Cambridge-based inkjet printing kit designer Xaar (XAR) comes under intense selling pressure as long-term chief executive Ian Dinwoodie announces his retirement. The shares fall 10% to 898p on this blow, overshadowing robust full-year 2013 results despite hints of a slowdown in growth. Investors seem happy to take profits with the share price having tripled in 15 months.
Global online fashion store ASOS (ASC:AIM) gives up 14% to £54.62 as a weak second quarter trading statement disappoints the market. For the two months to 28 February, retail sales grew 26.2%, well below 32.5% consensus estimates. Recent Aim debutante Boohoo.com (BOO:AIM) is spooked by the news, falling 12.2% to 58.38p on the negative read-across. Read our news analysis on why the shares have fallen so far.
Mid cap oil explorer Cairn Energy's (CNE) full-year results get a frosty reception - the shares down 9.6% to 177.5p. A pre-tax loss of $1.1 billion is reported, the buyback is cancelled and it says medium-term spending plans could be threatened by Indian tax issue. We take a closer look at its problems here.
Supermarket giant Sainsbury's (SBRY) nudges 0.95p higher to 312.35p despite its remarkable run of like-for-like sales growth coming to an end in the fourth quarter. Downgrades follow newslike-for-like sales fell 3.1% over the 10 weeks to 15 March against tough comparatives and an increasingly-competitive market.
Housebuilder Berkeley (BKG) adds 1.9% to £27.02 after reportingstrong forward sales, increased land holdings and saying that its cash return is still on track. The company will return 270p per share by September 2015. A further 433p per share is due to be returned by September 2018.
A second profit warning in five months puts the brakes on Speedy Hire (SDY), down 13.5% to 66.38p. The share price slumped last year after an accounting scandal and the departure of the company's chief executive officer. Having rebounded this year, Speedy now shocks the market with news that full-year profit will be 20% below market forecasts. This is due to lower asset sales, Middle East trading losses and lower hire revenues in the UK.
Social housing repair specialist Mears (MER) slips 1.5% to 493.5p as investors fret about the lack of growth in its order book, flat at £3.8 billion. The care operations were disappointing when you exclude the contribution from ILS, acquired in April 2013. Exceptional costs at its recently-sold mechanical and electrical business were £1 million larger than forecast. The company tells Shares that there's £300 million of live contract tenders and it already has visibility for 92% of budgeted revenue in 2014.
Copper producer Antofagasta (ANTO) jumps 3.6% to 875.5p as a higher-than-expected dividend and bullish outlook statement at full-year resultscompensates for lower-than-forecast earnings.
Small cap media group Jaywing (JWNG:AIM) soars 10.7% to 28.5p after buyingEpiphany, a UK search marketing agency, for an initial £11 million. The target works for big companies including Tesco (TSCO) and Pets at Home (PETS).
Agricultural supplies-to-retail stores group Wynnstay (WYN:AIM) softens 32p (4.7%) to 645p after warningof a more challenging, weather-impacted start to the year. The running Shares Play of the Week says first-half profits will lag last year's record result. Analysts downgrade numbers but see a more promising outlook for the second-half period.
Language translation specialist SDL (SDL) has limited success at drawing a line under a series of disasters last year, with investors marking the stock down 5.7% to 349p on full-year results. They show the expected profits wipe out with pre-tax profits collapsing from £27.4 million in 2012 to a £24.4 million loss in what chief executive Mark Lancaster called 'without doubt... the toughest year SDL has ever had.'
Automated buying platform operator Proactis (PHD:AIM) rises more than 2% to 54p after raising£2.2 million of funds and hinting at a future acquisitions spree. Shares flagged the company's more aggressive expansion and growth plans in January.
Decontamination and testing specialist Bioquell (BQE) plummets 6.4% to 131.5p on a slow start to 2014. This followed a year where profits fell to £3.1 million from £4 million in 12 months.
Life sciences services group Source BioScience (SBS) improves 1% to 13.3p despite it losing£1.1 million in 2013 from a £1 million pre-tax profit a year earlier. It generated £2.1 million cash from a 19% rise in sales to £19.5 million with two acquisitions causing the losses.
