Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Market Report: Short-sellers raid Edi Truell’s Tungsten Corporation

The well-known City financier’s digital invoicing group has tanked on the junior market this year

Jamie Nimmo
Thursday 11 June 2015 16:29 EDT
Comments
Edi Truell wants to emulate the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in boosting pension funds in
London
Edi Truell wants to emulate the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in boosting pension funds in London (Douglas Fry)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Short-sellers continue to raid Edi Truell’s Tungsten Corporation.

The well-known City financier’s digital invoicing group, which floated on AIM at 225p in 2013, has tanked on the junior market this year. The shares were flying high at 409p last September but are now at a lowly 76.5p, up 0.25p on 11 June.

The company is one of the most shorted stocks on the London market, with at least 7.6 per cent of its shares out on loan to short-sellers betting on the share price falling further.

JPMorgan has been steadily increasing its short position in recent weeks. Just over 3 per cent of the company’s shares are on loan to the asset management heavyweight.

The business has been struggling to meet its ambitious growth targets and, with an increasingly uncertain future, the City has sensed blood. Mr Truell, though, has put his money where his mouth is, investing in the recent £17.5m placing to keep his stake at just below 17 per cent.

All eyes now are on the outcome of its review of its banking arm, with a potential sale in the offing.

The FTSE 100 edged up 16.47 points to 6,846.74 with all the talk about last night’s Mansion House speech from the Chancellor, who unveiled a fire sale of assets, including Royal Bank of Scotland – the Government’s problem child.

Royal Mail shares were the biggest losers on the top flight, down 23.2p to 493.3p, after the Government sold a 15 per cent stake for 500p per share.

JPMorgan Cazenove, which has a 605p target price, told its clients to buy shares in the postal service, suggesting the Government’s sale might simplify upcoming labour and pension negotiations.

Sainsbury’s, up 3.7p to 264p, may have reported a sixth straight quarter of falling sales but analysts remained upbeat over its prospects under the direction of Mike Coupe. Tesco, up 4.2p to 215.65p, and Morrisons, up 1.7p to 181.6p, were also helped higher.

Over on AIM, Adgorithms fared well on its market debut. The Israeli online ad specialist, which raised £27m in its IPO, finished the day at 139p after floating at 133p.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in