UK banking group Barclays (BARC) crashes 4.9% to 218.5p as the State of New York launches a law suit against the bank over its controversial 'dark pool' off-exchange system trading system. The bank is accused of misleading investors into using the platform, which allows the size and price of trades to be made anonymously, helping large investors such as hedge funds execute deals on more favourable terms.
European electricals retailer Dixons Retail (DXNS) remains flat at £48.07 despite strong annual figures. The PC World-to-Currys owner, whose all-share merger of equals with Carphone Warehouse (CPW) has been cleared by the European Commission, reports a 76% surge in taxable profits to £166.2 million for the year to April.
Airline, package holiday and logistics outfit Dart (DTG) plunges 26.9% to 183.75 after warning on profits. Low demand is being blamed. Full year pre-tax profit rose 4% to £42.1 million while earnings per share increased 14% to 24.86p.
Estate agency Countrywide (CWD) rises 1.6% to 509.2p on declaring a 9p special dividend following the sale of its 2.2% stake in property website Zoopla’s (ZPLA) as part of the latter's IPO last week.
Self-storage concern Safestore (SAFE) gains 4.1% to 208.3p, despite its pre-tax profits in the six months to May collapsing by more than 46% year-on-year. The market instead concentrates on the 16.2% hike in the 2.1p dividend and reduction in its loan-to-value ratio, from 47% to 39%, since October.
Mobile payments platform Monitise (MONI:AIM) rises 2% higher to 57p after buying digital vouchers business Markco Media, owner of MyVoucherCodes.co.uk. The deal, potentially worth more than £50 million, is being funded by new Monitise shares.
Photobooths-to-laundry products operator Photo-Me International (PHTM) brightens 2p to 140p on fantastic full-year results. The running Shares Play of the Week's pre-tax profits grew almost 24% to £30.1 million last year, while the dividend is hiked 25% to 3.75p. The company also remains upbeat on future trading.
Fractured basement reservoir developer Hurricane Energy (HUR:AIM) gains 27.4% to 37.75p as tests on a key horizontal appraisal well on its Lancaster discovery reveal flow rates at the upper end of pre-drill estimates. The company, recently looked at by Shares, says this is a significant step in de-risking its 2C contingent resources of 440-470 million barrels of oil equivalent.
Mid-cap oil explorer Ophir Energy (OPHR) fails to find hydrocarbons with the Okala-1 well on its Mbeli block offshore Gabon. The shares slump 4.5% to 229.6p in response. The drilling concludes its campaign off the coast of the west African country with the same rig en route to drill three wells in Equitorial Guinea.
Funding worries continue to hound LED International (LED:AIM) with the power saving products company struggling to collect outstanding debts. The market is spooked that alternative funding won't materialise and sends the shares tumbling more than 10% to 8.5p.
Value-focused meat retailer Crawshaw (CRAW:AIM) jumps 5.8% to 54.5p on a bullish annual meeting update. Chairman Richard Rose reports year-to-date like-for-like sales growth of 13.4%, a possibility highlighted by Shares recently, and outlines ambitious plans to accelerate the microcap's UK store roll-out.
Sports nutrition minnow Science in Sport (SIS:AIM) cheapens 0.75p to 64p despite sprinting in with strong full-year figures to March. Sales grew 24% to £6.85 million, reflecting strong growth through retail outlets, online and overseas, as highlighted by Shares recently. Widening losses of £1.18 million, from £185,855 a year ago, remain in line with budget, reflecting investment to drive the growth.
Builder Costain (COST) nudged 0.6% higher to 251.5p as the group's pre-close trading update reassures over full year trading.
Galliford Try's (GFRD) four new contracts, worth £82 million, does nothing for the shares, flat at £10.82.
