Smith
(DS) Group
Shares in DS Smith jumped 14% this morning as the market
responded to news
of management confirming that in line with media speculation, they had
received a preliminary expression of interest from Mondi. There’s no detail
over how any such deal would be structured and this comes with the usual
caveats that it might not go anywhere at all, but one to watch.
British
American Tobacco
Amidst a busy day of reporting from heavyweight stocks,
British American Tobacco issued its full
year numbers. A progressive dividend policy and news that the company may
look to liquidate some assets received a warm welcome from investors who put up
with a pretty torrid ride in 2023. By mid-morning the stock was around 8%
higher.
Sondrel
Holdings
The corporate update posted at he start of the week did
little to drive interest in the stock, but media speculation over the company’s
involvement in Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain implant has been rather more
consequential for the specialist microchip manufacturer. The company officially
won’t disclose details of companies they may be working with but did reveal
that demand for its products remains strong, including in the US. Shares jumped
130% before the morning was done, pushing
management to acknowledge the move.
