International concerns dominated the market this week as President Bush visited the UK. Initially there were worries about a weaker dollar before the Istanbul bomb blasts further depressed traders in the City. Overall the FTSE 100 Index finished the week down 78 points at 4319, despite an 11 point rise on Friday. AIM also experienced a mixed week, falling 8.2 points to 811.2. However, the Index was up 2.9 points today.

Weekly roundup

Monday saw contrasting fortunes for two drink-related stocks.

Majestic Wine, the ubiquitous warehouse retailer of wines and beers, revealed that pre-tax profits increased 42 per cent to £4 million on sales raised 22 per cent to £69.1 million in the 26 weeks to 29 September. However, the shares edged back 2.5p to 830p on the day.

Inventive Leisure, the well-regarded operator of the Revolution chain of vodka bars, disappointed investors by issuing a profit warning This year's figures 'will be ahead of last year but significantly behind current market expectations'. More worrying the group admitted that the downturn in like-for-like sales experienced in the first 13 weeks of the financial year, which it blamed on the hot summer, has continued into the autumn. Inventive's shares fell 21 per cent to 96p.

On Tuesday American drug developer Keryx Biopharmaceuticals raised $15 million (£8.8 million). This leaves the group with $34 million of cash, which, said executive chairman Michael Weiss said 'should carry us well into 2006'. The money will be used principally to help progress Keryx's KRX-101 diabetic nephropathy treatment. The company's shares fell two per cent to 295p.

The following day interactive entertainment specialist Zoo Digital announced plans to raise £5.75 million from new and existing institutions. In the past six months Zoo's shares have shot up from 2.5p to 13p. In the six months to June revenue moved from £274,000 to £1.3 million and losses reduced by a quarter to £731,000. Earlier in the year a placing at 2.5p raised £1.5 million.

On the same day London-based housebuilder Telford Homes said interim pre-tax profits increased 48 per cent to £2.1 million on turnover up 74 per cent to £15.2 million. The shares moved up three per cent to a year-high of 126p.

Another strong reporter was Cardpoint, which clipped seven per cent higher to 85p on an excellent full year statement showing the company delivering ahead of expectations. The acquisitive group now owns and operates 1,900 ATM cash machines and 3,000 mobile phone top-up terminals. Preliminary numbers to September showed sales up almost fourfold to £12.2m, while pre-tax profits before goodwill came in at £50,000, against a £757,000 loss last time.

And finally accountancy group Numerica shed 5.5p, or 10 per cent, to 49.5p on Thursday after saying that fellow accountant BDO Stoy Hayward had pulled out of bid talks. However, another bidder is now circling says Numerica.

Friday's news

AIM announcements were fairly thin on the ground at the close of the week, though Seymour Pierce, the asset management firm that sold its corporate broking and investment management arm to management earlier this year, was at the centre of the action.

Grabbing much of the attention were full year figures from Seymour Pierce itself. In the year to September the company witnessed a £3 million reduction in revenue to £17 million, though losses were cut back from £31.7 million to £7.1 million after more than £7 million of exceptional write-downs related to its various disposals. Having disposed of its banking and broking businesses the company is now poised to change its name to Investment Management Holdings. The shares fell a quarter of a penny to 2.38p on the day.

Meanwhile one of the now privately owned investment bank's clients, trading facility operator Ofex, marched up 10 per cent to 22.75p on a brace of positive announcements.

First came news that outgoing AIM supremo Simon Brickles has agreed to act as a consultant to the Ofex board. This statement was then swiftly followed by confirmation that small-cap trading specialist Winterflood Securities has agreed to make a market in all Ofex stocks, meaning that for the first time in the facility's history some companies will have competing market makers.

With its previous one market maker system being frequently highlighted as the reason for Ofex's recent decline, today's announcements could be highly significant.

Looking forward

Finally, Seymour Pierce's corporate broking division was busy promoting in-flight shopping system provider FlightStore, which is due to float on Friday 12 December. Headed by Aerobox chairman David Sebire and backed by Branson-buddy John Caulcutt, FlightStore is currently seeking to raise £2 million ahead of its launch.

P.S.

This is the final daily AIM market report. From next week one AIM report will be published each week on a Friday. This will incorporate a round-up of the week's events, several recommendations as well as a preview of the coming week's AIM activity and forthcoming floats.