Anglo American (AAL) beats consensus forecasts with its full-year results. There's no growth in the dividend, unlike many of its FTSE 100 mining peer group, but it is good to see improvement in the general business performance with a focus on costs and profit margins. That explains the 1.5% rise in the share price to £15.56 yet we remain cautious on the stock. As we detailed in this article, Anglo still faces negative free cash flow this year.
Jordanian drug company Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) improves 3.8% to £12.91 as it raises its earnings guidance for the fourth time in nine months. Here's a closer look at the news.
Photobooths-to-digital printing kiosks operator Photo-Me International (PHTM) sparks up 5.5p to 149.25p as it announcesit will pay a £7.5 million (2p a share) special dividend in May. Armed with a bumper £68 million net cash at the end of October, the running Shares Play of the Week will use its remaining cash pile to accelerate the roll out of its new 'Revolution' laundry product as quickly as possible.
IT services supplier Phoenix IT (PNX) jumps close on 9% to 120p after revealingbetter new business figures in the third quarter. That comes despite losingan important supply agreement last October which sparked a big share price slump from 162p.
Construction equipment rental group Vp (VP.) dips 0.9% to 660p despite reassuringinvestors that trading is in line with market expectations. Demand from infrastructure and housebuilding has remained strong, whilst general construction is showing some early signs of improvement. Here's our 'griller' interview with Vp from June 2013.
Junior metals explorer Mariana Resources (MARL:AIM) drops 14% to 3.08p after a field technician employed by its partner EAD is thought to have been kidnappedin Peru.
Mineral sands producer Kenmare Resources (KMR) jumps 5.5% to 16.83p after striking a dealwith its lenders to push back project financing repayments.
Life sciences technology specialist Scientific Digital Imagining (SDI:AIM) rises 1.3% to 18.7p as it buysinfrared camera maker Opus Instruments for £1.3 million in cash and shares.
Shares in video search engine Blinkx (BLNX:AIM) remains volatile in the wake of recent criticism of its business model but the buyers are back in charge today, pushing the shares 5.5% up to 120.75p. The stock has lost a third of its value since being forced to issue a statementlate last month to defend its position.
Family-controlled car dealer Caffyns (CFYN) motors 12.5p higher to 540p on a strong trading update. For the four months to January, new car sales sped 9.8% higher year-on-year and used car sales were up an impressive 21%.
