AA..L Share News (AA.)

LONDON (Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers within the main London indices on Wednesday.----------FTSE 100 - WINNERS----------Croda International, up 1.6%. The speciality chemicals company was raised to Neutral from Sell by Citigroup. ----------FTSE 100 - LOSERS----------Randgold Resources, down 2.3%. On Monday, Randgold agreed a USD18.30 billion merger with Canadian peer Barrick Gold, closing up 5.2%. The merger is expected to complete by the end of the first quarter of 2019 and will see Randgold leave the London Stock Exchange. The gold miner was downgraded to Neutral from Overweight by JPMorgan. However, Royal Bank of Canada raised the stock to Sector Perform from Underperform.----------FTSE 250 - WINNERS----------PZ Cussons, up 3.0%. The personal care products maker said it performed in line with expectations during the three months to the end of August, despite continued challenges faced by consumers across all of its markets. The company said its results were helped by a robust and innovative product pipeline and tight control of costs. On a regional basis, a good performance in Europe and Asia offset challenging trading conditions in Nigeria. In the UK Washing & Bathing division growth was helped by a consumer engagement programme. The company said it intends to continue to invest in the key brands of Imperial Leather, Carex and Original Source.----------FTSE 250 - LOSERS----------AA, down 9.5%. The roadside assistance provider reported a significant drop in interim profit, in line with expectations, due to the extreme weather conditions in the half and the UK's pothole "epidemic". In the six months ended July, pretax profit declined 65% to GBP28 million from GBP80 million. AA's revenue increased 1.9% to GBP480 million from GBP471 million. The profit decrease was largely due to the reduction in Roadside earnings. The combination of higher planned "strategic" operational expenses as well as additional "unplanned" costs from third party garaging due to the "exceptionally" higher number of breakdowns in the period drove the reduction.----------Kier Group, down 3.9%. JPMorgan downgraded the construction, services and property group to Neutral from Overweight. ----------OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - WINNERS----------Booohoo Group, up 8.5%. The online fashion retailer said profit rose in the first half of its year with an exceptional performance from its PrettyLittleThing brand. In the six months to August 31, Boohoo recorded pretax profit of GBP24.7 million, 21% higher than its GBP20.0 million profit the year before. Revenue increased 50% to GBP395.3 million from GBP262.9 million, including a contribution from PrettyLittleThing of GBP168.6 million, more than double its GBP72.7 million revenue the previous year. During the half year, Boohoo relocated its PrettyLittleThing distribution centre with just "low level disruption" to its operations. The company's two other brands, Boohoo and Nasty Gal, also saw notable revenue growth, with boohoo contributing GBP209.0 million versus GBP181.8 million the year before and Nasty Gal revenue more than doubling to GBP17.7 million from GBP8.3 million.----------OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - LOSERS----------Imaginatik, down 77%. The software and consultancy services company's shares fell after it said it is no longer in talks regarding a controlling equity investment from an unnamed investor. This news follows statement issued on Monday last week, in which the software company said that talks were "progressing well" but that the investment would fall 20% below prior expectations. In that statement, the company also noted that the investment had "taken longer than expected". Following the cessation of talks, finnCap will now cease to act as the company's nominated advisor. This means that, if a replacement cannot be found by Wednesday close, Imaginatik's shares will be suspended from trading on AIM.----------Redhall Group, down 29%. The manufacturing and engineering services business said its annual performance will fall below prior expectations due to delays in key projects. Redhall said that, due to delays outside of its control, as well as "slower than expected" efficiency gains, full-year performance will be "materially below" expectations. Redhall's financial year ends on September 30. In financial 2017, Redhall reported a pretax loss of GBP1.2 million on revenue of GBP38.9 million. Booth Industries, Redhall's steel door and modular wall fabrication business, saw "project slippages" and had issues with the implementation of Redhall's transformation strategy. Another of the company's arms, Redhall Networks, has suffered under "reduced market activity" and Redhall said it expects it to record lower revenues in its second half as a result. ----------