The FTSE closed last week broadly where it started at around 5,770 points, it had to recover from a significant early week drop (closing last Monday at 5,645 points). The AIM All share had a less troubled week, opening at 780 points and closing at 777. The markets have seen the Spanish economy slip back into recession, having contracted by 0.3 per cent in the first quarter, retail sales sliding in the Eurozone with the PMI for Germany, France and Italy falling from 49.1 to 41.3 and the US economy slowing to an annualised pace of 2.2% in the first quarter of the year, from 3% in the final three months of last year. The week ahead sees manufacturing, construction and services PMI data being announced, BoE mortgage data and a speech by the BoE governor.
Affero Mining (LON:AFF 57.5p/ £60.38m)
Afferro Mining, the exploration and development Company focused on iron ore projects in Cameroon, has reported that following discussions with the Cameroon Government it will be provided the opportunity to access the proposed railway line through the south of Cameroon. In a series of meetings with the Directors of the Company recently, the Cameroon Government has emphasised its commitment that the infrastructure should also serve third party mining projects to develop the nascent Cameroonian iron ore industry. The Company is also in discussions with the Government regarding the possibility of participating in the financing of the special purpose vehicle being set up to develop the railway. Accordingly, the Company is revising its Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) to take these developments under consideration and shall be disclosing its findings in May.
Ark Therapeutics (LON:AKT) Group (LON:AKT 3.78p/£7.90m)
Ark Therapeutics Group announced that following inspection of the Company's manufacturing site, the Finnish Medicines Agency has extended Ark's Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification to include the Company's newest and largest production facility, GMP 3. The certification will greatly increase the Company's manufacturing capacity, including an automated "fill and finish" line capable of handling up to 2,000 product units/hour. In response to growing demand for the Company's bio- manufacturing expertise, earlier this month Ark appointed Dr David Venables to the Board as Executive Director - Manufacturing Services. David Venables, Ark's Director of Manufacturing Services commented: "The availability of the GMP 3 suite will allow us…
