After gains on Wall Street and falls in Asia overnight the FTSE 100 is flat this morning at 6,286.06.
Trading platform CMC Markets (CMCX) sinks 11.4% to 245.5p as it warns first half net operating income will be lower year-on-year as it says low levels of market volatility provide fewer trading opportunities for its clients.
Traditional stockbroker Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) is also under pressure, down 1.5% to £13.30, as the news of chief executive Ian Gorham’s departure after seven years in post overshadows a 10% rise in full year pre-tax profit to £218.9 million. Current finance director Chris Hill will step up to a deputy role from 1 October with a view to taking over when Gorham leaves (by September 2017 at the latest).
Housebuilder Barratt Developments (BDEV) posts solid full year numbers, pointing to a positive start to its current financial year despite Brexit. The shares are currently down 1.6% to 498.7p after opening above 520p.
Pharmaceuticals play Vectura (VEC) arrests a steady decline in its share price, gaining 5.1% to 133.4p, as it raises revenue expectations for the nine months to 31 December thanks to strong trading. The integration with Skyepharma post the completion of the merger in June is also progressing according to plan.
AIM-quoted biotech Futura Medical (FUM:AIM) is up 42.1% to 40.5p as its MED2002 erectile dysfunction treatment achieves a breakthrough in clinical trials.
Payments processing firm Worldpay (WPG) is down 3.3% to 284.8p as its largest investors, Advent International and Bain Capital, offload £987 million worth of stock.
Sports retailer Sports Direct (SPD) slumps 6.6% to 326.5p as warns of lower profits and reveals chairman Keith Hellawell offered to resign following the release of an internal report into working practices at the company’s warehousing facility but was asked to remain in post by executive deputy chair Mike Ashley.
Vehicle tracking specialist Trakm8 (TRAK:AIM) slumps 12.1% to 199.9p as sterling weakness drives an increase in component costs and it points to a significant second half weighting to its annual results, often the precursor to an eventual profit warning.
Sports marketing outfit TLA Worldwide (TLW:AIM) falls 18% to 45.5p as it withdraws its recommendation to shareholders to accept a $140 million all-paper offer from the Atlantic Alliance Partnership.
