Economic and Market News for 14 February 2020

Kropz said it had defaulted on a loan provided by BNP Paribas after it experienced delays and cost increases at its Elandsfontein phosphate development in South Africa. The target date for first...

Sunrise Resources said it had raised £0.2m from a share issue to fund progress on its CS pozzolan-perlite project in Nevada. New shares in the company were issued at 0.11p each, an 8.3% discount...

Mosman Oil and Gas said it it had raised £0.3m from a share issue and would sell some US assets to narrow its focus on its Stanley prospect in Texas and Amadeus prospect in Australia. New shares...

US retail sales rose 0.3% in January to $529.8bn, according to the Census Bureau. The rise was in line with market expectations. Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

Alternative investment manager Argo said it had made a €10.2m loan to a related company that owned a shopping centre in Ukraine. The loan was made to Argo Real Estate Limited Partnership, an Irish...

Sirius Minerals said it had not been able to find a potential anchor investor to help it develop its flagship fertilizer project in Yorkshire, meaning the company may collapse if shareholders...

Oil and gas company Baron Oil said it had raised £2.5m through a share issue to fund developments in East Timor and Peru. New shares in the company were offered at 0.1p each. At 1:10pm:...

Respiratory diseases focused Verona Pharma said positive trial data on a treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease had been published in peer reviewed journal Respiratory Research. The...

Conveyancing group ULS Technology said chairman Geoff Wicks had stood down, with immediate effect. He had been replaced with current director Martin Rowland. 'ULS has come a very long way in the...

Azerbaijan-focused oil company Zenith Energy said it had raised £135k through a placing to an existing shareholder in the UK and some private investors. Shares in the company were issued at £0.015...

Software provider to the asset finance industry Alfa Financial Software said it had formed a global partnership with Accenture. The pact established a basis for Alfa and Accenture to market and...

Africa-focused telecom and payments group Airtel Africa said an initial public offering of its Malawi unit has been priced at around $37.5m based on current exchange rates. A fifth of the unit's...

Cleantech oil refining group Hydrodec warned of a deeper annual loss after funding constraints limited its ability to source feedstock. Adjusted losses at the earnings before, interest, tax,...

Internet gambling software group Gan said sports wagering revenues in the state of New Jersey had tripled during the month of January on-year. Revenues rose to $46.7m, up from $15.5m in January...

Europa Metals said a geotechnical study for its Toral lead, zinc and silver project in Spain had confirmed a 'cut and fill' mining method as a best option. The estimated size of each mining block...

SDX Energy said drilling operations had commenced for a well at its South Disouq property in Egypt. The SD-6X well, also known as Salah, was expected to a reach a targeted depth of about 9,000...

Katoro Gold said 'good progress' had been made toward completing a delayed sale of its assets in Tanzania to Lake Victoria Goldfields. The company had last August agreed to sell the assets for up...

Legal and professional services firm Knights said it had exchanged contracts to acquire Nottingham-based law firm Fraser Brown Solicitors for up to £8.3m. The acquisition, from Fraser Brown's...

Gulf region hospital owner NMC Health said deputy chairman Khalifa Butti Omeir Bin Yousef had resigned, with immediate effect. The resignation comes after NMC on Monday said key investors,...

Molecular diagnostics group Yourgene Health said its chemotoxicity diagnostics assay had been approved for sale in Australia by that country's by Therapeutic Goods Administration. The assay,...

Construction materials provider Brickability said it had completed the acquisition of roofing products importer McCann Roofing Products for £2.8m. The company said the acquisition was the first...

Aviation services provider Air Partner said it had assisted with the evacuation of more than 300 British and EU nationals from Wuhan in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Non-stop flights...

Sports and general merchandise retailer Frasers, formally known as Sports Direct, called on the UK government to cut property taxes. The company said it was backing a campaign by the British...