Wood Group (J) Share News (WG.)

(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers within the main London indices on Thursday.----------FTSE 100 - WINNERS----------Barratt Developments, up 3.5%, Taylor Wimpey, up 1.7%, Persimmon, up 1.3%, Berkeley Group, up 1.2%. Shares in the housebuilders were higher following the latest results from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors UK Residential Market Survey. Appetite for buying a home has picked up for the first time in nearly three years, surveyors have reported. An overall net balance of 10% more surveyors saw an increase rather than a decrease in interest from new buyers in June, according to RICS. There are also signs of a more stable trend in the supply of homes coming on the market, RICS said. For the first time in a year, surveyors are seeing positive growth in properties being listed for sale. "Investors raced to snap up shares in housebuilders after the latest RICS survey showed some signs of recovery in the housing market. Although it is too early to call a bounce-back in the property market based on one set of data, the news does offer a glimmer of hope for investors in housebuilding stocks," AJ Bell's Russ Mould said.----------Reckitt Benckiser, up 2.8%. The consumer goods firm said it agreed with the US Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to resolve an investigation into the sales and marketing of Suboxone Film by former prescription pharmaceuticals arm Indivior. In September 2016, 35 US states and the District of Columbia filed a civil complaint against Indivior in relation to its ongoing legal privilege dispute with the US Federal Trade Commission. Since then, the commission has been investigating whether Indivior, then owned by former parent Reckitt, tried to prevent generic competition for its Suboxone Film opioid addiction treatment. The firm on Thursday said it will pay up to USD1.4 billion to fully resolve all federal investigations into Reckitt in connection with the Indivior indictment and claims relating to state Medicaid programs for those states choosing to participate in the settlement. ----------FTSE 100 - LOSERS----------Halma, down 1.0%. The stock went ex-dividend meaning new buyers no longer qualify for the latest payout. ----------Experian, down 0.8%. Goldman Sachs cut the credit checking agency to Neutral from Buy. ----------FTSE 250 - WINNERS----------Diploma, up 5.5%. The technical products and services firm announced the GBP56.0 million takeover of a gasket and fluid-sealing products maker. Virginia Sealing Products Inc specialises in customers who process and transport hazardous materials but also operates in markets such as power generation, pulp & paper, and marine. Diploma is paying GBP56.0 million in cash upfront, but it may also pay a further GBP8.0 million if VSP meets various operating profit targets. The deal will be funded from existing cash and new debt, but Diploma said it "will continue to maintain a strong balance sheet". ----------John Wood, up 3.8%. Bernstein promoted the oilfield services firm to its Top Pick within its oil sector coverage. ----------FTSE 250 - LOSERS----------Telecom Plus, down 1.0%. The stock went ex-dividend. ----------OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - WINNERS----------Indivior, up 25%. The pharmaceuticals firm revised its expectations for 2019 net revenue and net income higher following a stronger-than-expected first half. Indivior highlighted that the primary driver of growth has been the market share outperformance of Suboxone Film. Indivior said it now expects net revenue for 2019 to be in a range of USD670 million to USD720 million and net income in a range of USD80 million to USD130 million. The company had previously expected net revenue to come in between USD525 million and USD575 million, and net income was not seen higher than USD10 million. In 2018, Indivior delivered net revenue of USD1.00 billion and net income of USD275 million. ----------Sosandar, up 12% at 16.25p. The online women's fashion retailer said it has raised GBP7 million at a premium to push forward with future growth. Sosandar placed approximately 46.7 million shares at 15 pence per share. Sosandar said the placing price represented a 3.4% premium to Thursday's closing price. The placing comprises of a firm placing of 22.7 million shares with a further placing of 24.0 million shares, conditional on shareholder approval. Sosandar said the placing was needed to raise additional equity to "help support and accelerate further growth".----------OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - LOSERS----------Tekcapital, down 27% at 8.25p. The investment company focused on university-developed technology said it intends to raise GBP750,000 through a share placing to fund investment in key activities and to further develop and progress with the commercialisation of its portfolio of intellectual property. The AIM-listed firm said it will issue 9.4 million shares at a price of 8 pence each. Following the admission, Tekcapital will have 63.7 million shares overall. A significant amount of the placing will be utilised to expand Tekcapital's commercialisation of its investment portfolio of businesses, the company highlighted.----------