STOCK WATCH

NATURE Group rocketed as it announced the sale of its lossmaking operations in Gibraltar.

Nature, which provides treatment services for oily and polluted waste water, has sold its subsidiary on the British Overseas Territory for a total consideration of £4m to GibOil. The division reported a pre-tax loss of £1.5m in 2015 and is set to report a loss of £900,000 for 2016.

Chief executive Jan Vesseur said it was a crucial step in restructuring plans and brought an end to an ‘unhappy chapter’.

Shares leapt 22.2pc, or 2.25p, to 12.38p.