Data capture software supplier Kofax (KFX) crashes more than 16% to 396p as full year results miss expectations. The company blames several seven-figure licence sale failures for the miss. That wipes out almost all of the shares' recent 40% rally since early May.
Gauloises Blondes-to-Golden Virginia maker Imperial Tobacco (IMT) rises 3.87% to £27.62 as it confirms possible acquisition talks with Reynolds American (RAI:NYSE) and Lorillard (LO:NYSE). Bristol-headquartered Imperial is mulling over a possible acquisition of assets and brands owned by the US number two and number three tobacco producers respectively, which are finalising a complex merger. Rival British American Tobacco (BATS), which has a 42% stake in Reynolds, rises 1.24% to £35.65 as M&A excitement sweeps the sector.
The alternative energy space is hot with news today. First, solid state battery technology developer Ilika (IKA:AIM) jumps nearly 10% to 67.5p having won a £600,000 proof-of-concept contract in ten telecoms market. Elsewhere, fuel cells designer Ceres Power (CWR:AIM) flops more than 2% to 9.4p after launching a £20 million cash call. The company launched a £9.5 million rescue fund raise in March 2013, just about avoiding going bust.
US employment intelligence supplier ClearStar (CLST:AIM) starts trading on AIM after its £8.8 million fund raising at 57p. The company basically makes background checks on potential employees, which might have been useful for David Cameron recently. The shares edge 5% up in opening trade to 60p.
Marine seismic specialist Thalassa (THAL:AIM) dives 9.9% to 177p despite reporting good trading in the year so far and flagging a 'satisfactory' performance in 2014. The market apparently expressing disappointment that a cycle of earnings upgrades may have paused. The company will announce interims in early September and also announces plans to lease new headquarters in the Warminster, Wiltshire.
Oil explorer Faroe Petroleum (FPM:AIM) ticks up 0.9% to 119.9p as it announces a modest discovery at its Bue prospect and an upgraded resource estimate for its Pil find - both in the Norwegian North Sea.
Price comparison website Moneysupermarket.com (MONY) ticks up half a percent to 188p on its first-half trading update flagging a performance ahead of forecast. The company guided for first half revenues of £122 million, versus Numis’ predicted £118 million. The running Shares Play of the Week reported earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of £43.5 million (forecast of £43 million) and net debt at £21 million, better than the £24 million that Numis had been expecting.
Weaker margins in the nitrile market and adverse currency movements are being blamed for Synthomer's (SYNT) downbeat trading update. Shares in the Harlow-headquartered polymers manufacturer slide 5.3% to 207p.
A positive first-half update from Steppe Cement (STCM:AIM) sees shares in the Kuala Lumpur-based construction materials specialist adding 1.8% to 42p.
