Specialist staffing provider Gattaca (LON: GATC) has offset a small decline in net fee income in the first half through cost control. This is a better performance than the sector. Interim net fee income is 3% lower at £18m following a 10% decline in permanent net fee income. There are signs of recovery in permanent net fee income. Interim pre-tax profit is likely to be flat at £800,000. The full year pre-tax profit forecast is £3m. The forecast dividend of 3.1p/share should be twice covered by earnings. The share price moved ahead 6.99% to 76.5p.
Empire Metals (LON: EEE) has achieved a 91% extraction rate of titanium dioxide at the Pitfield project in Western Australia. The test work results suggest that the processing method is straightforward. Development of the processing flowsheet is continuing, and further refining could increase recovery. The main titanium-bearing minerals are anatase and rutile. The share price improved 5.65% to 8.6p.
Later today, Concurrent Technologies (LON: CNC) shares will commence trading on the OTCQX Best Market in the US. The share price rose 3.16% to 196p.
Oracle Power (LON: RCP) will recommence drilling at the Northern Zone intrusive hosted gold project in Western Australia in March. This is designed to extend previously identified higher grade gold intercepts. The share price increased 2.86% to 0.018p.
FALLERS
Drug mathematical modelling company Physiomics (LON: PYC) has raised £430,000 at 0.5p/share and could raise up to £70,000 more from a WRAP retail offer. The offer closes on 17 February. This will finance the expansion of a consulting service and market the biostatistics. It will also fund exploration of a deeper relationship with DoseMe to develop models for its platform. The share price slumped 34.4% to 0.525p.
Surveillance technology developer Thruvision (LON: THRU) says potential contracts have been delayed. This means expected 2024-25 revenues will be between £5m and £6m. The previous expectation was £9m. Cash should last until May and talks have commenced with potential acquirers or providers of additional cash. The share price dived 27.8% to 3.25p.
Drug developer ImmuPharma (LON: IMM) has raised £1.03m at 3.75p/share and a further £1.875m from a subscription by Lanstead Capital Investors, which currently owns 6.5% through the issue of 50 million shares in a sharing agreement. This deal means that the shares are pledged by the company, and it will receive the proceeds over a seven-month period starting in May when the previous sharing agreement ends. This deal requires the share price to average at least 5p/share for ImmuPharma to receive the full £1.875m. Management believes that the cash should last until the end of 2026. It will be invested in the P140 lupus autoimmune therapy programme to accelerate results. The share price declined 8.94% to 3.92p.
Dowgate Capital has raised its stake in sustainable laundry technology developer Xeros Technology (LON: XSG) from 11.4% to 13.2%. The estate of William Black has reduced its shareholding from 8.93% to 5.24%. The share price dipped 5.98% to 1.1p.
Ex-dividends
Knights Group Holdings (LON: KGH) is paying an interim dividend of 1.76p/share and the share price fell 1.25p to 124.25p.
Ramsdens Holdings (LON: RFX) is paying a final dividend of 7.6p/share and the share price is down 10p to 235p.