The FTSE 100 ticks through the 7,000 mark after rising strongly yesterday afternoon on sterling weakness.
Pest control firm Rentokil (RTO) advances 7.9% to 228p as the market gives a nod of approval to a joint venture with German peer Haniel for its workwear and hygiene units. Under the terms of the agreement Rentokil will bank an initial €520m and will have an 18% stake in the JV.
Specialist travel agent On The Beach (OTB) falls 9.4% to 250p as management sell 14m shares in the company at 240p.
Newspaper publisher Trinity Mirror (TNI) is up 6% to 89p as it guides for full year performance marginally ahead of expectations and a 'significantly' better than anticipated net debt position of around £35m.
Aerial platform business Lavendon (LVD) gains 6.3% to 257p as a bidding war for the company intensifies. Thermote & Vanhalst increase its offer from 205p to 230p yesterday and today its rival Loxam responds with an increased all cash offer of 250p per share.
Walkie talkie technology play Sepura (SEPU:AIM) falls 18.5% to 19.36p after its Chinese suitor announces a recommended cash offer of 20p per share. Although the deal is pitched at a 35.6% premium to the closing price the day before talks were announced, investors were clearly hoping for more.
North Sea oil firm Independent Oil & Gas (IOG:AIM) gains 13.3% to 21.25p as it announces a significant increase in its internal resource estimates for its Elgood and Harvey natural gas assets in the Southern North Sea. It also reveals licence extensions on Harvey and another field, Skipper.
Marine seismic business Thalassa (THAL:AIM) gains 5.3% to 50p as it flags expected revenue growth of nearly 30% in 2017.
Colombian oil producer Amerisur Resources (AMER:AIM) slips 6.1% to 26.75p as it suffers operational delays linked to social unrest.
Health-focused wearable devices play Cloudtag (CTAG:AIM) is down 13.2% at 11.5p after shares resume trading following the conversion of loan notes into equity by one of its major backers. The company also updates on on financing, manufacturing and distribution.
