The FTSE 100 is fairly flat ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend, hovering around the 7,565 point mark. Concerns over US China trade wars persist, especially as Donald Trump’s political woes worsen on a home front with fears of impeachment.
Pharma company Shire (SHP) is up 2.5% to £45.32 as it confirms that US regulator the FDA has approved its Takhzyro injection. The treatment is used for preventing attacks of hereditary angioedema in patients over 12 years old. The condition the drug is aimed at is rare and genetic.
Building materials company Kingspan (KGP) is up 6.3% to €0.418 on releasing a good set of half year results. For the six months ending 30 June the company’s revenue is up 15% to €2bn, with trading profit up 10% to €195.3m, both on a year-on-year basis. Kingspan has also hiked its half dividend by 9% to €0.12 per share.
Construction company Henry Boot (BOOT) ticks up 2.4% to 277p as it reports a 15.9% rise in pre-tax profits to £26.2m for its first half. In the six months to 30 June the company’s earnings per share increased by 19.8% to 15.7p while also reducing its net debt by 58.2% to £26m all on a year-on-year basis.
IT infrastructure company Computacenter (CCC) rises 10p to £15.14 on revealing a 24.3% pre-tax profit lift to £52.1m in its half year results. To 30 June, the company also increased its revenue by 18.1% to £2bn and hiked its interim dividend by 17.6% to 8.7p per share.
Aviation company Air Partner (AIR) glides up 1.1% to 114.3p on releasing a update detailing its ‘encouraging’ first half to the year. The company says that its trading in line with expectations in terms of its underlying pre-tax profits and also retains a strong cash position.
Food ingredient company PureCircle (PURE) sweetens 5.3% to 316p after the company reassured investors that it did not know why its share price had been so weak recently.
Mining minnow Kefi Minerals (KEFI:AIM) gains 9.8% to 2.25p after saying that a consortium of Ethiopian investors would help fund the company’s projects in the country. The agreed investment is said to be worth around $30m to $35m.
