The Market Wire
Saturday, 24 October 2026
- SMALL-CAP MOVERS: From Cornwall to the Rockies. Here's what's been moving and shaking this week Update
A battery built on sulfur
- Evoke revenues dip as shop closures and sports results weigh, but Bally's deal on track Update
Evoke, the betting and gaming group behind William Hill, 888 and Mr Green, reported a 7% decline in third-quarter revenues to £406 million, though the drop was…
Friday, 23 October 2026
- Sigma Lithium extends debt runway as restart gathers pace
Sigma Lithium Corp (TSX-V:SGML, NASDAQ:SGML, ASX:SAU) has agreed with Synergy Capital to push back the maturity of its US$100 million senior secured debt by…
- SMALL-CAP MOVERS: From Cornwall to the Rockies. Here's what's been moving and shaking this week
My preference is the first.
- Rentokil's price target raised by UBS as North America shows signs of stabilising
Rentokil Initial PLC (LSE:RTO) has had its price target raised by UBS after third-quarter trading showed better-than-expected stability in its key North…
- UBS maintains attractive view on global equities as AI spending supports earnings
UBS has maintained its "attractive' view on global equities, arguing that resilient growth, solid earnings and accelerating artificial intelligence (AI)…
- Intel's Arizona tool installation seen easing Xeon supply strain
Intel, the American semiconductor giant, has begun fitting out a new chip factory in Arizona, a milestone that Wall Street views as a positive sign for the…
- Could Metals One deal trigger a rerating? Broker takes a deep dive
A broker has set a punchy 6.1p price target for shares in Metals One PLC (AIM:MET1, FRA:HT7, OTCQB:MTOPF) after it unveiled plans to take full ownership of…
- Telegraph cuts 100 jobs in pivot to AI-powered media
The Daily Telegraph has cut around 100 jobs after its new owner told staff the newspaper will be rebuilt as a "global, AI-powered premium media and…
- Tech layoffs accelerate past 190,000 for 2026
Tech layoffs have topped 190,000 so far this year, with less than three months left on the clock, according to career website TrueUp.
- Security firm finds banned Nvidia chips on China Telecom network
Lava, an Israeli security firm, says it has identified 32 Nvidia Blackwell Ultra B300 chips on network infrastructure associated with China Telecom, a…
- SMALL-CAP MOVERS: From the Rockies to Cornwall. The stories keeping AIM ticking as the sell-off bites
Imagine a battery that swaps scarce metals for sulfur, one of the cheapest and most plentiful materials on earth.
- SpaceX Starlink restrictions grounded Ukrainian drones, Apple outperforms shrinking PC market, Nvidia, Apple - Big Tech Report
On 13 October, Ukrainian drones began losing connection and falling from the sky after SpaceX imposed new restrictions on the Starlink satellite links that…
- iPhone Duo pre-orders beat Apple's expectations
Apple's iPhone Duo has drawn more pre-orders than the company expected in several major markets, according to DigiTimes.
- Uber extends ChatGPT Work to entire global workforce
Uber has rolled out OpenAI's ChatGPT Work to more than 30,000 employees globally, expanding a pilot that began with 1,000 employees.
- BP valuation discount offers opportunity ahead of results, says Citi
BP PLC (LSE:BP.)’s substantial valuation discount to major oil peers offers an opportunity for investors ahead of its third-quarter results, according to Citi…
- Aviva price target raised by RBC despite Canada insurance hit
Aviva PLC (LSE:AV.) has had its price target raised by RBC Capital Markets despite the broker cutting near-term earnings forecasts because of higher…
- Bank results land in Budget week as surcharge fears grow
HSBC, Standard Chartered, Lloyds and NatWest report third-quarter numbers as fears grow of a bank tax rise in the Budget
- Oxford BioMedica’s AI tools could cut development time by 80%, Jefferies says
Oxford BioMedica PLC (LSE:OXB), the cell and gene therapy manufacturer, could improve development efficiency through artificial intelligence and automation…
- Barclays remains a buy for UBS and RBC despite third-quarter earnings miss
Barclays PLC (LSE:BARC), the UK banking group, retains support from UBS and RBC Capital Markets after its third-quarter results fell short of market…
- MARKETS LIVE: Wall Street ends volatile week lower as oil hits six-month high
Wall Street ended a volatile week on a sour note on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbling 653 points as selling spread beyond technology…
- IG Group wins bullish broker backing, but questions remain over revenue growth
IG Group Holdings Plc (LSE:IGG), the online trading platform operator, has received contrasting levels of optimism from Panmure Liberum and Peel Hunt following…
- Litigation Capital Management shares fall 40% after termination notice on collective action funding agreement
Shares in Litigation Capital Management Ltd (AIM:LIT), the dispute financing specialist, fell over 40% to 0.301p, after a funded party served notice seeking to…
- LSEG’s Octus deal wins broker backing as analysts see room for further gains
London Stock Exchange Group PLC (LSE:LSEG), the financial markets and data provider, has won support from Citi, JP Morgan and RBC Capital Markets after…
- Petra Diamonds shares fall 26% as audit delay puts trading suspension on the cards
Shares in Petra Diamonds Limited (LSE:PDL, OTC:PDLMF), the diamond miner, fell 26% to 2.6p on Friday morning, after it said delays to its audit mean it will…
- Jefferies keeps 'buy' on Oxford BioMedica with 57% upside after management briefing
Jefferies has reiterated its 'buy' rating on Oxford BioMedica with a £8.27 price target, 57% above Thursday's closing price of £5.27.
- Barclays posts third-quarter miss driven by trading desk weakness but brokers back the stock
Barclays delivered a disappointing third quarter on Thursday, missing profit forecasts.
- Huddled shares rise 14% as it agrees to buy Whatnot joint venture partner AEWW
Shares in Huddled Group PLC (AIM:HUD, FRA:6XK), the live-commerce company, rose 14% to 0.825p on Friday, after it agreed to buy AEWW, its joint venture partner…
- UBS keeps Attractive rating on global equities as AI drives earnings growth
Markets have shrugged off rising bond yields, higher energy prices, and geopolitical uncertainty to keep climbing, according to a new note from UBS, the Swiss…
- Catenai shares fall 37% after administrator application filed against borrower Klarian
Catenai PLC (AIM:CTEA), the digital media and technology services provider, fell 37% to 0.06p on Friday morning, after an application was filed to appoint an…
- Boohoo Group shares jump 6% as Panmure Liberum backs strong interim results
Boohoo Group PLC (AIM:DEBS), trading as Debenhams Group PLC, jumped as much as 6% to 26.5p on Friday after strong interim results prompted Panmure Liberum to…
- Bezant Resources raises £4m for Hope and Gorob expansion
Bezant Resources PLC (AIM:BZT) has secured a £4 million financing facility to support the expansion of its Hope and Gorob copper project in Namibia, where…
- Fintel buys Mortgage Brain for £38.4m to boost software and AI capabilities
Fintel, the AIM-quoted provider of technology and data services to the UK financial services sector, has acquired the remaining equity of Mortgage Brain…
- Smarter Web Company adds 20 Bitcoin to treasury at £61,733 apiece
The Smarter Web Company, a digital services and Bitcoin treasury business, has purchased a further 20 Bitcoin for £1.23 million as part of its long-term…
- Helical lets floorspace at Brettenham House to FGS Global and expects £15.5 million from Southwark
Helical (LSE:HLCL), the London office developer, has exchanged an agreement for lease with FGS Global for 23,887 sq ft across three floors at Brettenham House…
- Robinson cuts profit expectations as weaker UK demand weighs
Robinson PLC (AIM:RBN) has cut its profit expectations for 2026 after weaker-than-anticipated demand in its UK paperboard and plastics businesses.
- Halo Minerals lands permit for Playa Verde copper project
Halo Minerals PLC (AIM:HALO) told investors that it has cleared another regulatory hurdle at its Playa Verde copper project in northern Chile, securing a…
- Unite agrees £40.7 million sale of London academy school to cut debt
Unite Group PLC (LSE:UTG), the UK’s largest student accommodation owner, has exchanged contracts to sell the academy school at its Hawthorne House development…
- Rio Tinto commits $1.9 billion to Queensland bauxite expansion
Rio Tinto Ltd (LSE:RIO, ASX:RIO, OTC:RTNTF) will invest $1.9 billion to develop the Kangwinan bauxite project in Queensland, extending the life of its Weipa…
- Helical secures major letting at Brettenham House as development pipeline advances
Helical, the London office developer, has exchanged an agreement for lease with communications firm FGS Global for 23,887 square feet across three floors of…
- Unite Group sells academy school for £41m
Unite Group, the UK's largest owner and developer of student accommodation, has exchanged contracts to sell an academy school at its Hawthorne House…
- Evoke revenue falls 7% to £406m as shop closures and customer-friendly results weigh
Evoke PLC (LSE:EVOK), the owner of the William Hill, 888 and Mr Green brands, said third-quarter revenue fell 7% to £406 million, partly because of around 270…
- Debenhams Group eyes £100m profit as turnaround gathers pace
Debenhams Group, the online fashion retailer formerly known as boohoo, has set its sights on delivering more than £100 million in annual profit before tax as…
- Rio Tinto to invest $1.9bn in Queensland bauxite project
Rio Tinto, the mining giant, is to invest $1.9 billion to develop the Kangwinan bauxite project on the Western Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia.
- Ondine Biomedical says Canadian hospital findings reinforces Steriwave's point of care value - UPDATE
Ondine Biomedical Inc (AIM:OBI, OTC:OBIMF) has reported a 51.5% reduction in surgical-site infections at Canada's largest cardiac centre following the…
- Boohoo Group returns to profit as turnaround gathers pace
Boohoo Group PLC (AIM:DEBS), trading as Debenhams Group PLC, returned to profit in the first half as its turnaround gained pace, supported by improving sales…
- FTSE 100 LIVE: London shares fall as Wall Street's AI sell-off continues
The FTSE 100 fell 64 points on Friday as a second day of AI-driven anxiety on Wall Street kept risk appetite in check on both sides of the Atlantic.
Thursday, 22 October 2026
- Anthropic opens waitlist for background AI agent Claude Duet
Anthropic has opened a waitlist for Claude Duet, a research preview that lets its Claude assistant keep working while users are away, according to Tech Crunch.
- Walmart lets AI agents shop and checkout on its behalf
Walmart introduced tools that let AI agents search for products and complete purchases on behalf of shoppers, according to Reuters.
- Tesla earnings beat puts SpaceX merger speculation back in focus
Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is giving investors two big things to consider: a stronger-than-expected earnings report and the possibility of joining forces with…
- FIVE AT FIVE: Tech rout wipes 2% off the Nasdaq, LSEG jumps on its Octus deal and Inchcape loses 9%
That's your five for Thursday.
- Meta shares slide, but analysts see upside in Muse and advertising
Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META, XETRA:FB2A, SIX:FB) is winning over Wall Street with a combination of resilient advertising growth and early traction for its…
- Nasdaq dragged lower as Facebook owner's spending spooks the Street
Technology stocks bore the brunt of a broad market sell-off on Thursday, with the Nasdaq Composite falling 1.6% as semiconductor shares led the retreat and…
- Meta shares slide 7% as spending startles twitchy investors
Meta's shares fell around 7% in early trading on Thursday, wiping $116 billion from the value of the Facebook owner.
- RBC flags downside risks for gold shares ahead of quarterly results
Gold-mining shares face a mixed third-quarter reporting season as lower bullion prices and elevated operating costs squeeze margins, while investors look for…
- Pichai rebuffs Trump bid to rename the Atlantic Ocean
President Donald Trump said he called Google chief executive Sundar Pichai to discuss renaming the Atlantic Ocean, according to the Washington Post.
- Taiwan's tech factories are flashing green, and AI is why
Taiwan sits at the heart of the global technology industry.
- The box that could crack the green hydrogen problem
A London-based start-up believes its novel solid oxide technology can make green hydrogen commercially viable at last.
- Barclays profit rises but misses forecasts as UBS keeps 'buy' rating
Barclays PLC (LSE:BARC) retained a 'buy' rating from UBS with a 590p price target despite weaker fixed-income trading contributing to a softer-than-expected…
- LSEG backed by brokers after guidance upgrade and Octus deal
London Stock Exchange Group PLC (LSE:LSEG) received backing from Jefferies and UBS after raising its 2026 guidance and announcing the $3.5 billion acquisition…
- Nasdaq futures slide 1.7% as oil spike and earnings jitters rattle tech stocks
Nasdaq futures are pointing sharply lower ahead of Thursday's open, with contracts on the tech-heavy index down 1.7% as semiconductor stocks reverse…
- SpaceX is building an AI supercomputer bigger than anything the world has seen
SpaceX is building one of the largest artificial intelligence supercomputers in the world, and it is doing so at a pace that has surprised even the analysts…
- Sainsbury raises profit guidance as grocery sales growth slows
J Sainsbury PLC (LSE:SBRY), the UK supermarket group, raised the lower end of its annual retail operating profit guidance after first-half earnings beat…
- XP Power upgraded to 'buy' by Deutsche Bank as price target rises 63%
XP Power Ltd (LSE:XPP), the power control systems manufacturer, has been upgraded to 'buy' from 'hold' by Deutsche Bank, which raised its price target to…
- Cavendish rates Ilika a 'buy' with a 118p target as it launches ORKA brand for underwater batteries
Cavendish, the broker, rates Ilika PLC (AIM:IKA, OTCQX:ILIKF, FRA:I8A), the AIM-listed solid state battery developer, a 'buy' with a target price of 118.0p…
- Camellia shares fall over 7% as rising costs and weak avocado prices deepen trading woes
Shares in Camellia (LSE:CAM), the AIM-listed agricultural group, fell over 7% to 5,300p on Thursday, down 450p from the previous close of 5,750p, after it…
- Jackdaw approval signals new era for UK oil and gas development
The UK government's decision to approve the Jackdaw gas field has opened the door for a wave of new domestic energy developments, with analysts at Shore…
- Inchcape shares fall 7% as Australian weakness cuts margin outlook
Inchcape PLC (LSE:INCH), the automotive distributor, fell 7% to 642p on Thursday after weak Australian trading forced it to lower its full-year operating…
- Invinity Energy Systems shares plunge 38% despite £25 million fundraising
Invinity Energy Systems PLC (AIM:IES, OTCQX:IESVF, AQSE:IES) shares dropped 38% to 11p on Thursday, after the company confirmed a £25 million fundraising…
- FTSE 100 LIVE: London firmly in the red as miners lead the losers' board Update
The FTSE 100 fell 80 points on Thursday morning as a renewed sell-off in French government bonds and sliding metals prices dragged on London's blue-chip index.
- Inchcape shares fall 9% as Australia weakness forces margin cut
Inchcape, the global automotive distribution group, fell 9% to 631p after a sharp deterioration in its Australian business forced the company to cut its…
- LSEG shares jump 4% as Octus deal and raised guidance impress City
London Stock Exchange Group shares rose 4% to 9,114p after the financial markets infrastructure company raised its full-year guidance and announced the $3.5…
- Gold miners brace for mixed third-quarter results as falling prices squeeze margins
Gold producers are heading into third-quarter reporting season facing a second consecutive quarter of margin compression, as lower realised prices and stubborn…
- UBS flags FICC miss as Barclays shares hold steady despite profit beat
Barclays shares were flat after third-quarter results that beat on profit before tax but missed on income, with weakness in the investment bank's fixed income…
- European airlines stay consensus short, but EU consolidation theme draws investor interest
European airline stocks remain broadly out of favour with investors, but positioning has improved slightly week-on-week and consolidation across the sector is…
- Sainsbury's shares fall 4% as softer second-quarter grocery growth clouds half-year beat
Sainsbury's shares fell 4% to 345p after the supermarket's half-year results revealed a slowdown in grocery sales growth in the second quarter that…
- Deutsche Bank upgrades XP Power to buy as semiconductor orders surge
Deutsche Bank has upgraded XP Power, the power conversion equipment maker, to 'buy' from 'hold' and raised its target price from 1400p to 2285p, implying 30%…
- Rentokil shares jump 8% as $200 million buyback and steady third quarter reassure investors
Shares in Rentokil Initial PLC (LSE:RTO), the FTSE 100 pest control and hygiene group, rose 8% to 337.70p on Thursday morning, a gain of 23p from Wednesday’s…
- MARKETS LIVE: Miners lead London lower as oil climbs Update
Mining shares led London lower on Thursday as falling gold and copper prices added to wider concerns about rising energy costs and interest rates.
- Bloomsbury shares fall over 5% as first-half profit drops 30% on weaker consumer sales and lower AI income
Shares in Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (LSE:BMY), the FTSE 250 publisher of the Harry Potter books, fell over 5% to 636.00p on Thursday morning, a drop of 36.00p…
- Brokers back Rentokil as shares jump 9% on buyback and reassuring trading update
Rentokil Initial shares surged 9% after the pest control and hygiene group announced a $200 million share buyback and said it expected full-year profit in line…
- Miners sink as weaker copper prices and rising inventories hit London stocks
Mining shares were hit hard in London on Thursday as weaker copper prices, rising metal inventories and company-specific pressures triggered broad selling…
- FTSE 100 LIVE: London 69 points in the hole as miners lead the losers' board Update
The FTSE 100 opened almost 70 points in the red, led lower by the mining sector.
- AJ Bell says customer numbers rose 24% to 796,000 as record inflows lift assets to £126 billion
AJ Bell PLC (LSE:AJB), the Manchester-based investment platform, said customer numbers rose by 152,000, or 24%, to 796,000 in the year to 30 September, while…
- MARKETS LIVE: London opens sharply lower as miners weigh Update
London stocks opened sharply lower on Thursday as weakness across Asian markets and rising oil prices unsettled investors.
- Rentokil announces $200 million share buyback as third-quarter organic revenue grows 3.4%
Rentokil Initial PLC (LSE:RTO), the pest control and hygiene services group, announced a $200 million share buyback on Thursday and reported third-quarter…
- Valereum secures security over US mining assets
Valereum PLC (AQSE:VLRM, FRA:6TJ, OTCQB:VLRMF) has secured and registered a US$300 million first fixed charge over a portfolio of US mining assets and…
- Renishaw says first-quarter revenue jumped 47% to a record £251.8 million on chip and defence demand
Renishaw PLC (LSE:RSW), the precision measuring and manufacturing systems maker, reported revenue of £251.8 million for the three months to 30 September, up…
- AstraZeneca wins US approval for Ultomiris in rare kidney disease
AstraZeneca's rare disease unit Alexion has secured accelerated US approval for Ultomiris in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), a rare inflammatory kidney…
- Metals One targets full control of South African gold business in all-share deal
Metals One PLC (AIM:MET1, FRA:HT7, OTCQB:MTOPF), the critical and precious metals developer, has agreed to acquire full ownership of South African gold and…
- IP Group cheers investor interest in spin-outs, calls for more supportive Govt backing
UK university spinouts attracted £1.56 billion of investment in the first half of 2026, but funding for new ventures collapsed by more than two-thirds…
- IHG backs full-year expectations as third-quarter growth accelerates
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC said global revenue per available room growth accelerated to 5% in the third quarter as strong demand in the Americas and…
- Ilika launches ORKA product family as interest in new battery applications grows
Ilika PLC (AIM:IKA, OTCQX:ILIKF, FRA:I8A) is targeting new commercial opportunities in defence and marine markets with the launch of ORKA, a dedicated brand…
- Rathbones assets rise 7% as wealth management returns to inflows
Rathbones Group PLC (LSE:RAT, OTC:RTBBF) reported a 7% increase in funds under management and administration to £121.1 billion as its core wealth management…
- Rathbones posts net inflows in wealth management for second straight quarter
Rathbones Group, the FTSE 250 wealth manager, attracted net inflows into its wealth management business for a second consecutive quarter, as funds under…
- IHG accelerates RevPAR growth to 5.3% in third quarter and backs full-year consensus
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) reported an acceleration in revenue per available room to 5.3% in the third quarter, up from 4.6% year-to-date, and said it…
- Arrow Exploration hits record production thanks to latest wells
Arrow Exploration Corp (TSX-V:AXL, AIM:AXL, OTC:CSTPF) has pushed production to a record high of more than 6,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d)…
- Sainsbury’s raises profit outlook after first-half growth
J Sainsbury PLC (LSE:SBRY) raised the lower end of its full-year profit guidance after first-half operating profit increased 4% as grocery volume growth and…