Velocys share price hits high note after patent win over CompactGTL September 22, 2014 A High Court patent case between two energy companies providing conversion of natural gas into liquid fuel was settled in favour of Velocys yesterday over its rival CompactGTL. The patent case victory sent shares in Aim-listed Velocys 5.2 per cent higher during trading yesterday to hit a record high of 248p, before falling back to [...]
Gemfields sees glistening future as its revenues more than treble September 22, 2014 Leading coloured gemstone supplier Gemfields revealed its revenues had more than tripled as it returned to profit in 2014, boosted by strong emerald and ruby sales. Shares in Aim-listed Gemfields jumped over five per cent yesterday, as it said revenues rose to $160.1m (£97.9m) in the year to 30 June 2014, up from $48.4m in [...]
Latin American states to be hit most by oil price fall September 22, 2014 Latin American petro-states face being hardest hit by the recent 15 per cent drop in price of oil to below $100 (£61) per barrel (pb), according to a new report released yesterday. The report by research consultancy Capital Economics said lower oil prices could hit Latin American producers worst because many relied on higher prices [...]
First AA results set the scene for autumn listings September 21, 2014 LEADING British car insurance and roadside recovery firm AA is set to release the first set of results this week since its float, as a range of other firms are believed to be gearing up for IPOs in the months ahead. AA floated on 23 June at a value of £1.4bn and has since seen [...]
Ethiopian order with Boeing is biggest from an African airline September 21, 2014 BOEING has announced that has received its biggest order of planes from an African airline after Ethiopian Airlines decided to purchase aircraft worth $2.1bn (£1.3bn). Ethiopian Airlines will buy 20 Boeing 737 Max 8 planes, with the option to buy a further 15 of the single-aisle aircraft. Ethiopian Airlines chief executive Tewolde Gebremariam said: “(The) [...]
Premier Farnell profit and revenue decline September 19, 2014 BRITISH electronics parts distributor Premier Farnell saw its profits and revenues fall in the first half of the year, but said it was upbeat about hitting full-year targets. Pre-tax profits at the FTSE 250-listed company fell to £36.4m in the six months to 3 August 2014, down 4.5 per cent on £38.1m last year. Revenues [...]
Dividend hike lifts EasyJet September 18, 2014 BUDGET airline EasyJet yesterday said it would hike its dividend. However, its founder slammed a decision to go ahead with a large aircraft order. EasyJet said it would raise its dividend from 33 per cent to 40 per cent, due to “continued strong financial performance of EasyJet and confidence in the future”. However, founder Sir [...]
Bayer plans huge float of its plastics business September 18, 2014 PHARMACEUTICALS and chemicals conglomerate Bayer AG announced yesterday it planned to float its plastics division, in a potentially huge IPO that could be worth €10bn (£7.9bn). Bayer’s Frankfurt-listed shares jumped on the news, rising 6.17 per cent on the day to close at a record €112.70. Bayer, founded in 1863, is looking to sell its [...]
Kier Group revenues hit £3bn as it appoints new finance director September 18, 2014 KIER Group revealed yesterday its revenues rose by £1bn in 2014, to £3bn from £2bn last year, as it also announced a new finance director. Revenues at Kier were boosted by its acquisition of services company May Gurney in 2013, which Kier chief executive Haydn Mursell said had “transformed the scale and diversity of the [...]
Petra sparkles as earnings rise September 18, 2014 PETRA Diamonds shareholders’ eyes may have sparkled with delight at news the FTSE 250 listed mining company is considering paying its first dividend sooner than planned. Petra had planned to pay its maiden dividend from the 2016 financial year, but may bring that forward, as the South Africa focused mining company also revealed pre-tax profits [...]
