Ilika responds to recent share price gain by reiterating previous guidance

Ilika PLC (LON:IKA) shares jumped 27% to 252.5p, prompting the company to put out a statement about the share price movement.

It was essentially “don’t ask me, guv” statement, with the company hinting that the growing interest in solid-state batteries in the media in recent weeks regarding their future potential in automotive applications might be behind the share price movement.

The company said it is leaving its full-year guidance unchanged and cautioned that while the board is confident about the prospects for the company’s Goliath larger format batteries, mass-market commercialisation is dependent on further technical development and successful manufacturing scale-up.

10.30am: Argo soars as it applies to have its shares traded on OTCQB

Argo Blockchain PLC (LON:ARB) shares ere the top risers in London, soaring 84%to 35p after the company applied to have its shares cross-traded publicly on the US OTCQB Venture Market.

If the application is successful, the shares will carry the ticket ARBKF.

Argo said the move would make the cryptocurrency miner’s shares more widely available to North American investors and would have no impact on trading in the shares on London’s main market.

9.30am: MyHealthChecked ready for take-off after coronavirus test gets green light

MyHealthChecked PLC (LON:MHC) jumped 24% to 1.8p after its “fit to fly” coronavirus (COVID-19) test received official approval from the UK government.

Concepta Diagnostics’ MyHealthChecked COVID-19 testing service has been added to the UK Government’s approved COVID-19 private testing providers list for general testing, and the ‘Test to Release for International Travel’ scheme introduced on December 15.

The ‘Test to Release’ scheme is a UK Government-backed programme, designed to reduce quarantine periods for travellers arriving in the UK. Through the ‘Test to Release’ scheme, passengers have the opportunity to pay for a COVID-19 test through the list of approved private providers, to find out if they are able to reduce the self-isolation period after international travel.

Shares in Vector Capital Plc (LON:VCAP) rose to 39.5p on their first day of dealings, up 3.9% on the flotation price of 38p.

Vector Capital, a commercial lending group that offers secured loans primarily to businesses located in the United Kingdom, came to AIM via a placing of shares that raised £3.1mln for the company.

The company has a market capitalisation of around £16.6mln.