Company News
Thursday preview: MPC, Lloyds in focus
The market spotlight on Thursday will be squarely on the Monetary Policy Committee, as rate-setters at the Bank of England meet to decide on policy.
Motif Bio to work with Lamellar on cystic fibrosis treatment possibility
Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Motif Bio has signed an agreement with Lamellar Biomedical, under which Motif Bio would conduct an in vivo preclinical study evaluating iclaprim in combination with Lamellar's patented ‘Lamellasome’ technology.
Forbidden Tech extends Deltatre deal for another year
Cloud video platform provider Forbidden Technologies announced on Wednesday that Deltatre has signed an agreement to extend its use of the ‘Blackbird’ product for a further 12 months.
Richland Resources extends loan facility as it pursues Capricorn sale
Australian sapphire producer and gemstones developer Richland Resources announced a further extension of its £0. 4m and $0. 15m secured convertible loan facility to 31 May on Wednesday, as it updated the market on its strategy around its wholly-owned subsidiary, Capricorn Sapphire, which owns the Capricorn sapphire mine in Queensland.
Maestrano Group warns on revenue as banking partner pulls out of platform
Banking integration platform provider Maestrano Group updated the market on its trading on Wednesday, following what it termed a “change in customer priorities”, reporting that it had recently completed delivery of its data visualisation and business intelligence platform as part of the first phase of a strategic project for a major US-based banking customer.
Octagonal tanks as subsidiary expected to report sales decline
Octagonal's shares plummeted on Wednesday after it warned that its subsidiary Global Investment Strategy UK (GIS) is expected to report a decline in earnings and sales for its most recently ended financial year due to "challenging geopolitical uncertainties".
Apple ups guidance despite slide in iPhone sales
Sales of iPhones fell heavily in the three months to March, but an uptick in demand at the end of the quarter has allowed Apple to up its guidance for the next quarter.
Marechale warns on losses following multiple transaction delays
London-based corporate finance house Marechale Capital warned on Wednesday that it now expects to report a full-year operating loss of somewhere in the vicinity off £220,000 to £250,000.
Investor appetite for IPOs boosts Uber as demand for shares outstrips supply
Uber’s $90bn initial public offering is already oversubscribed, according to unnamed sources, further underpinning investor faith in the loss-making ride-hailing service and possibly also reflecting the buoyant mood of late in global capital markets.
First Property climbs as profits set to 'significantly exceed' expectations
First Property Group's shares climbed on Wednesday after stating that its annual profit before tax is "likely to significantly exceed" market expectations of £6. 8m.
Blancco leaps as profit and revenue expected to exceed expectations
Blancco Technology Group's shares stormed higher on Wednesday after the company said it expects full-year revenues and operating profit to be ahead of current market expectations.
GlaxoSmithKline Q1 revenues boosted by shingles vaccine
GlaxoSmithKline posted a rise in first-quarter sales on Wednesday as its vaccines division benefited from strong US sales of shingles vaccine Shingrix.
Barclays faces showdown with activist Bramson
At Barclays' annual meeting on Thursday the bank will try to fend off an attempt by activist investor Edward Bramson to elbow his way onto the board.
Avon Rubber's interim profits suffer after US government shutdown
Avon Rubber on Wednesday reported a drop in interim revenue and profits following a decrease in Law Enforcement revenues as a result of the extended US government partial shutdown.
Warm weather at Easter boosts Next sales
Next posted a rise in first-quarter sales on Wednesday as it said the unusually warm weather over Easter lent a hand.
Augean quarterly profits 'materially ahead' of expectations
Hazardous waste management outfit Augean told investors on Wednesday that due to a stronger trading performance across the group in its first trading quarter, profits for the year ended 31 December 2019 looked set to be "materially ahead" of market expectations.
Heathrow campaigners lose court challenge to third runway
The High Court has rejected an attempt by the Mayor of London and campaigners to overturn the government’s approval of a third runway at London’s Heathrow airport.
Redhall warns of profits 'materially below' expectations
Engineering business Redhall warned investors on Wednesday that delays in the award of a number of expected new contracts meant that its full-year performance would now be "materially below its previous expectations".
ULS Technology pleased with its performance amid tough market
Conveyancing and financial intermediary business-to-business platform provider ULS Technology updated the market on its trading for the year on Wednesday, reporting that it expected to announce financial results “broadly in line” with both market expectations and the prior year.
AIB Group upbeat after decent start to year
AIB Group reported a “good start” to its year on Wednesday, with its net interest margin rising to 2. 50% for its first quarter, up from 2. 48% at the end of the fourth quarter of 2018.