TechMARK movers: Axis-Shield slumps by one-fifth

Diagnostics firm Axis-Shield lost more than one-fifth of its value after it admitted that sales so far this year are much lower than expected. Axis-Shield blames the lack of flu sufferers this winter and a reduction in discretionary health spending. Overall, sales in the 18 weeks to the end of April 2010 are slightly higher than the year before. If these trends continue, though, then full year revenues and profits will be much lower than expected. Shares in Vectura have recovered strongly following today's trading statement but they remain 13% lower over the month and 45% below one year ago. The respiratory inhaler treatments developer says its loss will be lower in the year to March 2010. Vectura received a $7.5m milestone payment from Novartis after its Swiss partner started phase III clinical tests of a combination lung drug.FTSE TechMARK - RisersAEA Technology (AAT) 23.00p +16.46%Vectura Group (VEC) 37.75p +13.53%Intec Telecom Systems (ITL) 64.25p +10.30%Ark Therapeutics (AKT) 10.50p +5.00%Antisoma (ASM) 6.40p +4.75%Trafficmaster (TFC) 44.50p +4.71%Alphameric (ALM) 28.50p +4.59%Vernalis (VER) 50.00p +3.63%Filtronic (FTC) 29.00p +3.57%Psion (PON) 80.50p +3.21%FTSE TechMARK - FallersAxis-Shield (ASD) 320.00p -22.89%NXT (NTX) 11.50p -6.12%Sinclair Pharma (SPH) 28.25p -2.59%Anite Group (AIE) 32.75p -2.24%Kofax (KFX) 230.00p -1.92%KCOM Group (KCOM) 47.25p -1.56%Kewill (KWL) 95.50p -1.04%Oxford Biomedica (OXB) 9.60p -0.52%Ricardo Group (RCDO) 293.00p -0.51%Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 262.00p -0.47%