Mike Ashley's Sports Direct International (SPD) slips 34p to 737p as strong half-time results to the end of October fail to trigger hoped-for forecast upgrades. Interim numbers from the highly-rated retailer reveal continuing healthy growth with group sales up 23.5% to almost £1.35 billion and online sales skipping 43% higher to £158 million. However the market appears disappointed with a 17% rise in underlying pre-tax profit to £146 million, a figure light of consensus expectations.
Fashion retailer SuperGroup (SGP) gives up 4.3% at £12 as investors take profits after a storming run. Impressive first-half figures from the Superdry brand owner show underlying taxable profits surging 21.8% ahead to £17.9 million and robust retail like-for-like sales growth of 8.1% with the help of well-received womenwear products. A running Shares Play of the Week, the retailer has positive momentum behind it going into the key third quarter which includes the Christmas selling period.
A disappointing update from oil services firm Wood Group (WG.) is punished by the market, the shares down 10.4% to 714p as we discuss here. A number of Wood's rivals are also under pressure with Amec (AMEC) down 2.9% at £10.72 and Petrofac (PFC) off 2.9% to £11.55.
Go-Ahead (GOG) speeds 40p higher to £16.68 on news the bus and rail services operator is on track to beat full-year forecasts. Read our news analysis here.
Flat full-year profits fail to move the needle for inkjet and laser printer Domino Printing Sciences (DNO), which has raised R&D. Even its write-off of eggs printing sideline TEN Media is met with a shrug, the shares drift 5.5p to 704.5p, continuing the 600p to 700p rough range all year.
Analysts at Westhouse downgrade Moneysupermarket.com (MONY) to 'add' from 'buy' as the counter retreats 1.2% to 180p. They cite the strong share price performance since the 6 November trading statement for the move.
Following its recent (2 Dec) trading update, N+1 Singer downgrades its recommendation on City of London Investment (CLIG) from 'buy' to 'hold' due to poor fund flows. The counter retreats 0.3% to 239p in early trade.
Men's formalwear specialist Moss Bros (MOSB) gathers up 0.5p at 70p after fashioning a reassuring trading statement. Like-for-like sales rose 5.3% over the first 19 weeks of the second half, helped by a recovery in the hire business. CEO Brian Brick also highlights rapid e-commerce sales growth of 194% over the 45 weeks to 7 December.
Wound care specialist Tissue Regenix (TRX:AIM) rises 15.8% to 20.1p on news it has signed seven regional sales distribution agreements in the USA to promote its DermaPure skin graft.
Property investor and developer Terrace Hill (THG:AIM) tumbles 8% to 32.8p as pre-tax profits fall to £5.6 million (2012: £7.5 million) for the year to October.
Interest has fizzled out in auto reports from data business Arria NLG (NLG:AIM), the latest technology growth hope story. Having soared 180% in its first couple of days since joining Aim last week at 100p, the stock has savagely reversed, down another 11% today to 140p. Valuing this business is tricky at this early stage, as Shares explains in today's issue of the magazine.
Aspiring lead/zinc producer North River Resources (NRRP:AIM) jumps 16.7% to 0.7p after issuing a very large resource upgrade for its Namib project in Namibia. The running Shares Play of the Week has increased its resource by 129%. Next big news is the feasibility study, due early 2014.
West Africa-based iron ore producer London Mining (LOND:AIM) falls 4.6% to 105.13p as it lowers 2013 guidance. The small cap has suffered delays with upgrading its processing plant and reduced output because of wet weather.
Natural resources investment company Brady Exploration (BRDY:AIM) halves to 0.5p as it resumes trading on Aim having failed to complete the planned reverse takeover of Energy Equity Resources due to a lack of financing. The shares were suspended in April while the group worked towards the deal with EER which has oil and gas assets in Nigeria.
Green Dragon Gas (LON:GDG) gains 7.4% to 290p as it reports progress towards a better understanding of the repercussions of third party drilling on its licences - a story we discussed in more detail here. The group has agreed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with PetroChina to confirm its participating interests in the Chengzhuang block (GCZ), which is part of the Shizhuang South production sharing contract (GSS).
