PPC.L Share News (PPC)

LONDON (Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers within the main London indices on Monday.----------FTSE 100 - WINNERS----------British American Tobacco, up 1.3%. The cigarette and tobacco manufacturing company will find out whether it has successfully appealed against its class action settlement in Quebec on Friday. The judgement, BAT said, will be handed down by the Quebec Court of Appeal at 0900 GMT. The appeal relates to a CAD15.6 billion, about GBP9.1 billion, fine which three companies were ordered to pay in the summer in 2015. The case, running for over a decade before that, was brought by smokers who alleged BAT, as well as Philip Morris International and Japan Tobacco International, had failed to warn them of the risks associated with smoking. Some CAD10.4 billion of the fine was to be paid by BAT, who appealed the order. ----------AstraZeneca, up 0.7%. The drugmaker's late phase clinical trial for its blockbuster Brilinta cardiovascular drug had met its primary endpoint. The Phase III THEMIS clinical trial saw Brilinta - the brand name of ticagrelor - show a "statistically-significant reduction in a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events" when taken alongside aspirin. This is in contrast to taking aspirin alone. The THEMIS trial - started in early 2014 - included 19,000 patients across 42 countries with coronary artery disease and type-two diabetes who had no history of heart attack or stroke. ----------FTSE 100 - LOSERS----------Persimmon, down 6.0%. The housebuilder's right to sell Help to Buy homes is under scrutiny amid UK government concerns over Persimmon's behaviour. An extension of contracts for the scheme from April 2021 is soon to be reviewed by Housing Secretary James Brokenshire. "James has become increasingly concerned by the behaviour of Persimmon in the last 12 months," a source close to the minister told PA. Launched in 2013, Help to Buy allows buyers to put down a 5% deposit on a newly-built home and get a government equity loan for up to 20%, or 40% in London, of the purchase price. ----------FTSE 250 - LOSERS----------Centamin, down 20%. The gold miner reported a drop in annual earnings on a 13% fall in production. Pretax profit declined to USD152.7 million in 2018 from USD207.4 million a year before, as revenue decreased 11% to USD603.2 million. The gold miner's earnings were hurt by lower gold sales, which fell 10% year-on-year to 484,322 ounces, while the average gold sales price remained broadly unchanged at USD1,267 per ounce. Gold production also declined in 2018 to 472,418 ounces from 544,658 ounces, driven by lower than expected grades from both open pit and underground operations. For 2019, gold production guidance is between 490,000 and 520,000 ounces. Centamin has declared a final dividend of 3.0 cents per share, giving a total payout of 5.5 cents, down from 12.5 cents paid a year ago.----------Provident Financial, down 3.1%. The lender was "disappointed" at the "unsolicited and highly opportunistic" GBP1.3 billion takeover offer from smaller peer Non-Standard Finance, made on Friday. Having considered the offer over the weekend, Provident said the terms "do not reflect" the underlying value of the company and the "upside potential" of its businesses. Provident has advised its shareholders to take no action but has acknowledged the "indications provided" in favour of the deal by its largest shareholders, Woodford Investment Management UK, Invesco Ltd, and Marathon Asset Management LLP UK. Combined they hold over 50% of Provident.----------OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - WINNERS----------Baron Oil, up 47%. The exploration company said the Colter well, offshore North Sea, has been drilled as a vertical well with the Ensco-72 jack-up rig and has reached a total depth of 1,870 meters. Baron Oil holds 8% interest in Colter prospect. "The initial well bore has given valuable information on the potential of the Colter south prospect, which will be integrated into our existing analysis of the structure in this area. We are now moving forward with the side-track into the Sherwood Sandstone reservoir in our main Colter prospect target," said Chief Executive & Chair Malcolm Butler.----------Tekcapital, up 27%. The UK intellectual property investor said net asset value per share stood at USD0.30 at the end of November compared to USD0.25 the year prior, representing a 20% increase. The company highlighted that it is progressing "very well" but its NAV "will fluctuate from period to period" due to individual portfolio company performance and market conditions. Tekcapital's portfolio valuation almost doubled to USD13.7 million from USD7.3 million. Tekcapital's pretax profit increased 9.5% to USD4.6 million from USD4.2 million on a 29% reduction in operating expenses to USD1.7 million. Going forward, Tekcapital said it is exploring a potential investment in cannabidiol intellectual properties to "address current market demand".----------RTC Group, up 16%. The recruitment company reported a 58% increase in pretax profit to GBP1.9 million for the year to the end of December 2018 from GBP1.2 million the year before, as revenue rose 22% to GBP87.8 million from GBP71.7 million. RTC proposed a final dividend of 2.55 pence a share, taking the total payout to 3.85p, up 10% year-on-year. "We have also strengthened our balance sheet and I believe our group is in a robust financial position, is making significant progress with its strategic agenda and the board remains highly optimistic about its future," said Chief Executive Andy Pendlebury.----------OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - LOSERS----------Independent Oil & Gas, down 8.0%. The development and production company continues to focus on reaching final investment decision on its Core project, offshore North Sea. The company believes that this deal could significantly reduce the new capital required for the development of SNS gas fields. Management expects to select a preferred partner in the first half of 2019, with first gas planned to be delivered within 20 months of final investment decision. "We focus on securing an attractive transaction which would fundamentally reduce our further funding needs for final investment decision," said Chief Executive Andrew Hockey.----------President Energy, down 5.9% to 8.15p. The oil & gas company has launched an offer for subscription to fund its expansion programme in Rio Negro. President Energy intends to issue 81.3 million shares at a price of 8p each, raising GBP6.5 million. "The proceeds of this offer will place the company in an even better position not just to develop but to accelerate the multiple opportunities available to us to progress our newly expanded portfolio in the Neuquen basin," explained Chair Peter Levine.----------