Inmarsat Confident on Satellite Launch; Summit Therapeutics Prices IPO

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INMARSAT PLC (ISAT.LN), the U.K. satellite operator, said a scheduled satellite launch will go ahead as planned in Kazakhstan, despite technical risks and uncertainty over the impact of sanctions imposed on Russia.

At 1429 GMT, shares were up 8 pence, or 0.9%, at 884.5 pence.

SUMMIT THERAPEUTICS PLC (SUMM.LN), a drug discovery and development company, priced its initial public offering in the U.S. at $9.9 per American depositary share, with each ADS representing five ordinary shares.

Shares -10.5 pence, or 6.5%, at 150.5 pence.

BETFAIR GROUP PLC (BET.LN) gained after the betting company raised its profit guidance for fiscal 2015, as it reported third-quarter revenue growth, a performance it said was driven by double-digit growth in sports, gaming and Betfair U.S.

Shares +313 pence, or 18%, at 2,099 pence.

NORTHERN PETROLEUM PLC (NOP.LN) rose after the U.K.-listed oil and gas firm said it has entered into a joint venture agreement with oil major Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB.LN) to explore Northern's onshore Cascina Alberto permit in north-west Italy.

Shares +0.6 pence, or 11%, at 6 pence.

WILLIAM SINCLAIR HOLDINGS PLC (SNCL.LN) fell after the horticultural products firm warned underlying results for fiscal 2015 would be "materially" worse than last year and said its chief executive was leaving.

Shares -11.5 pence, or 24%, at 37 pence.

AVESCO GROUP PLC (AVS.LN), a provider of services to the corporate presentation, entertainment and broadcast markets, said it expects its results for the year to Sept. 30 to be "comfortably ahead" of previous expectations.

Shares +9.5 pence, or 7.8%, at 131 pence.

EMPRESARIA GROUP PLC (EMR.LN), a staffing group, reported a rise in profit and said market conditions were favorable.

Shares +3.5 pence, or 7.2%, at 52 pence.

H&T GROUP PLC (HAT.LN) posted a 18% slide in 2014 pretax profit due to the reduced gold price. The pawnbroker said it will continue to review its product range to increase the profitability and use different asset classes as collateral for lending.

Shares +7.5 pence, or 4.6%, at 170 pence.

FTSE Small-Cap +0.1%

AIM +0.3%

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