(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers within the main London indices on Monday.
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FTSE 100 - WINNERS
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Associated British Foods, up 7.7%. The firm said it expects to reopen all of its Primark stores in England on June 15, following the recent announcement by the UK government on the opening of all other non-essential retail stores by that date. As at Monday, fashion retailer Primark is trading in 112 stores, which represents 34% of the brand total selling space. By June 15, Primark anticipates having 281 stores opened around the world, which represents 79% of total selling space. Trading in the 112 stores has been regarded as both "reassuring and encouraging", with consumer demand strong for children's leisure and night wear, alongside summer products.
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Standard Chartered, up 6.1%. Jefferies boosted the emerging markets-focused lender to Buy from Underperform.
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FTSE 250 - WINNERS
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Playtech, up 5.0%. The betting and gaming operator said it has been granted regulatory approval by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement to provide its casino product to the New Jersey market. It expects to launch soon in New Jersey under its transactional waiver with online gambling company bet365 Group and Hard Rock Atlantic City. Playtech also expects to launch its products with further operators in New Jersey in the near future and has started the licensing process in other US jurisdictions.
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FTSE 250 - LOSERS
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Victrex, down 2.9%. Liberum cut the polymer products manufacturer to Hold from Buy.
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OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - WINNERS
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De La Rue, up 42%. The bank note printer said it has made a strong start of its current financial year ending March 31, 2021, as the Covid-19 outbreak has made a limited impact on the group's operations. In its Authentication division, the banknotes and passports printer noted the signing of a five-year agreement to supply polycarbonate data pages for the new Australian passport. To date, De La Rue's Authentication unit has been awarded contract with a total lifetime value of GBP100 million, further underpinning the group's expectations of the business reaching revenue of GBP100 million by the 2022 financial year, with strong operating margins. Meanwhile, in Currency, De La Rue is still experiencing strong demand that has remained throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and has been awarded contracts reflecting around 80% of its annual Currency printing capacity. As a result, the group continues to expect Currency to reach a mid-teens adjusted operating margin in its 2021 financial year.
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OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - LOSERS
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Ted Baker, down 11% at 136.77 pence. The upmarket fashion retailer unveiled plans to raise GBP95 million and a swing to a loss in its recently-ended financial year. The upmarket fashion retailer reported a pretax loss of GBP79.9 million for the year to January 25 versus a profit of GBP30.7 million the year before. Revenue fell 1.4% to GBP630.5 million. Ted Baker intends to raise GBP95 million in a fully underwritten placing and open offer and firm placing. The shares will be issued at 75p. "I am confident that our transformation plan will enable us, Ted Baker, to capitalise on our opportunities and deliver value for all of our shareholders," said Chief Executive Rachel Osborne.
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By Lucy Heming;Â lucyheming@alliancenews.com
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Victrex (VCT)
Standard Chartered (STAN)
De La Rue (DLAR)
AB Foods (ABF)
Playtech (PTEC)