Corporate news was thin on the ground on Thursday as UK shares moved in a narrow range in thin trading.
In the US the benchmark S&P 500 index and the Dow Jones Industrials closed at record highs as Omicron fears abated despite rising infections.
In Asia, trading was mixed with China’s SE Composite gaining 0.6% while Japan’s Nikkei 225 index was down 0.4%.
Shares in Chinese real estate developer Evergrande sank almost 10% in Hong Kong, wiping out gains earlier in the week after the company missed interest payments.
In early trading the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was down 0.13% at 7,411 points.
CORPORATE NEWS
Iron ore miner Ferrexpo (FXPO) said it had appointed Natalie Polischuk as an Independent non-executive Director to the group’s board.
Ms Polischuk is an economist based in Kyiv, Ukraine, with over 25 years of experience working in the finance sector in both Ukraine and more widely in Eastern Europe.
Chairman Lucio Genovese commented: ‘We understand the importance of achieving the correct balance of both experience and geography on our Board, with our operating base in Ukraine and listing in London, and we feel the addition of a further Independent Non-executive Director based in Ukraine will provide the Group with an excellent balance of these two jurisdictions.’
The shares added 0.8% to 305.4p.
Mining exploration company Eurasia Mining (EUA:AIM) provided a strategy and progress update in relation to the hydrogen and amomia markets.
The company said it had identified new opportunities which are complementary to the platinum group metals business in Russia.
It has signed an agreement with an engineering and development company H4 Energy specializing in hydrogen and ammonia projects in relation to developing a joint venture. The company said it is negotiating energy supply agreements with regional suppliers.
The shares gained 2.25% to 22,7p.
FIRST DAY OF DEALINGS
Shares in energy company President Energy (PPC:AIM) sank 18% to 2.05p after the admission of shares in Atome Energy (ATOM:AIM), a company solely focused on the production of green hydrogen and ammonia.
After spinning off Atome and distributing a dividend in Atome shares, President Energy will hold 27.9% of Atome’s shares.
A list of FTSE 100 index movers can be found here.
