News And Announcements
W Resources appoints executive director, finance chief
Spain and Portugal-focussed tungsten, tin and gold company W Resources announced on Wednesday that non-executive director Pablo Neira has been appointed as an executive director, with a specific focus on overseeing the La Parrilla tungsten and tin project in Spain.
Spectra gets two patents for 'TruBrand' in China
Banknote authentication and security technology company Spectra Systems has “significantly strengthened” its patent position, it announced on Wednesday, through the issue of a patent for its ‘TruBrand’ technology in China.
Cerillion nets new three-year contract with Belgium's Scarlet
Billing and customer relationship management software company Cerillion announced a new three-year managed services contract with Scarlet on Wednesday, which is a triple-play communications services provider in Belgium, part of the Proximus Group.
Jadestone Energy relinquishes Philippines service contract
Asia-Pacific-focussed oil and gas production company Jadestone Energy announced the voluntary relinquishment and termination of service contract 56 (SC56), offshore Philippines on Wednesday.
Begbies Traynor FY results to be 'at least in line' with market views
Financial advisor and property services consultancy Begbies Traynor said on Wednesday that full-year results are set to be "at least in line" with current market consensus for adjusted pre-tax profit of £9. 8m.
Wynnstay FY profit to be 'significantly ahead' of market forecasts
Agricultural supplies company Wynnstay said on Wednesday that FY 2020 underlying pre-tax profit is set to be "significantly ahead" of current market forecasts after better-than-expected trading since June.
Versarien reveals antiviral potential of graphene materials
Advanced materials engineering company Versarien announced the receipt of an independent report from Turkey’s Ankara University on Wednesday, detailing the results of a preliminary study of its modified graphene materials for use against SARS-CoV-2, the strain of coronavirus that causes the Covid-19 disease.
Drilling begins on Botswana Diamonds projects in South Africa
Botswana Diamonds announced on Wednesday that drilling has started on its Thorny River and Marsfontein project areas in South Africa.
OptiBiotix grants LPLDL licence to Canada's Genuine Health
Life sciences company OptiBiotix Health announced on Wednesday that its wholly-owned subsidiary ProBiotix Health has granted a non-exclusive licence for ‘LPLDL’ to Genuine Health, for a cardiovascular health product in Canada and the United States.
Best of the Best trading continues strongly into second half
Lifestyle competition operator Best of the Best updated the market on its first-half trading on Wednesday, reporting that it had remained as strong as it had detailed on 16 September, with that momentum remaining.
IronRidge gets four-year renewals to licences in Chad
Africa-focussed minerals exploration company IronRidge Resources has been granted four-year licence renewals, with corresponding area reductions, by the Chad Ministry of Petroleum and Mines, it announced on Wednesday.
Carnival to raise $1bn to buy back notes
Carnival said it planned to raise $1bn (£753m) with an equity offering to buy convertible bonds back from their holders.
Europe open: Shares make listless start as Covid realities hit home
European stocks opened Wednesday in deflated mood as continuing coronavirus worries offset the positive sentiment around a second potential vaccine.
Unite criticises Lloyds's decision to go ahead and cut 56 branches
Unite has criticised Lloyds Banking Group's decision to close several dozen branches across Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, labelling the decision "unjustified", "damaging" and "devastating".
UK's NAO hammers govt over failures in Covid contract awards
The UK government came under fire on Wednesday from parliament’s spending watchdog over failures in the way it handed out £18bn in coronavirus-related contracts, fuelling further claims of preferential treatment for firms with ministerial connections.
RSA agrees £7.2bn takeover by Intact and Tryg
RSA Insurance has agreed to be bought for £7. 2bn by a consortium comprising Intact Corp of Canada and Denmarks' Tryg A/S.
Unilever sets goal for €1bn annual sales of plant-based items
Unilver has set itself the target of reaching annual sales of plant-based foodstuffs worth €1bn.
Berenberg downgrades easyJet after rebound
Berenberg downgraded easyJet to ‘hold’ from ‘buy’ on Wednesday, arguing that upside is more limited because the shares have rebounded more than 40% since 9 November.
Safestore flags strong fourth quarter performance
Safestore reported a 5. 4% improvement in group revenue for the fourth quarter at constant exchange rates on Wednesday, to £42. 8m, adding that all of its stores were operating as usual despite the return to more stringent Covid-19 restrictions.
Breedon revenues continue to grow during October
Construction materials group Breedon said on Wednesday that it had continued to deliver "an encouraging performance" so far in the fourth quarter of its trading year.