Drug approvals and a recovery in oil prices help the FTSE 100 rise 35 points to 6,139. Niche drug-maker Shire (SHP) gains 3.2% to £48.95 on winning clearance to sell one of its attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatments in Europe, while a slight rise in oil prices on lower drilling activity in the US has given some energy companies a lift, such as BP (BP.), which improves 0.4% to 335p.
There has been some bad news in the blue-chip index. Non-life insurer RSA (RSA) slumps 20.7% to 404p after Zurich Insurance decided not to make a bid for the More Than owner after the Swiss outfit is set to make losses in China. It confirmed in July that it was considering making an offer for the home and motor insurer.
Fashion retailer French Connection (FCCN) falls more than 7% to 26p on poor interim results. Losses widened on a sharp decline in retail like-for-like sales, reflecting a disappointing performance in the Spring 2015 collection and tough comparatives.
Domino's Pizza franchise DP Poland (DPP:AIM) surges 6.9% to 19.5p after reporting a 16% rise in like-for-like sales in thesix months to 30 June. Its EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) loss reduced by 40% to £773,591. The group is opening in a third Polish city, alongside Warsaw and Krakow, in October.
Online domestic appliances retailer AO World (AO.) cheapens 3% to 164.7p, despite reporting encouraging second quarter UK sales growth of circa 20-21%, on news it has stepped up investment spend to drive sales growth.
High-purity stevia ingredients producer PureCircle (PURE:AIM) sweetens up 5p to 397.5p. Full-year resultsshow sales growth across all geographic regions, driven by accelerating market adoption of stevia by food and drink giants. Increasingly confident about its long-term growth prospects, the company also flags a move from AIM to the Main Market.
Shares in Chinese electric scooter manufacturer Vmoto (VMT:AIM) have been suspended from AIM at 18p pending an update on its operations and 'clarification of the impact this may have on the company's expectation of its financial performance'. The £26 million cap will make a further announcement in due course.
Organ transplant technology specialist Lifeline Scientific (LSIC:AIM) trades 6.8% higher to 220p after launching a strategic reviewof the company, which could lead to selling the company, making acquisitions or listing on Nasdaq.
Underground coal gasification (UCG) play Cluff Natural Resources (CLNR:AIM) is up 12.5% to 4.07p as an independentreport suggests UCG could be worth £12.8 billion to the UK economy.
Irish oil explorer Providence Resources (PVR:AIM) gains 9.1% to 15p as is secures a collaborationagreement US heavyweight oil services firm Schlumberger (SLB:NYSE) to explore off the country's west coast.
Sable Mining (SBLM) jumps 60% to 0.85p on news that it may be able to supply coal to a new power plant in Zimbabwe which is under consideration by a Chinese construction group.
