Companies: BLVN    CUC    DFD    EME    FOGL    HGP    HLL    MRP    ORPK   

A final FTSE 100 flourish on Friday, with the blue chip index closing at 5,850.2, a new 52-week high, failed to translate into similar gains for AIM. The Index, which added an impressive 12.2 points at 1,155.6 last week, could only put on 1.2 points, ending at a rather flat 1,156.8. As ever, however, there was plenty of action to keep followers enthralled.

Weekly round-up

Fast-growing Debtmatters (DEBT), which helps debt-laden consumers clear their bills, danced 26 per cent higher to 203.5p this week, with an exceptionally bullish trading update and broker upgrades. The group, trading significantly ahead of last year’s 65p issue price, boasted profits for the ten months to January beat expectations and full year results to March will smash the upper range of City forecasts.

Chief executive Ges Ratcliffe says 2006 has started exceptionally well, with Debtmatters' delivering some 344 IVAs in January, following a strong quarter to December in which the group processed 830 approved IVAs, giving it second spot in the sector behind AIM rival Debt Free Direct. For 2006, analysts suggest pre-tax profits of £2.1 million, upgraded from £1.5 million before the trading update.

Also trading at a premium is recent new issue Orpak (ORPK), which floated in December at 140p, and now sells for 174p a share. The Israeli-based venture’s secure payment systems help fleet managers and petroleum giants save fuel and stop fuel fraud, and this week’s maiden annual figures were stellar indeed. These showed pre-tax profits doubling to £3.1 million as sales gushed 43 per cent north to £20.1 million.

Friday risers and fallers

Friday’s highest flyer was penny share player Harrogate Group (HGP), which surged 75 per cent to 0.10p. The soon-to-be shell – it is looking to ditch its Axiom Software trading subsidiary – said it knew of no reason behind the rise.

Hot on its heels was ice-cream maker Hill Station (HLL). It climbed 22 per cent higher to 4.88p despite serving up losses of £792,000 for the 15 months to October on £1.2 million turnover. However, chairman Pieter Totte claims the company is becoming ‘a new quality force in UK ice cream’ after two reverse takeovers in October, which he says have turned the company from a niche player into the UK's third-largest ice cream manufacturer.

Friday’s biggest casualty was struggling Centurion Electronics (CUC), the in-car electrical entertainment play, on its return from suspension. The shares surrendered 95 per cent of their value, ending the session at 1p. Only last week the company revealed that its lenders had agreed to cancel its debt in return for cash and ‘partial conversion of the debt’ into new shares.

No let up for beleaguered BowLeven

Scandal continued to engulf gas prospector BowLeven (BLVN) this week, after it sacked chief executive officer Philip Rhind on grounds of 'gross misconduct’ on Thursday after a review of his ‘performance and general behaviour'. However, chairman Terry Heneaghen argues Rhind's dismissal will have 'no significant impact on the company' and will not force it to rethink its strategy. Up 9p on Friday to 176p, the shares remain bombed out against a 52-week high of 845p.

As is usual on AIM there were a herd of dynamic oil and gas risers during the week, with Empyrean Energy (EMP) hurtling up 74 per cent to 139p on a positive update about its Eagle North-1 well in California and FirstAfrica Oil (FAO) and Falkland Oil & Gas (FOGL) gaining 48 per cent to 5.97p and 30 per cent to 182.50p on no particular news.

US and Australia focused explorer Meridian Petroleum (MRP) gushed 35 per cent north to 23.4p on Friday, after confirming a £1 million placing at 14p should complete shortly.