The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Thursday.
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SMALL-CAP - WINNERS
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Foresight Group Holdings Ltd, up 12% at 377.00 pence, 12-month range 323.84p - 466.00p. The infrastructure and private equity investment manager reports a sharp rise in interim profit and revenue. In the six months ended September 30, Foresight posts a pretax profit of £25.4 million, up from £13.1 million the previous year. Revenue jumps to £50.7 million from £39.7 million. This comes as the firm’s assets under management climb to £12.5 billion at September 30 from £8.8 billion at the same time a year prior. It explains this rise was driven by the significant acquisition of Australia-based Infrastructure Capital Group, which added around £3.0 billion to the firm’s AuM.
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abrdn Equity Income Trust PLC, up 3.7% at 339.00 pence, 12-month range 290.00p - 385.14p. Net asset value per share falls 13% to 331.8p at September 30 from 380.8p at the same time a year prior. The investor delivers a total NAV return of negative 7.6% in the year ended September 30, compared to a negative 4.0% return from the FTSE All-Share Index. Notes the most significant headwind in the period was the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which caused a surge in oil and gas prices and added to existing inflationary pressures.Declares a fourth interim dividend of 6.5p, taking the total payout for the year to 22.70p, an increase of 7.1% against the year prior. Says it is confident it can navigate the current challenging backdrop successfully.
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SMALL-CAP - LOSERS
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Creightons PLC, down 20% at 29.88 pence, 12-month range 28.56p - 102.00p. Swings to a loss of £359,000 in the six months ended September 30 from a profit of £2.3 million the previous year. Revenue falls to £29.7 million from £30.0 million a year prior. Gross margin declines to 40.4% from 42.7% as the consumer goods firm struggles to pass on significant direct cost increases to retailers, contract customers and consumers. Distribution costs rise by 17% year-on-year, while administration costs increase by 14% year-on-year. Notes the integration of acquisitions were put hold for several months amid a challenging economic climate ‘whilst the ship was steadied’.
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Triad Group PLC, down 18% at 109.00 pence, 12-month range 100.80p - 180.00p. Swings to a pretax loss of £410,000 in the six months ended September 30 from a profit of £670,000 the previous year. Revenue drops to £7.1 million from £8.6 million. Triad calls the results ‘disappointing’ but says they were ‘entirely’ due to external factors ‘beyond our control’. Cites the impacts of the Russian war, Covid-19 and recent UK government turmoil for the ‘extraordinary delays’ in awarding new contracts and processing the associated paperwork. Reports a ‘strong upturn’ in levels of new business wins and bidding activity in the second half of its financial year. The software firm and consultancy declares an interim dividend of 2p, unchanged from a year prior.
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