Could there be a bidding war for Domino's Printing Sciences (DNO)? The market clearly believes so, as the shares at 954p are trading significantly higher than the 915p per share offer that's just been tabled by Brother Industries. Fellow inkjet printing specialist Xaar (XAR) is up 6.1% at 388p amid talk that it could be among other companies in the same sector ripe for a takeover.
Small cap miner Stratex International (STI:AIM) falls 15.7% to 1.58p after a lacklustre study on its Muratdere metals project in Turkey. The project economics aren't that great and come off the back of several disappointing exploration results on other projects.
Aspiring tungsten producer Ormonde Mining (ORM:AIM) rises 24.7% to 2.93p after a takeover approach from sector peer Almonty Industries.
News late yesterday that it faces a $1.6 billion tax bill in India devastates shares in Cairn Energy (CNE) this morning - down 17.1% to 152p - we have more on the story here.
Outsize apparel retailer N Brown (BWNG) is marked down 13.8% to 352.2p on another profit warning. Though sales growth improved in the fourth quarter, up 3.6% as N Brown recovered from an unseasonably warm Autumn, the retailer warns profits will fall short of expectations this year and next, due to investment in prices to clear stock and strategic investments to drive long-term growth.
Pure-play online fashion retailer Boohoo.com (BOO:AIM), a running Play of the Week, rises 7.9% to 27.25p as it reassures on full-year guidance following January's shock profit warning. The earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margin for the year to February is still expected to be 10%, while a positive commentary and news cash-rich Boohoo wants to return cash via a share buyback also puts smiles on faces.
Online gaming group Bwin.party (BPTY) gains 2.8% to 80.6p despite reporting a loss of €97.9 million for 2014 as ISP blocking in Greece and further weakness in poker takes its toll. Trading in the first eight weeks of 2015 looks tough with average daily net revenue down 12% year-on-year driven by lower margins in sports betting and casino.
London-focused house seller Foxtons (FOXT) falls 3.2% to 192.1p despite reporting an 8.2% rise in annual pre-tax profits to £42.1 million. The company expects transactions volumes to slow until after May’s general election, a possibility highlighted in Shares’ trading cover story last week.
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) falls 3.3% to £22.39 as investors take profits following news of a 21% rise in pre-tax profits to $362 million for 2014.
Minimally-invasive medical tool-maker Surgical Innovations (SUN:AIM) dives 23% to 1.2p on a profit warning. It made a significant loss in 2014 due to impairments and write-downs.
Heart-monitor maker Deltex Medical (DEMG:AIM) cheapens 10.8% to 4.12p on news of a 40% widening in operating losses last year to £2.9 million on lower sales and US development costs.
Document storage buy-and-build Restore (RST:AIM) reverses 2.5p to 265.5p as investors pause for breath. Restore, whose shares have gained more than 40% over the last year, reports a 17% rise in full-year adjusted earnings per share to 12.3p as acquisitions bed in.
