Micro Focus International (LON:MCRO ) shares ticked up 9.10% to 436.2p as it gets a nod from Amazon
Shares in the global software firm jumped since the news hit that Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) has given the group its full vote of confidence for helping businesses migrate to the cloud.
As a result of the news which was announced on Thursday, at 3 p.m. EST, Micro Focus stock had increased by 17%, but had even traded as much as 25% higher earlier in the session.
According to US publication, the Motley Fool, Amazon told investors that it had handpicked several businesses to help companies move their operations on Amazon Web Services (AWS) blog post, citing Micro Focus as one of the four pre-qualified technology partners.
‘While there's no indication yet for what this means for Micro Focus' revenue going forward, it surely won't hurt. Considering the company posted a 10% year-over-year decline in revenue for fiscal 2020, this might be a catalyst to help it return to growth,’ the publication wrote.
N4 Pharma (AIM:N4P ) shares jumped 38.46% to 10.8p as it reports positive findings
The pharmaceutical specialist focused on developing Nuvec® reported positive findings this morning as part of its ongoing research collaboration agreement with Nanomerics.
As reported back in February 2020, the group initiated the first phase of research to test the stability of different formulations of Nuvec® loaded with a well characterised plasmid DNA.
N4 said Nuvec® formulations that had been freeze dried and then stored for 14 days either at room temperature or at four degrees Celsius were shown to have ‘no significant drop in in vitro transfection capability following reconstitution compared to fresh formulations.’
In parallel to continued work on analysing stability duration, different formulations will now be chosen to move forward into phase two of the work programme testing the efficacy of the dried and reconstituted plasmid DNA in an in vivo antibody generation model, it noted.
"Demonstrating that Nuvec® loaded with a plasmid DNA can be dried, stored at convenient temperatures and reconstituted without any drop in transfection is a significant step forward in our formulation development work,” said Nigel Theobald, CEO of N4 Pharma.
He said “work will continue in this area and will add to the breadth of proof of concept data we are building for the use of Nuvec® as a delivery system for vaccines and cancer treatments.”
Hunters Property (AIM:HUNT ) shares rose 28.21% to 65p amid possible offer
The company informed investors this morning that it is in talks to be bought by bigger rival The Property Franchise Group as Britain's estate agents look to consolidate, it is reported.
In its morning statement, Hunters said it had received a preliminary approach from TPFG regarding a possible offer, yet it did not disclose any details about the potential offer price.
‘The approach is preliminary, and the terms remain subject to ongoing discussion and to due diligence by both Hunters and TPFG. Accordingly, there can be no certainty that an offer will be made nor as to the terms of any offer, if made,’ the company highlighted.
According to Sky News, the approach follows days after the latest development in another takeover battle within the estate agency industry with property group Countrywide ‘the focal point of rival proposals’ from Connells and Alchemy Partners, the private equity firm.
Image Scan Holdings (AIM:IGE ) shares increased 16.28% to 2.5p as it swings to profit
The X-ray screening system supplier has swung to profit for the year ended 30 September 2020 after the group posted a pre-tax trading profit of £0.113m (FY19: loss of £0.402m).
Over the period, IGE experienced a 50% surge in sales to £3.5m (FY19: £2.4m) after a “strong first half, building on a large portable X-ray order won at the end of the previous year”.
The company highlighted that while 2H20 has seen a “lower level of activity” as coronavirus led to a slowdown in new business that the company has continued to receive orders, run its manufacturing site, and also supported its customers throughout the ongoing pandemic.
It added that careful management of costs and stock has made it “strongly cash generative.”
The group said it remains hard to anticipate when spending on security systems might return to more normal levels but highlighted its confidence that its expanded product range and wide market access puts the group in a good position to benefit when that happens.
Cineworld (LON:CINE ) shares fell 11.29% to 64.82p after Warner Bros blow
Shares in the cinema chain fell today after news that Warner Bros will release all 2021 films in the US on the HBO Max streaming service on the same day they hit cinemas.
“We’re living in unprecedented times which call for creative solutions, including this new initiative for the Warner Bros. Pictures Group,” said Warner Bros’s CEO Ann Sarnoff.
She adde, “No one wants films back on the big screen more than we do. We know new content is the lifeblood of theatrical exhibition, but we have to balance this with the reality that most theaters in the U.S. will likely operate at reduced capacity throughout 2021.”
According to several reports, Cineworld could lose out on a huge chunk of revenues that Warner Bros’ upcoming blockbusters, including Dune and The Matrix 4, would have provided.
‘And it’s particularly bad news for this particular UK share. It desperately needs to start pulling in the punters to pay down its colossal debt pile,’ US-based publication, The Motley Fool says.
The cinema industry has witnessed a year of turmoil. In 2019, people, on average, visited a movie theatre less than four times, according to Bloomberg — a record low since 2002.
Despite shares having increased by over 20% since late November 2020 when Cineworld arranged additional bank facilities of $450 million to keep it afloat until May 2021, this latest news means the cinema chain faces further near-term uncertainty in 2021 and beyond.