News And Announcements
£35bn of crisis debt threatens 3m jobs, City report says
As many as 3m British jobs and 780,000 businesses are at risk unless support is provided for borrowers of £35bn of unsustainable debt built up during the Covid-19 crisis, the UK's financial industry warned.
China Nonferrous Gold agrees loan extensions
Tajikistan-focussed mineral exploration and mining company China Nonferrous Gold has extended the repayment period for loans in place with CNMC Trade Company, it announced on Wednesday, totalling $146. 5m (£115. 94m).
Grafenia launches perpetual bond facility, issues £3m
Grafenia announced on Wednesday that it has put in place a facility to issue up to £50m of perpetual bonds, and issued £3m of the bonds to investors, raising about £2. 01m before expenses.
Cambridge Cognition joins Covid healthcare worker investigation
Cambridge Cognition is collaborating with 4YouandMe and the Center for International Emergency Medical Services (CIEMS), it announced on Wednesday, to investigate the use of wearables and mobile phones to measure stress recovery in front line healthcare workers caring for Covid-19 positive patients in the United States.
Kodal secures another $1.5m funding for development projects
Lithium-focussed exploration and development company Kodal Minerals has secured sufficient funding resources to accelerate the next phases of its development projects, and to evaluate new opportunities, via a $1. 5m (£1. 19m) unsecured convertible loan agreement with Riverfort Global Opportunities and YA II.
SEC Newgate launches 'TRUE' AI platform in Italy
Communications and research company SEC Newgate announced the launch of the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered ‘TRUE’ platform on Wednesday, which would run “extensive and new-to-market” semantic and reputation assessments.
MaxCyte revenues grow further despite Covid crisis
Clinical-stage cell-based therapies company MaxCyte updated the market on its trading for the six months ended 30 June on Wednesday, saying first half revenues were expected to increase about 30% year-on-year to $10. 9m (£8. 63m).
Goldman Sachs' Q2 beats forecasts on fixed-income boom
Goldman Sachs's second-quarter profit beat Wall Street expectations as the investment bank recorded its second-best revenue haul fuelled by a fixed-income trading boom.
Dixons Carphone profits slump following Covid store closures
Dixons Carphone posted a slump in full-year profits on Wednesday, pinning the blame on weakness in the mobile division and store closures due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Portmeirion reports fall in sales as markets begin to recover
Homewares designer and manufacturer Portmeirion Group reported an 8% slide in sales in its first half on Wednesday, to £32m, with its like-for-like sales excluding the Nambé acquisition down 20%.
Covid restrictions affecting productivity for Anglo Asian Mining
Azerbaijan-focussed gold, silver and copper producer Anglo Asian Mining reported a $3. 2m (£2. 53m) increase in cash in its second quarter on Wednesday, to $29. 2m.
Air Partner returning to more normal levels of trading
Aviation services group Air Partner said on Wednesday that it was now returning to more normal levels of trading, after a period of increased demand at the height of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
AFC Energy agrees partnership with Extreme E racing series
Hydrogen power technology company AFC Energy confirmed a collaboration with Extreme E on Wednesday, to supply zero emission, hydrogen-fuelled off-grid power to the latter’s inaugural electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) racing series, beginning in early 2021.
AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine shows promise - report
A Covid-19 vaccine backed by AstraZeneca is producing positive results in initial trials, according to a report.
UK rolls out online shopping service with reusable packing
Delivery scheme Loop will be the first in the UK to launch an online shopping service to deliver groceries in reusable packaging.
Big Yellow Q2 trading improves as lockdown eases
Self-storage firm Big Yellow Group said on Wednesday that trading had improved since Downing Street's lockdown measures had begun to ease.
Burberry sees 50% slump in H1 sales after lockdowns as job cuts loom
Luxury fashion brand Burberry said it expected first half revenue to fall by up to 50% and would restructure further as the coronavirus pandemic continued to have a material impact on sales.
Finsbury Food H2 sales hit by Covid-19 crisis
Speciality baker Finsbury Food reported a decline in second-half sales on Wednesday as it took a hit from the coronavirus outbreak.
McCarthy & Stone swings to loss because of Covid-19
McCarthy & Stone said the impact of Covid-19 would be weighted towards the second half of the year as lower sales during the crisis drove it to a loss in the first half.
Galliford Try rallies on 'strong' order book
Shares of Galliford Try surged on Wednesday as the construction group hailed a "strong" order book in an update on trading in the year to the end of June.