In the FTSE 100, clothing retailer Next (LON:NXT) said group revenue climbed 5% to £1.59 billion in H1, while pre-tax profits jumped 15% to £213 million.
Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca (LON:AZN) said that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the time to complete its review of the New Drug Application (NDA) for ticagrelor (BRILINTA).
In the FTSE 250, Gem Diamonds (LON:GEMD) said its wholly owned subsidiary and he diamond sourcing and polishing subsidiary of Tiffany & Co have agreed to a 25% price increase for the exclusive assortment of rare fancy yellow diamonds from Kimberley's Ellendale mine in Western Australia.
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (LON:MLC) has entered into an agreement with Urusharta Cemerlang Sdn Bhd to sell a parcel of land of 29,127 square feet which is adjacent to the Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur.
On AIM, Green Dragon gas (LON:GDG) has entered into a binding agreement to add 25 new vehicle refuelling stations in 7 districts in Henan Province. The acquisition cost is USD 15 million, with each station expected to cost a further US$500,000 in construction related expenses.
Iraq focused Petrel Resources (LON:PET) released its interim report today, revealing a decline in pre-tax losses from €228,000 to €171,000.
Helius Energy (LON:HEGY) announced that the High Court in Cardiff refused Coedbach Action Team Limited permission to apply for judicial review of the section 36 consent and deemed planning permission granted by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for Helius' Avonmouth biomass project.
Minera IRL (LON:MIRL) today announced a new gold/silver discovery at its Escondido Project in Patagonia.
African Aura Mining (LON:AAAM) has announced that he Government of Liberia has granted a Mineral Development Agreement for the Putu iron ore project.