News And Announcements
MD Medical opens its first standalone medical lab in Moscow
Russian private healthcare provider MD Medical Group announced the opening of its first lab for the collection of analyses on Friday.
Southern Energy preparing for rig to arrive at Gwinville
US-focussed natural gas producer Southern Energy updated the market on its drilling and operations on Friday, reporting that its operating subsidiary had contracted Energy Drilling Company's Rig #15 for the upcoming programme at the Gwinville asset in central Mississippi.
Starcrest Education backs out of acquisition of National Training Company
Shares in Starcrest Education resumed trading on Friday, after the company confirmed the cancellation of its intended acquisition of National Training Company (NTC), which it initially announced on 6 August.
Photo-Me revenue to be 'slightly ahead' of expectations
Photo booth operator and service provider Photo-Me International said in an update on Friday that its better-than-expected trading momentum in May, June and July continued into its fourth quarter, driven by a continued recovery in photo booth activity and a “strong” performance in laundry.
Omega challenges government on repayment after Covid test contract failure
Omega Diagnostics updated the market on its contract with the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to provide manufacturing capacity for Covid-19 lateral flow antigen tests on Friday, indicating it was in disagreement with the government on an alleged repayment requirement.
Getty Images to go public again in $4.8bn Spac deal
Visual content creator Getty Images said on Friday that it will become a publicly-listed company again in a $4. 8bn Spac merger with CC Capital and Neuberger Berman.
New Insig AI commercial chief Colm McVeigh appointed to board
Insig AI announced on Friday that its chief commercial officer Colm McVeigh has been appointed to its board of directors.
Elon Musk sells another $1bn in Tesla shares
Elon Musk sold down more of his holding in Tesla overnight on Thursday, offloading 934,091 shares, regulatory filings showed.
Open Orphan signs contract to test antiviral candidate
Specialist contract research organisation Open Orphan announced on Friday that its subsidiary hVIVO has signed a $13. 4m contract with an unnamed US-based biotechnology company to test its novel antiviral candidate, using the ‘hVIVO Influenza Human Challenge’ study model.
Travellers cancelling Heathrow flights over Omicron curb fears
Business passengers are starting to cancel flights out of London’s Heathrow airport over fears they could be trapped by travel restrictions as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads.
DeepVerge subsidiary develops new version of Covid-19 wastewater test
DeepVerge said on Friday that its Modern Water subsidiary has completed the development of its third-generation compact ‘Microtox PD’ Covid-19 detection system, which was now scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2022.
Pathfinder shares surge as it moves closer to arbitration
Pathfinder Minerals updated the market on its dispute over mining concession 4623C on Friday, reporting that it had “significantly advanced” its preparation to refer the dispute to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) under the Mozambique-UK Bilateral Investment Treaty.
Europe open: Omicron fears hit shares as Daimler Truck makes debut
European shares opened lower at the start of the week’s final session following weak US and Asian markets overnight as investors fretted about the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
SDCL Energy Efficiency posts solid performance on joining FTSE 250
SDCL Energy Efficiency Income reported a net asset value of £943. 6m in its interim results on Friday, up 36% from £693. 8m at the start of the period.
Dunelm signs £185m sustainability-linked unsecured revolving credit facility
Homewares retailer Dunelm Group said on Friday that it has signed a £185. 0m sustainability-linked unsecured revolving credit facility with Barclays Bank, Lloyds Bank, National Westminster Bank, Banco Santander, London Branch and Credit Industriel et Commercial.
HgCapital makes £9.4m investment in Pirum Systems
Investment firm HgCapital Trust revealed on Friday that it has made an approximately £9. 4m investment into post-trade automation and collateral management technology provider Pirum Systems.
Anglo American forecasts stronger 2022
Mining giant Anglo American forecast a stronger performance in 2022 than the current year, as it focused on its Quellaveco copper project in Peru.
Hilton Food launches equity placing to fund Dutch Seafood acquisition
Food packaging business Hilton Food Group said on Friday that it has agreed to acquire smoked salmon producer Dutch Seafood Company as part of an effort to expand its presence in a growing protein category and enter the US, a new geography for the firm.
Primark trading ahead of expectations, says AB Foods
Associated British Foods said Primark trading for the year to date was ahead of expectations with improved like-for-like sales compared to the final quarter of last year, but warned of increasing Covid cases hitting stores in Europe.