) slipping by up to 1% as the pound strengthened against the...

Shares in international clinical diagnostics company Novacyt (NCYT:AIM) gained 15% to 438p on Friday after the company provided an update on its near-term Covid-19 research and development and UK operations.The shares have lost 65% over the past three months and have been particularly volatile since a profit warning on 23 April.Novacyt confirmed today that its wholly owned subsidiaries...

A profit warning on 9 April from specialist clinical diagnostics firm Novacyt (NCYT:AIM) is a major turning point for how we view the stock. The investment case has materially changed which means investors should sell, even at a loss.The investment case case was largely based on Novacyt becoming a strategic supplier of diagnostic services to the Department of Health and Social Care. This is...

London's FTSE 100 finished lower on Friday as travel-related stocks fell and after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq opened lower, with a rise in US bond yields weighing on highly valued tech stocks a day after the S&P 500 set a record closing high.By the close on Friday, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 0.38% at 6,915.75 points, though the high-flying FTSE 250 ended 0.02% higher at 22,251.26.TRAVEL...

There was some relief for shareholders in specialist diagnostics group Novacyt (NCYT:AIM) on Wednesday after its shares gained 6% to 725p following an update on its research and development (R&D) activities. The shares have dropped 42% over the last month.Today's update shows that in addition to maximizing the Covid-19 testing opportunity, Novacyt is delivering on its strategy to become a...

Last year's best performing stock, specialist clinical diagnostics firm Novacyt (NCYT:AIM), said on Friday full-year revenues to 31 December 2020 increased over 20 times to €311.6 million.The shares fell around 11% to 948p on profit-taking, having risen 30% over the last month and 234% over the last six months.There was also some disappointment that the company didn't announce an...

After an extraordinary year we look back at some of the top performers in different size categories from the heavyweights all the way down to sub £100 million market cap stocks at the bottom of the market and examine what has driven them higher in 2020. We have excluded investment trusts.£4 billion + market capShare price movements in mining companies can be about exposure to the commodities...

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) £14.00Gain to date: 6%Original entry point: Buy at £13.21, 5 November 2020Novacyt (NCYT:AIM) 870.2pGain to date: 37.7%Original entry point: Buy at 632p, 8 October 2020Although delays to vaccines are common, given the positive slew of positive news over the last few weeks the three-month delay to the possible market launch of the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) vaccine candidate...

Value investors often say there is no point trying to time the rotation back to their value style because it can happen in the blink of an eye and you often end-up chasing the move and paying higher prices. The market action on 9 November and follow-through in the intervening period certainly lends some credence to that view.Commenting on the sharp moves over the last week, Jefferies noted...