Horizonte Minerals Share News (HZM)

IT recruitment group Interquest traded in line with expectations in 2010 as strength in financial services offset a drop-off in public sector business.Ahead of results out on 8 March, executive chairman Gary Ashworth said it has remained profitable through the downturn."While we have, as anticipated, seen a decrease in our public sector work, this has been more than offset by the growth of our private sector business, particularly financial services and that positive trend has continued into 2011," he said.Oil explorer San Leon Energy has completed a 60 square kilometre 3D seismic program over the Szczecinek block in northern Poland. The firm, which has a 50% interest in the "high potential oil play" now has enough data to locate and permit well locations for a planned drilling program. An exploration well is planned for later this yearBrazil-focused exploration company Horizonte has raised £8.25m from an oversubscribed placing at 25p a share, which it will use to speed up the ongoing drilling programme at its flagship Araguaia nickel project.Europe-focused oil and gas company Aurelian is setting up a subsidiary to refocus its Romanian activities on the Voitinel discovery and Carpathian Fold belt, and sell off non-core assets.It is selling Aurelian Oil and Gas Romania to Raffles Energy Netherlands, part of private equity investor Raphael Group, for €6.3m-6.8m plus bonus payments for any discoveries.Oil and gas outfit Range Resources said preparations have begun on site in preparation for the arrival of the operations team that will perform the fracture simulation ("frac") on the Russell Bevly well at the North Chapman Ranch project in Texas. The fracture stimulation is expected to significantly increase hydrocarbon flow rates and recoveries from the well.On the company's East Texas Cotton Valley play, where Range recently increased its participating interest to 21.75%, preparations are being made to mobilise a rig onto the drill site for the Ross 3H well. Following delays due to complex title and regulatory work, Range and its partners expect to start drilling the well later this month.