The FTSE 100 index ended Friday’s session in negative territory falling 0.91% to 6963.64 below the psychologically critical 7,000 level. The FTSE 250 index fared marginally better, remaining in positive territory up 0.1% at 23,658.14.
Two main factors contributed to this decidedly mixed performance. First, the UK market was uninspired by the latest UK retail sales volumes for August which showed a 0.9% decline from July.
This compared with a consensus forecast of a 0.5% rise. According to the ONS report 6.5% of retailers were impacted by supply chain challenges, impacting the materials they required.
Second, in America the preliminary reading of the University of Michigan Consumer sentiment index came in below market forecasts. Moreover Democrats have been pushing for an increase the rate of corporation tax rate to 26.5% from 21%.
These factors prompted weakness in American equities which weighted on the performance of the London market towards the end of Friday’s trading session. All of the American equity indices were trading lower at the time of the London market close.
DELAYED REACTIONS
Shares in Restaurant Group (RTN) owner of Wagamama and Frankie and Benny’s, rose by 6.6% to 112.4p as investors had a delayed reaction to positive earnings results earlier in the week.
In a similar vein DIY retailer Wickes Group (WIX) benefited from a Deutsche Bank upgrade to buy from hold, which was prompted by strong results earlier in the week. The shares were 3.2% firmer at 245p.
CORPORATE NEWS
Martin Sorrell-steered marketing services company S4 Capital (SFOR) firmed 1.5% to 812p as it announced a merger between Zemoga and its new unitary brand Media.Monks.
The merger marks a ‘significant first step towards building a third practice area around technology services’, said S4 Capital.
Safestay (SSTY:AIM) surged 10% higher to 22p after the hostels operator company said it will undertake a review of strategic options including the sale of the company, having received a ‘very early’ stage potential takeover approach.
The company said it has made progress on its strategy to protect the business and secure capital to enable it to re-emerge strongly from the pandemic, the cost base has been ‘substantially’ reduced and it has completed the sale of two assets to raise £16.8 million.
Venture capital investor Draper Esprit (GROW) rose 3.4% to £10.76 having reported a significant uplift in the value of its stake in Cazoo following the online used car seller’s recent listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
Online wine retailer Virgin Wines (VINO:AIM) bubbled 2.6% higher to 210 p after partnering with Moonpig (MOON) to launch a range of wines with the online greeting card-to-gifting platform.
OTHER RISERS AND FALLERS
Sustainable wood products maker Accsys Technologies (AXS:AIM) was flat at 155p despite news it has made a ‘strong’ start to the financial year with revenue and volumes in growth amid ongoing consumer demand and uptick in prices in its wood elements products.
Renewables investment trust NextEnergy Solar Fund (NESF) nudged 1.5% higher to 100p after forming a £100 million joint venture with battery storage specialist Eelpower.
Marking the fund’s first strategic step into the UK energy storage sector, the joint venture is targeting the establishment of up to 250MW in projects with £100m in invested capital and has already signed its first acquisition of a 50MW standalone battery storage project.
Gold exploration and development company Goldstone Resources (GRL:AIM) plunged 12% to 10p on news plans to bring the Homase mine within its Akrokeri-Homase gold project in Ghana into production have suffered a setback amid struggles to secure government approval to use a rented gold elution facility.
Faron Pharmaceuticals (FARN:AIM) sparked up 9% to 450p after the company said updated results from an early-stage trial showed that its cancer drug was well tolerated and had the potential to increase survival in patients with a variety of late stage solid tumours.
Growth and turnaround investment company Volvere (VLE:AIM) fell 1.1% to £12.75 despite having reported narrowed first half losses as revenue was bolstered by the performance of Shire Foods, its frozen pie and pasty manufacturing business.
‘The group remains in a strong financial position with significant cash reserves and is poised to take advantage of any investment opportunities arising from reducing levels of UK government support schemes,’ insisted the company.
