Economic and Market News for 12 October 2020

Diamond miner Botswana Diamonds said it had commenced a ground geophysics programme to zero-in on potential kimberlite pipes on the prospective Marsfontein and Thorny River properties in South...

Mobile payments group Fonix Mobile made a positive market debut in London after the company raised £45 million in an initial public offering. Fonix Mobile shares were trading at 91.5p each in...

Computer vision technology group Seeing Machines said it was expanding its automotive driver monitoring system into an overall vehicle interior/occupant monitoring system. The expanded offering...

Mining company Panthera Resources said it was planning to recommence fieldwork in early November at the Bassala project in southwestern Mali. Results from the fieldwork programme, which would...

Molecular diagnostics group Yourgene Health said its oncology product was now being used in Wales. The Elucigene DPYD test was used to routinely screen all cancer patients prior to the start of...

Mineral exploration and development company Alba Mineral Resources said it had terminated the convertible securities issuance deed with a US-based institutional investment fund managed by Bergen...

Technology company BigDish said it would provide its technology to several startup and early-stage technology companies in exchange for equity stakes amid plans to grow into a venture builder....

Irish commercial property investor Yew Grove REIT said rent collections in the fourth quarter were effectively 100%. The company said it had collected 99.95% of the amounts due with the balance...

Real estate investment company Tritax Big Box REIT declared an interim dividend for the period from 1 July to 30 September 2020 of 1.5625 pence per ordinary share. The dividend would be payable...

Student accommodation property owner Empiric Student Property said that Lynne Fennah, chief financial & operating officer, had been appointed as non-executive chairman of Home REIT. At...

X-ray imaging products maker Image Scan it had launched a new cabinet X-ray system to be used in mailrooms and a wide range of other security screening environments. The new system, AXIS-CXi,...

Education and networking services provider Wilmington said chief financial officer Richard Amos would stand down on 10 December. He would be replaced by Guy Millward as its chief financial...

Information systems and transport technical services group Journeo said it had received a £0.6m purchase order from Wrightbus to supply and install on-board safety and security systems for new...

Oil company Serica Energy said offshore operations had commenced at an intervention project at the Rhum field off the coast of Scotland. Awilco Drilling's WilPhoenix semi-submersible drilling rig...

Biotechnology company Destiny Pharma said it expected to report recruitment for its clinical study of its product used to reduce post-surgical infections by year-end and results in the first...

Medical-imaging technology company Polarean Imaging said it had received a research unit order from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The new 9820 Xenon Polariser system would...

Gold development group Bluebird Merchant Ventures said an independent expert had now been appointed to determine the value of the South Korean projects in which the company was seeking to increase...

Dietary supplements company OptiBiotix Health said it had launched meal replacement shakes and bars containing its weight management technology in Australia and New Zealand with retailers...

Sports-betting and gaming group GVC said it had been awarded four sports-betting licences in Germany. The terms of the licence included a wagering limit of €1,000 euros per month that can be...

Property company LondonMetric Property said it had collected 94% for rent that was due up to October. A further 3% was expected to be received imminently, 2% was currently being deferred under...

Immunotherapies developer Scancell said it had raised £30 million from funds managed by US specialist healthcare investor Redmile. Scancell said it was also planning raise around £3 million from...

Telecom services provider to businesses Toople said it had won two new contracts, with an investment management group and a property management company. The contract with the investment manager...

Fund management company Jupiter Fund Management said Edward Bonham Carter would step down as a board member and from his executive position as vice chairman following the company's 2021 annual...

Transport corridor analytics group Maestrano said chief executive Andrew Pearson was standing down, to be replaced by Nicholas Smith from 11 January. Smith has been the company's head of global...

International Airlines Group said Alex Cruz was standing down as chief executive of its British Airways unit. Cruz would be replaced by Aer Lingus chairman and chief executive Sean Doyle, though...

Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said its coronavirus antibody treatment would advance to two separate phase-three clinical trials at sites in and outside the US that would begin in the coming...

Bus and rail company National Express said it had appointed Ignacio Garat as as its chief executive, to replace current interim CEO Chris Davies. Garat was most recently senior vice president...

Oil services group Petrofac said chief executive Ayman Asfari would retire at the end of the year to focus on his family, health and charitable interests. Sami Iskander would join the company as...

Engineering and industrial software group Aveva said it expected to report first-half revenue 'broadly' in line with its expectations. The company said it expected to report revenue of about £333...

Romania and Tunisia focused miner Vast Resources said it was targeting final approval of the debt financing for its Baita Plai polymetallic mine in Romania by December. Vast Resource said...