TechMARK movers: Vectura data boost
16th Nov 2010 13:29
Positive phase II data for its Parkinson's disease treatment has pushed up shares in Vectura. The VR040 treatment shows positive outcomes on the ability to control movement. This will help Vectura to licence the drug before phase II studies commence. Figures for the six months to September 2010
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Talvivaara shines after production hike
10th Nov 2010 14:35
Talvivaara Mining is in demand after the nickel and zinc miner set production records in the third quarter. In the third quarter nickel production rose 18% from the preceding quarter to 3,211 tonnes. Zinc production rose 36% from the second quarter to 7,557 tonnes. Fenner is higher after a bit of
Read moreMixed first half at Micro Focus
10th Nov 2010 07:55
Software specialist Micro Focus' revenue this year will be similar to last year's $453m after mixed results over the first half. A slowdown in the acquired businesses of Borland and Compuware marred a pick up at the legacy business. Operating profits for the half-year to October will now be simil
Read moreLondon close: Miners keep Footsie in the blue
25th Oct 2010 17:04
Were it not for the strength of miners today Footsie would undoubtedly have ended in the red, as many share prices experienced a late swoon. Miners were wanted on expectations that the US dollar will suffer a relapse after the G20 agreement over the week-end that should, if adhered to, bring an end
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: LSE could be back in play
25th Oct 2010 14:59
Confirmation of the $8.4bn takeover of the Australian Stock Exchange by its Singaporean counterpart has put a takeover of the London Stock Exchange back on the agenda. In 2007, US electronic stock exchange NASDAQ failed in its second attempt to wrest control of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) after
Read moreLondon afternoon: Miners retain most of their gains
25th Oct 2010 14:28
London has lost some of its gains in the early afternoon but it is showing signs of a renewed upturn. Miners remain the best performers on expectations that the US dollar will suffer a relapse after the G20 agreement over the week-end that should, if adhered to, bring an end to so-called currency w
Read moreTechMARK movers: Profit-taking for Micro Focus
25th Oct 2010 13:58
Software company Micro Focus has been hit by profit-taking today. The share price moved ahead at the end of last week on rumours of a bid from IBM. There has been buying interest in Network Technology, even though it is cancelling its Main Market listing on Friday. The buying has been modest, th
Read moreLondon midday: Banks miss out
25th Oct 2010 12:05
Having got off to a flying start London spent the mid-morning period slowly relinquishing its gains before regaining impetus just before midday. Miners continue to lead the advance on expectations that the US dollar will suffer a relapse after the G20 agreement over the week-end that should, if adh
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Takeover talk stirs up Micro Focus
22nd Oct 2010 13:54
Takeover talk is giving shares in Micro Focus a lift. Analysts have been pondering the possibility of a big name such as IBM, Hewlett Packard or Microsoft making a bid for the software group. Shares in Stagecoach have fallen back after strong gains for the past two days following Wednesday's announ
Read moreTechMARK movers: Overweight recommendation for Micro Focus
27th Sep 2010 12:36
Barclays Capital has started its coverage of Micro Focus International with an overweight recommendation. In its AGM statement last week, the software company said that trading is in line with previous statements and it is on course to be cash positive by next March. Gartmore has cut its stake i
Read moreMicro Focus on course to reduce debt
23rd Sep 2010 13:40
At today's AGM, Micro Focus International chairman Kevin Loosemore says the software company is making good progress in reducing its debt and is still on course to be cash positive at the end of April 2011. Net debt was $68.2m at the end of April 2010. Trading remains in line with previous guida
Read moreLondon close: Winning streak ends
7th Sep 2010 16:48
London's leading share index gave up a winning streak that lasted all last week and continued yesterday. The day started sluggishly and continued in that vein after a lower start on Wall Street. Takeover talk provided much of the excitement, with bid speculation about engineering group Invensys an
Read moreTechMARK movers: ProStrakan's woes
7th Sep 2010 15:28
Drug developer ProStrakan has lost nearly one-third of its value after it revealed a catalogue of problems. ProStrakan has lost its chief executive and the FDA is delaying approval of its Abstral cancer pain drug. Abstral was expected to be approved this month. The closure of its factory in the U
Read moreLondon afternoon: Bid rumours relieve the gloom
7th Sep 2010 14:02
It's a case of 'another day, another bid rumour' for London, with bid speculation about engineering group Invensys and oil explorer Tullow Oil providing a bit of cheer to a subdued market. The rumour-mongers are suggesting that the UK engineering conglomerate could be the subject of a 350p per sh
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: De La Rue falls after taking £35m hit
7th Sep 2010 12:23
Shares in banknote printer De La Rue fell after it said that some of its employees had been deliberately falsifying paper specification test certificates for banknotes. The problems will impact pre-tax profits by at least £35m for the first half of the year, the company said. Shipment of affected b
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