Morning news wrap: Bunzl, Associated British Foods, Hammerson and Gemfields

In the FTSE 100, distribution and outsourcing group Bunzl (LSE: BNZL) announced its annual results today, reporting a revenue increase of 11% to £4.65 billion, pre-tax profits climbed 6% to £258 million.
Associated British Foods (LSE: ABF) said its interim results that are due to be announced in April will show a “strong increase in revenue with growth achieved in all segments” and operating profit will be “substantially higher.”
Commercial property company Hammerson (LSE: HMSO) also announced its full year results, saying adjusted pre-tax profits rose 14.3% to £130 million, while income slid 2.1% to £293.6 million.
In AIM, Europe focused oil and gas developer Ascent Resources (AIM: AST) has agreed to sell its 45% interest in Italian drilling contractor Perazzoli Drilling for €1.85 million.
South American based explorer Mariana Resources (AIM: MARL) said that rock chip sampling at the Hochschild Los Amigos JV have so far returned highly anomalous values ranging from 0.1 g/t to 5 g/t gold and 5 g/t to 100 g/t gold.
Gemfields PLC (AIM: GEM) announced the discovery of a 6,225 carat rough emerald at its Kagem mine in Zambia.

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