London’s AIM Index has kicked off the week with some modest – but welcome – gains following Friday’s sell-off. At the bell, the junior market was up just over six points at 1166.08.
- Bluerock Diamonds +47%
- Tintra +25%
- Shoe Zone +9%
- Access Intelligence -24%
- Ncondezi Energy -15%
Bluerock Diamonds LON:BRD topped the board, adding 47% by the bell. This is a minnow of a stock however and was trading on a 17% spread at the close, but investors appear to have been cheered by this morning’s release of the Q4 and FY production update. Tight supply means that the company is confident over some upbeat revenues being delivered in the year ahead.
Shares in Tintra LON:TNT took yet another leg up today, reaching 375p before retreating to close around 300p, but still well up on the 50p seen at the start of the year. Gains on the day were noted as 25% following the release of further news of strategic investment in the company.
A notable mention for Shoe Zone LON:SHOE which added a further 9% in late afternoon trading. The stock appears to be positioning itself as one of the winners from the latest decimation of the high street, with the inherently bulky stock not lending itself all that well to distance selling. However with 150% gains over the last three months, has this opportunity now passed?
Access Intelligence LON:ACC was the day’s worst performer, sitting some 24% lower at the closing bell. A trading update released this morning may have painted a picture of growing revenues, but there’s an expectation that performance in South East Asia will fall short for some time yet as the region navigates the economic and social challenges presented by the COVID pandemic. Investors have taken this as a signal to book profits, although the stock remains well above pre-pandemic lows.
Ncondezi Energy LON:NCCL also struggled today, some 15% lower at the bell. The stock has historically been a regular of this column but today’s project update – which failed to offer any further insight into how China’s position on funding fossil fuel projects may impact its performance – again left investors looking for the exits.