The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Friday.
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SMALL-CAP - WINNERS
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Petra Diamonds Ltd, up 2.8% at 72.9 pence, 12-month range 63.1p-123p. The Southern Africa-focused diamond miner and supplier reports sales results for the first tender of its financial year. Says demand was more muted than expected, and the sale yielded $79.3 million from 696,200 carats. The amount of diamonds sold rises 49% from the fifth cycle of the previous year, but like-for-like rough diamond prices fell 4.3%. Petra shares a fairly upbeat outlook, however, expecting demand for jewellery to support prices over the seasonally stronger period which includes Diwali, Thanksgiving, Christmas and the Chinese New Year.
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Costain Group PLC, up 5.6% at 54.90p, 12-month range 34.05p-61.8p. The construction and engineering firm’s stock carries on climbing after its results earlier in the week. On Wednesday, it had said it is progressing towards the resumption of dividend payments after a four-year break. The news was well received by investors, despite its fairly mediocre interim results. Its shares are up 18% over the past five days, and 38% in 2023 so far.
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SMALL-CAP - LOSERS
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Marston’s PLC, down 2.0% at 32.65p, 12-month range 26.8p-50.4p. The pub operator’s stock falls back after a positive week’s trading. It is up 3.3% over the past five days, but still down 17% since the start of the year. It last communicated with the market in late July, boasting double-digit like-for-like sales growth in the 42 weeks to July 22.
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