logo-loader

Thursday's movers: Hargreaves Lansdown, AstraZeneca, GCM Resources, Fastnet, President Energy...

Last updated: 04:37 06 Feb 2014 EST, First published: 05:37 06 Feb 2014 EST

pharma_350_52f367838faa4

London’s blue chips are seeing some stability return after the recent market traumas and Footsie added 38 points to 6,496 to follow yesterday’s gains.

In a big week for corporate announcements it was wealth management specialist Hargreaves Lansdown (LON:HL.) that led the risers as analysts reconsidered its trading statement yesterday.

US broker Jefferies upgraded its price target 1,250 from 1.150p even though it downgraded its view to hold from ‘buy’.

Vodafone (LON:VOD) was also in favour despite a slide in revenues across Europe that was only partially offset by growth in India, Turkey and South Africa. Shares rose 2% to 220p as vague bid talk resurfaced even though AT&T has ruled itself out for six months.

AstraZeneca (LON:AZN) dived as the pharma giant revealed a slump in profits as generic competitors continue to chip away at sales of its big selling drugs.

Imagination Technologies (LON:IMG) shares  advanced around 15% early on news that Apple has extended a multi-year licence agreement with the chip design company.

Coal group GCM Resources plc (LON:GCM) was the best of the risers, surging over 50% at one point and forcing the company to say it knew of no reason for the rise other press speculation in Bangladesh relating to the reported imminent finalisation of the Government of Bangladesh's coal policy.

Fastnet Oil (LON:FAST) edged higher on an extension of its option on two licences in the Celtic Sea.  The group added it has just started to distribute new seismic data on the blocks to possible farm-in partners.

E-procurement specialist CloudBuy (LON:CBUY) rose 5% after it won a  to provide a consumer-led care marketplace for Northamptonshire County Council.

Latin America-focused oil group, President Energy (LON:PPC), last night announced it would raise up to £35mln to fund development of its promising prospects in Paraguay. Shares fell 9p to 37.25p.


BenevolentAI advances novel ulcerative colitis treatment through Phase 1a trial

BenevolentAI (OTC:BAIVF) chief scientific officer Dr Anne Phelan joins Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with positive safety data from the Phase 1a, first-in-human, clinical study of BEN-8744 in healthy volunteers. Phelan explained that BEN-8744 is a potent, selective PD10 inhibitor, uniquely...

2 hours, 51 minutes ago