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The first sponsorship agreement for the programme was signed in December 2011, the second in early February 2012 and three more were inked in April. These agreements see the sponsors commit to a three-year package and, although their financial impact has yet to be disclosed, they should provide the stable and visible revenue stream hitherto missing from the company's business model. The £6.7 million cap expects to sign up new sponsors through the remainder of the year

Buy shares in oil services minnow GETECH (GTC) ahead of upcoming catalysts including likely earnings upgrades. The company is well positioned to win new work and may also be primed to announce the reintroduction of a full-year dividend, forecast at 0.4p a share, alongside its preliminary results in November. The Leeds-based group, which sells complex geological and geophysical data to oil companies, is beginning to see an investment in its Global Programmes interpretative data project bear fruit. This new initiative, expected to take up to three years to complete, will seek to explain how the geology and geography of an oil basin change over time. This should, in turn, help oil companies optimise production from their fields.

"Logica was unloved by the UK investment community and this bid crystallises what we believe to be the company's true worth," said Peel Hunt analyst Peter Morland in a research note this morning. Sector peer Kofax, the business process management solutions group, was also in demand, up over 7%.

Software and computer services stocks were making strong gains on Thursday afternoon, as the sector got a massive lift from FTSE 250 firm Logica which rocketed after a takeover bid from Canadian peer CGI Group. Logica, the business and technology services group, soared 67% today after it agreed on a 105p-a-share cash bid from CGI, valuing the company at around £1.7bn.

WH Smith, the High Street and travel hub newsagent chain, saw like-for-like sales dip at the start of the second half of its financial year, but the shares rose as the group revealed margins are up.

British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB), which more or less built its UK business on the back of live football, is paying the FA £2.3bn to broadcast live 116 matches over a three year period, starting from the 2013-14 season. The shares took a a dive, with Numis Securities reacting to the cost of the deal by downgrading BSkyB to "add", although Citi is sticking with its "buy" recommendation.

A dividend of 5p has been proposed compared to 4p in 2011

The group said Autumn/Winter 2012 third-party wholesale orders are 11% higher than a year earlier. The company also announced it will build a second factory, in Somerset, doubling its UK capacity and creating 300 jobs. The investment in a second UK factory, of around £7.5m, will reinforce the group's position as the largest UK manufacturer of luxury leather goods, the group explained.

April saw slower growth, but over the last six weeks UK full price sales have improved, up 21% like-for-like. "However, we remain cautious as a result of the adverse macro-economic climate," it said. Chairman Godfrey Davis said: "While the current economic conditions make the short term trading outlook more challenging in some markets, we remain confident about Mulberry's long term future. We continue to focus on developing our business internationally, opening new stores and building the foundations for long term growth." The company, which generates 39% of its revenue outside the UK, said International revenue for the year jumped 61% to £65.2m. Mulberry opened 14 stores during the year in the UK, Netherlands, the US and Asia. The company, which was founded in 1971 by Roger Saul, said it already has 16 international store openings confirmed for fiscal 2013.

Shares of UK luxury fashion chain Mulberry sank 22 per cent after annual pre-tax profit and revenue fell short of expectations. Somerset-based Mulberry, which makes upmarket handbags and leather accessories, said pre-tax profit rose to £36m for the year ended 31 March 2012 compared to £23.3m a year earlier. Analysts had forecast profit of just over £37m. Total revenues increased by 38% to £168.5m, below forecasts of £175m. Retail sales rose 12% in the 10 weeks to June 9 while UK full price stores like-for-like sales gained 14% during the same period

"We believe the full year remains in line with management expectations."

Shares of advertising agency M&C Saatchi rose after it said it had made a good start to 2012 and it remains on track to fulfil expectations for the year. In March the group revealed a 22% increase in annual revenue, underpinned by robust UK performance. The agency, formed by brothers Maurice and Charles Saatchi in 1995, has new offices in Abu Dhabi, Singapore and has expanded office in New York. It has also won contracts in Etihad, Abu Dhabi, Edgars in South Africa and with Commonwealth Bank, Australia.

ATH Resources lost almost half its value on Thursday after it said a big drop in coal prices had hit trading hard and it was in discussions with its banks. "International coal prices have fallen by some 21% since the beginning of the calendar year and by over 28% since the beginning of the group's financial year," it said. This meant some projects would have to be delayed. "The board continues to have discussions with its banking syndicate...in order to secure adequate facilities for the group," it said. Shares dropped 47% on the news.

The company is on the hunt for a new Chief Executive after it said the incumbent Ian Martin had decided to leave the company to "pursue other interests and opportunities". It added that the parting had been amicable.

"Looking ahead, with the underlying growth in the business continuing and with the additional demand arising from the staging this summer of a number of major events including the London 2012 Olympics, the board remains confident regarding the outlook for the remainder of the financial year," said Chairman Richard Murray. "Beyond the London 2012 Olympics, the group's growth is expected to be underpinned by the expansion of our services into lighting and the increasing importance of Asian markets to our clients."

Avesco Group, a provider of services to the corporate media markets, hailed a successful first half and said confidence at the firm was high for the year as a whole. The company reported revenues up 9% to £67.5m in the six months to the end of March. It jumped back into the black with a £1.04m profit, making up for a £622,000 loss the previous year, and taking earnings per share up to 3.7p.

Escher Group, a provider of outsourced point-of-service software to the postal industry, has been selected by Swazi Post to provide its counter automation software. Swazi Post, the national postal operator in Swaziland, will begin to use Escher's Riposte to modernize its postal network to offer new revenue generating products and services while at the same time reducing the existing cost base. The firm said the contract underpins its decision to open an African office as it will help drive Escher's business in Africa while consolidating account management services with the company's existing customers.

Newmark Security, which provides electronic and physical security systems, has announced its wholly-owned subsidiary Safetell has secured a £3.4m order for the supply of time delayed security safes to the recently announced Post Office branch network investment and support programme. £2.0m of the order will be used to install the safes and the remaining £1.4m will be used to replenish stock required to maintain the Post Office minimum stock levels. Further substantial orders are expected as the network transformation programme continues through to May 2015.

Lighthouse Financial Advice has signed a three year exclusive contract to provide financial planning advice to members of British Airways Clubs. This adds another major organisation to LFA's affinity partners, consisting of major employee organisations. Lighthouse will offer its affinity partners a full range of financial advice services including investing for income and growth, retirement planning, pensions advice, tax planning including inheritance tax, life assurance and family protection as well as advice on saving for future family events such as university fees. The agreement begins July 1st.

Chairman David Hudd said: "We are excited by the opportunity to develop the group's existing assets in the Falkland Islands in anticipation of the growth in the economy, which the board believes will follow from recent hydrocarbon discoveries. Given the company's history in the Falkland Islands and our leading position, we are confident that further investment now, will generate attractive returns. "We are delighted to have a supportive keystone investor in Blackfish Capital and we believe that further investment now in the Falkland Islands is in the best interest of our shareholders to enable the Company to participate in what we believe could be an explosive period of growth."