UK WINNERS & LOSERS SUMMARY: Renewi Jumps 23% As Dutch Eco Ban Lifted

Fri, 20th Dec 2019 10:43

(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers within the main London indices on Friday.

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FTSE 100 - LOSERS

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Royal Dutch Shell 'A', down 0.8%, 'B' down 0.9%. The oil major guided for a large impairment based on "the macro outlook". Shell is to book a post-tax impairment of USD1.7 billion to USD2.3 billion for the fourth-quarter of 2019, based on macroeconomic conditions, without giving any further details. The oil giant will book between USD600 million and USD800 million of charges related to deferred tax payments and well write offs, and also noted weak refining margins in Downstream and "average" performance in Integrated Gas. Shell also guided for capital expenditure to be at the lower end of its USD24 billion to USD29 billion guided range for 2019.

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OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - WINNERS

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Renewi, up 23%. The waste-to-product firm said a Dutch market ban on thermally treated soil has been lifted, meaning soil from its ATM facility can now be used in the Netherlands and abroad. With a testing process now complete, and showing the product to be safe, the ban has ended. Although the Dutch minister of Environment & Housing has lifted the ban, specific uses still need approval from local regulators. As such, Renewi expects it may be "some months" before the first permits are secured for use. Renewi's pipeline of customers intending to use thermally treated soil at their locations is "strong".

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Alexander Mining, up 60%. The firm has announced the reverse takeover of eLight, for GBP6.6 million, in an all-share deal. eLight provides energy efficiency advice to commercial customers. Alexander has also raised GBP2 million in a fundraise, and will rename itself eEnergy Group once the deal is completed.

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Beeks Financial Cloud, up 15%. The financial markets connectivity provider has signed two "significant" contracts, worth USD1 million and GBP1.1 million respectively.

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Oxford BioDynamics, up 14%. The firm has signed a master service agreement with a "top" US pharmaceutical company to develop EpiSwitch, a platform Oxford BioDynamics hopes will accelerate drug discovery and development.

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Angus Energy, up 12%. The company said good progress is being on the Saltfleetby gas field, despite technical challenges. Angus is looking to get the field back producing - formerly, Angus said, it was the UK's largest onshore gas field.

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OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - LOSERS

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Warpaint London, down 14%. The cosmetics firm warned on annual profit, blaming factors such as the geographic mix of sales, foreign exchange movements, and investment. It has downgraded adjused pretax profit guidance to between GBP5.1 million to GBP5.5 million from GBP6 million to GBP7 million previously. Warpaint will also be spitting its joint chief executives. Sam Bazini will remain as CEO, with Eoin Macleod become managing director.

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Regency Mines, down 13%. The investment firm, focused on base metals, reflected on a"difficult and disappointing" year to June, though it said prospects are now much brighter.

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Firestone Diamonds, down 9.7%. The miner's annual loss has widened to USD50.5 million from USD17.5 million, as the company made a USD41.6 million after a drop in diamond prices. Operating performance was solid, Firestone said, in an "extremely challenging" year for diamond producers.

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Benchmark Holdings, down 9.5%. The aquaculture firm reported a "disappointing" annual performance amid challenging market conditions. Its pretax loss widened to GBP73.3 million from GBP8.4 million, with revenue falling 3% to GBP127.3 million. Benchmark said weakness in the shrimp and sea bass/bream markets is continuing, with no recovery to 2018 levels seen in 2020. The salmon market is more promising, it added.

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By George Collard; georgecollard@alliancenews.com