Small cap companies followed the majors this week. The FTSE AIM 100 index climbed 3.1%, while the FTSE AIM All-Share index advanced 2.85%.
The FTSE 100 improved 3.5% over the past five days of trading.
Telit Communications (LON:TCM, PINK:TTCNF) announced the appointment of Alexander Sator as a non-executive director after Massimo Testa resigned as non-executive to focus on other activities.
Human tissue supplier Asterand (LON:ATD) announced that chief executive officer Martyn Coombs has purchased a further 80,000 shares to increase his shareholding to 0.42%. This week, Asterand reported 30 percent year-on-year revenue growth in the third quarter, as it continues to reap the benefits of the BioSeek acquisition. The company said that BioSeek integration is progressing well and revenues are on track to meet its projections.
October was a landmark month for the Real Good Food Company (LON:RGD). It marks the end of three years of chaos in the sugar market that has depressed the company’s sales and hit its earnings.
Specialist Energy Group’s (LON:SEGR) Hayward Tyler unit has won new contracts in India and China, totaling around £3 million. The company won a £2 million order to supply nine Boiler Circulation Pumps (BCPs) to Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHE). The BCPs will be delivered in 2011 and they will be fitted by BHE to two new power stations in Shree Singaji and Avathar Bandhar.
Avia Health Informatics PLC (LON:AVIA), developer and provider of clinical decision support systems worldwide, said it appointed Panmure Gordon (UK) Ltd as its nominated adviser and broker, and DLA Piper as legal advisers with immediate effect.
Shares in African Medical Investments (LON:AMEI) were lifted by news that the restructuring initiatives implemented recently are proving successful and are translating into increasing patient numbers and sales.
Active Energy Group (LON:AEG) can now focus on driving its voltage optimising business forward following the sale of its legacy businesses, Edison Investment Research analyst Richard Jeans said. This week, Active Energy Group has agreed to sell its non-core businesses, Gasignition Ltd in the UK and Derlite Co Ltd in Thailand, to its chief executive Kevin Baker.
Interactive gaming company Netplay TV (LON:NPT) has raised £2.41 million net of expenses, which it believes will significantly strengthen the balance sheet as it restructures the business, so it can return to profitability.
Epistem Holdings PLC (LON:EHP) said it was reappointed for up to 5 years as a preclinical testing services subcontractor to a US programme developing medical countermeasures against radiological threats, called MCART.
Shares in Hydro International (LON:HYD) surged 20% after the water control and treatment specialist won a £15.6 million contract for its Zickert Sludge Scraper technology.
In a fourth quarter trading update, Africa-focused investment company Lonrho (LON:LONR) reported strong growth in the quarter and the full year to end-September 2010, moving into profit for both periods. This week, the company secured a contract from mining major Xstrata (LON:XTA) to support its regional economic initiatives in connection with the development of the Thorncliff Alloys mine in South Africa.
National Milk Records (PLUS:NMR) is planning to restructure its share structure, so it can purge a large proportion of inactive shareholders from its register.