Kingfisher (LON:KGF) released an update for the 13 weeks to 30 April 2011. Group total sales rose 4.7 percent (in constant currencies) during the period, while group retail profit surged 20.9 percent.
Johnson Matthey (LON:JMAT) released its results for the year to 31 March 2011. Revenues climbed 27 percent to nearly £10 billion. Underlying profit before tax and underlying earnings per share rose 36 percent and 38 percent respectively.
HICL Infrastructure (LON:HICL) has acquired a 75 percent interest in the Brentwood Community Hospital PFI Project. The total consideration paid by the Group for its share of the acquired interest amounted to £4.6million.
EMED Mining (LON:EMED) has now responded to all requests made by the Junta de Andalucía regarding the restart permitting of the Rio Tinto Copper Mine.
“We have also committed to start significant exploration activities as soon as possible so that the project life can be extended and production expanded wherever possible,” said managing director of EMED Harry Anagnostaras Adams.
Real Good Food (LON:RGD) reported a strong start to the current financial year throughout all our businesses. The group said that it is on track to significantly exceed current market forecasts for the year.
Gulfsands Petroleum (LON:GPX) reported that drilling and testing operations have recently been completed on the Abu Ghazal-1 exploration well. Potentially significant hydrocarbon columns were encountered within the Triassic aged Butmah and Kurrachine formations.
However, a series of drill-stem tests undertaken on the well resulted in the recovery of sub-commercial quantities of heavy/viscous oil.
The well has now been suspended pending detailed analyses of well results.
Noventa (LON:NVTA) said that although the introduction of an interim comminution circuit (ICC) has substantially increased the rate of production, it has not been possible to maintain the achieved and targeted rate of production of 200,000 lbs per annum for a sustained period due to mechanical difficulties.
Corrective action has been taken and is expected to be completed this month.
Ascent Resources (LON:AST) released its final results for 2010 today, during which it advanced its Petišovci/Lovászi/Ujfalu tight gas project in Slovenia/Hungary towards production. Post period, the company boosted its balance sheet with a £17 million placing to institutional investors at 5 pence per share.
“I am pleased to report that 2010 was a year of solid progress for Ascent both operationally and in terms of positioning the company for steady near- and long-term growth in shareholder value,” said chairman John Kenny.