The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AJXO) (ASX: XJO) looks like posting a positive finish to the week as it sits marginally higher in afternoon trade, with several stocks roaring higher.
Let's take a look at what may be behind the price action of some of today's top movers.
Select Harvests Limited (ASX: SHV) is the almond farmer and retailer that has many investors studying weather patterns and almond price forecasts to get a read on which way its earnings might be travelling. The farmer's returns are leveraged to global almond supply and prices, with the stock losing 60% of its value over the last six months. This as almond pricing retracts from record levels on lower consumption, today the stock has rebounded 6% to $4.35 as some bargain hunters move in.
Ademdus Ltd (ASX: AHZ) is the regenerative medicine business with an evangelical following of retail shareholders, big cash burn, and low revenues.
Today the biotech updated the market with news over progress on its Phase II clinical trial for a potential HSV-II virus vaccine. The company's shares have been falling throughout 2016 as its Cardiocel heart patch sales fail to gain the traction anticipated. Today the stock is up 9.5% to 46 cents, but still down 30% over the course of 2016.
Vocus Communications Limited (ASX: VOC) shares are up nearly 3% in afternoon trade to $8.25 after a range of brokers posted buy ratings on the business with share price targets above what the stock swaps hands for today. The new Vocus / M2 Group has some big potential and Vocus continues to invest in expanding its metropolitan fibre network. Given its expanding fibre-optic infrastructure assets and the powerful digital tailwinds this looks a stock to own.
Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd (ASX: LNG) is a former market superstar that has fallen from a high of $5 in 2015 to just 63 cents today on the back of the precipitous falls in oil prices over the past year. Today the stock has lifted 4.5 cents or 7.7% despite the company releasing no news to the market. It remains a speculative bet and investors might be best off watching this one from the sidelines.
