Next Share News (NXT)

LONDON (Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers within the main London indices on Tuesday.
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FTSE 100 - WINNERS
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Oil companies were among the top gainers in the blue-chip index amid more stable oil prices. Royal Dutch Shell 'A' and 'B' shares were up 1.7% and 1.6%, BG Group was up 2.9%, and BP up 1.8%, as Brent oil edged up to USD36.46 a barrel on Tuesday morning from USD36.18 at the close on Monday.
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FTSE 100 - LOSERS
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ITV, down 2.2%. Shares had gained on Monday after the Mail on Sunday reported talks between ITV and Comcast's TV and film arm NBCUniversal. However, US entertainment trade magazine Variety has since reported that the US media giant dismissed talk of a GBP11.0 billion bid for the British broadcaster. "We don't comment on M&A rumours but the speculation on ITV is just completely inaccurate," spokesman John Demming told Variety.

Marks & Spencer Group, down 2.1% at 438.30p. Nomura cut its price target on M&S to 565.00p from 600.00p, and maintained a Buy rating, while also lowering its price target on rival Next to 7,850.00p from 8,00.00p and maintaining a Neutral rating, after Kantar Worldpanel data on UK clothing market share came out negative for all retailers aside from Associated British Foods' Primark discount chain. Nomura maintained its Neutral rating on AB Foods and a 3,215.00p price target. Next was down 0.3% at 7,199.95p, while AB Foods was down 0.4% at 3,225.00p. The weakness was largely driven by milder weather in November, according to Nomura analyst Fraser Ramzan. The data do not cover the Black Friday discount sale period, but also leave out even milder weather in December against the same month last year.
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FTSE 250 - WINNERS
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Hays, up 1.3% at 143.20 pence. Goldman Sachs cut its price target on the recruitment company to 201 pence from 210p previously, but reiterated a Buy rating on the stock.
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FTSE 250 - LOSERS
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International Personal Finance, down 1.1%. The lender is evaluating alternative business models for the Slovakian market, after the passing of unfavourable new consumer legislation. The final legislation is in line with previous expectations, which will result in a "material adverse financial impact" on the company's existing Slovak business.
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MAIN MARKET AND AIM - WINNERS
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PipeHawk, up 38%. The company's QM Systems subsidiary has been awarded a major contract with Dana UK Axle, a subsidiary of Dana Holding Corp, to deliver a turnkey system for the assembly of vehicle axles at Dana UK Axle's Birmingham facility for over GBP500,000. The system will involve a number of integrated elements including a press and a robotic weld system, according to PipeHawk, which said the project is due for delivery by the end of the second quarter of 2016.

Strategic Minerals, up 20%. The company's Southern Minerals Group subsidiary has obtained an agreement to extend its rights to operate the magnetite operations at the Cobre mine in New Mexico, as it achieved record sales at the mine in December. The rights at Cobre were originally due to expire at the end of February 2016, and have now been extended to March 31, 2017. Sales reached USD75,596 in the week ended December 13, and USD77,981 in the week ended December 20. Average sales for the year were around USD25,000 a week.

Aurora Russia, up 29%. The company has agreed to sell its one residual investment, a minority interest in Unistream Commercial Bank, for about USD5.0 million, and plans to distribute substantially all its net realised cash to shareholders. It is estimated that about GBP4.5 million will be available to fund an initial distribution to shareholders.
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MAIN MARKET AND AIM - LOSERS
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Infinity Energy, down 48%. The company said it is no longer in talks to acquire 50% interests in nine UK petroleum exploration and development licenses in South Wales, meaning its shares resumed trading following a period of suspension due to the potential reverse takeover. The company had been in talks with Eden Energy Ltd, with its shares suspended on October 15 under stock exchange rules relating to reverse takeovers.

RapidCloud International, down 19%. The computing services company said profit and revenue in 2015 will miss market expectations due to issues in its markets in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, as well as due to investments it has made throughout the year.

Central Rand Gold, down 15%. The South African gold mining and exploration holding company said Johan du Toit has decided to resign and will step down as chief executive from the end of this year to pursue other opportunities, with Non-Executive Director Allen Phillips to take the role on a temporary basis. Central Rand Gold also said it has terminated the process around the sale of Central Rand Gold (Netherlands Antilles) NV with immediate effect, although it is still negotiating with one Asian investor about a strategic investment into the broader group.

Concha, down 15%. The company voiced disappointment that it was unable to add to its investment portfolio in its last financial year, even though it was able to strengthen its balance sheet with a GBP4.0 million equity fundraising back in October 2014. The investment company, which focuses on investing in media, communications and technology businesses, made a loss before and after tax of GBP628,000 in the year ended June 30. That was smaller than the GBP1.2 million loss reported for the prior year.
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By Samuel Agini; samagini@alliancenews.com; @samuelagini

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