Itaconix PLC shares fell in price (LSE:ITX; OTCQB:ITXXF). The company, which uses plant-based polymers in detergent products, stated that order fluctuations are happening in detergent applications due to retailers and brands adjusting inventories.
It seems that no one knows what consumers are buying as countries emerge from COVID-19 lockdowns
Due to a sharp drop in monthly volumes at its end, unaudited revenue in this business area in the first half 2021 was flat compared with the first quarter of 2020.
Personal care application revenues in the first half were lower year-on-year than in the second half last year. This was because shipments in 2020 were sufficient to satisfy customer demands during lockdowns in North America, Europe and Europe.
Itaconix, like many other companies, is also experiencing an increase of raw material prices. This week, the shares saw a loss of a third of its value.
RTC Group PLC, (AIM:RTC) which specialises in recruiting, training, and conferencing, was another stock that fell 25% following a disappointing interim report.
Profit before taxes fell to PS162,000 in 2021, from PS231,000 during the same period in 2020. This was due to higher revenue of PS40.5mln to PS39.9mln.
According to the company, the impact of the pandemic was mixed on the UK Recruitment segment. It provided contract workers to the rail and infrastructure sectors at slightly higher levels than the last quarter of 2020. General UK recruitment and smart-meter installations activities slowly picked up, RTC informed investors.
Lockdown restrictions caused a decline in activity in the hotel and conference industry.
Bion PLC, a company that specializes in environmental engineering, wastewater treatment, and renewable energy solutions, was the biggest winner this week.
After initially falling following the news that a fire had broken out at a palm oil mill near the company’s biogas power station in Malpom, Penang on Friday, shares of the company rose at the end.
Although the company’s power plant was unharmed, it still relies on the feedstock from the nearby palm oil mill. This has been halted by the fire.
Bion shares rose by two-thirds, to 2.5p. This surpasses the 51% increase for Quantum Blockchain Technologies PLC(AIM:QBT), which was driven by renewed interest in cryptocurrencies. Online Blockchain PLC, AIM:OBC was also wanted and achieved a 17% gain.
Shares typically gain when a company announces that it will be selling a portion of its assets. However, TP Group PLC(AIM:TPG), which saw its shares rise after it said it wouldn’t be selling its maritime business, bucking the trend.
David Lindsay, who was appointed interim chief executive officer (CEO), less than three weeks later, may have made the decision. He was then made “proper” CEO.
According to the consulting, software, and technologies company, there were a lot of inquiries from potential buyers for the maritime business. However they could not find a reasonable price to convince them to sell.
Saietta Group PLC (AIM:SED and FRA:8ZM), was listed on AIM 7 July. Although it didn’t get off to a great start, the stock has risen 23% to 142.5p, which is comfortably higher than its flotation price 120p.
The share price seems to have risen after the upload of a corporate presentation to their website. They announced the upload twice via the stock market’s new service.
Bidstack Group PLC’s technology for discreetly implanting advertising into video games soared 20% after it announced a partnership with T-Bull (one of the most prominent mobile game developers in Poland) for its free-to-play Racing Classics PRO title Racing Classics: Drag Race and Real Speed.
T-Bull, which is listed on Warsaw Stock Exchange, has had more than 250mln games downloaded.
Bidstack stated that its in-game ads cover track-side hoardings as well as the start/finish lines of races, flags and banners throughout the track. This can add to the real-life feel of the game without affecting its performance.
Significant announcements expected for the week ending 6 August:
Monday, August 2:
Interims: HSBC Holdings PLC, Senior PLC (LSE:SNR), XP Power Ltd
Economic data: UK manufacturing PMI, US manufacturing PMI
Tuesday, August 3:
Trading announcements: BP PLC, AG Barr (LSE:BAG) PLC, Lamprell PLC (LSE:LAM, OTC:LMPRF)
Finals: Filtronic PLC (LSE:FTC), Joules Group PLC (AIM:JOUL), NWF Group PLC (AIM:NWF)
Interims: Standard Chartered PLC, Greggs PLC, Direct Line Insurance (LSE:DLG) Group PLC, Travis Perkins (LSE:TPK) PLC, Ultra Electronics (LSE:ULE) PLC, Aferian PLC, Coats Group PLC (LSE:COA), Keller Group (LSE:KLR) PLC, Rotork (LSE:ROR) PLC, Fresnillo PLC (LSE:FRES), Domino’s Pizza Group PLC, Weir Group (LSE:WEIR) PLC, TP ICAP (LSE:TCAP) PLC
Economic data:
Wednesday, August 4:
Trading announcements: UDG Healthcare (LSE:UDG) PLC
Interims: Legal & General Group PLC, Taylor Wimpey PLC, Ibstock PLC (LSE:IBST), Morgan Sindall Group PLC (LSE:MGNS), Hiscox Ltd, Ferrexpo PLC (LSE:FXPO)
Economic data: UK services PMI, US ADP jobs, US services PMI
Thursday, August 5:
Finals: Frasers Group PLC, NCC Group PLC (LSE:NCC)
Interims: Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC, Serco Group (LSE:SRP) PLC, WPP PLC (LSE:WPP), Centamin PLC (LSE:CEY), Glencore PLC (LSE:GLEN), Meggitt PLC (LSE:MGGT), Evraz PLC (LSE:EVR), Hammerson (LSE:HMSO) PLC, IP Group PLC (LSE:IPO), Mondi PLC (LSE:MNDI), Secure Trust Bank PLC (LSE:STB), Spirent Communications (LSE:SPT) PLC, Synthomer (LSE:SYNT) PLC, Tritax Big Box REIT PLC (LSE:BBOX), TT Electronics PLC (LSE:TTG), ConvaTec Group PLC (LSE:CTEC)
FTSE 100 ex-dividends to knock 5.15 points off the index: Unilever PLC (LSE:ULVR), Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC (LSE:RKT)
Economic data: BoE rates decision, UK construction PMI, US trade balance, US jobless claims
Friday, August 6:
Interims: London Stock Exchange Group PLC, Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (AIM:HIK, OTC:HKMPF), ContourGlobal PLC (LSE:GLO), The Renewables Infrastructure Group
Economic data: US non-farm payrolls, US earnings
