Author: Fiona Craig

Pri0r1ty Intelligence Group PLC (LSE:PR1) has reported a strong opening to its 2026 financial year, with contracted revenue already exceeding the total achieved across the whole of 2025. The growth has been driven by increasing uptake of the group’s proprietary AI platforms, including Advisor, Fan Sonar, Vox and Compass ID, as demand accelerates for data-led customer intelligence solutions.

Recent customer wins such as World Aquatics, Untamd and Love Mondays, together with expanded deployments among existing clients including Aston Villa FC, Leukaemia Care and Great British Racing, have lifted the company’s paying customer base beyond 100. Management is targeting 500 customers by the end of the year as it scales its SaaS platforms and consultancy-led offerings across defined sector verticals. The group also highlighted a significant addressable opportunity within the UK’s more than 5 million SMEs investing in customer data and engagement technologies.

Expansion is being pursued through the company’s specialist operating units Halfspace, Metr1c and the Pri0r1ty platform, while investor engagement is set to increase via an upcoming webcast and the launch of a refreshed corporate website. Alongside the growth narrative, the company reiterated that a material portion of its treasury reserves is held in Bitcoin, introducing exposure to cryptocurrency price volatility and related regulatory and operational risks that investors must consider alongside the group’s AI-driven growth ambitions.

More about Pri0r1ty Intelligence Group

Pri0r1ty Intelligence Group PLC is a UK-listed data, AI and marketing services company focused on enabling SMEs and customer-centric organisations to better monetise and optimise their first-party data. The group operates across three divisions: Halfspace, a sports-focused, data-driven marketing and growth business; Pri0r1ty, an AI SaaS and consultancy platform aimed at improving SME operational efficiency; and Metr1c, an AI-enabled brand partnerships and growth specialist serving the entertainment and lifestyle sectors. The company targets large UK SME markets, particularly within sports, music and entertainment, where revenues are underpinned by fan and audience engagement.

CAP-XX Limited (LSE:CPX) has confirmed that it will publish its interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2025 on 2 February 2026. The announcement reinforces the company’s commitment to regular market updates as it continues to build its presence in the global supercapacitor and energy storage sector.

On the same day, chief executive officer Lars Stegmann and interim chief financial officer Anthony Guarna will host a live online presentation for existing and potential investors via the Investor Meet Company platform. The session is intended to provide insight into recent trading, operational developments, and strategic priorities, highlighting management’s focus on transparency and shareholder engagement.

From an outlook perspective, CAP-XX continues to face pressure from weak financial performance and challenging valuation metrics. Technical indicators point to a bearish share price trend, weighing on overall sentiment. In the absence of recent earnings call data or additional corporate catalysts, these factors currently have limited influence on the broader assessment.

More about CAP-XX

CAP-XX Limited specialises in the design and manufacture of thin, flat supercapacitors and associated energy management systems. The company supplies solutions for portable and small-scale electronic devices, while increasingly targeting larger applications including automotive and renewable energy markets. Its products are characterised by high power density and compact prismatic form factors, serving consumer, industrial, transportation, and clean energy end markets.

Deltic Energy (LSE:DELT) has confirmed that completion of its recommended cash takeover by RockRose Energy’s Viaro Bidco remains subject to regulatory approval from the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA). The consent relates to a change of control over Deltic’s North Sea exploration licences, following shareholder approval of the scheme of arrangement in August 2025.

Viaro Bidco has now obtained an additional extension from the NSTA, pushing the deadline for further submissions to 13 February 2026. The extension allows the bidder to provide additional representations in response to the regulator’s outstanding concerns, extending the period of uncertainty around the transaction’s completion timeline. Until a decision is reached, the outcome of the deal — and Deltic’s future ownership structure — remains unresolved, with potential implications for its position in the UK North Sea upstream sector.

From a financial perspective, Deltic’s outlook continues to be weighed down by the absence of revenue, widening losses, sustained cash outflows, and a significantly reduced equity base reported in 2024. Market technicals reflect these pressures, with the share price in a clear downtrend and momentum indicators remaining weak. Valuation offers little support at this stage, as ongoing losses render the negative price-to-earnings ratio less meaningful and no dividend income is available.

More about Deltic Energy

Deltic Energy is a UK-focused oil and gas company holding exploration licences in the North Sea. The group operates within the upstream energy sector, concentrating on exploration and appraisal activities across the UK Continental Shelf.

Blencowe Resources Plc (LSE:BRES) has entered into a Letter of Intent with Italian graphite processor Alkeemia S.P.A. to toll process and purify material from its Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda at a newly developed facility in Italy. The arrangement is designed to create a cleaner, non-China downstream pathway and support the production of ultra-high-purity graphite of up to 99.99% for specialist, higher-value applications.

Under the initial terms, up to 1,000 tonnes of graphite per year are expected to be processed, with flexibility to expand volumes over time. The agreement is intended to reduce downstream execution risk, enhance Blencowe’s appeal to European customers and financiers, and establish a traceable, locally processed supply chain aligned with European critical minerals strategies. Separately, the company confirmed the issue of 500,000 new shares and 1,000,000 options to consultant Minex, taking total voting rights to 477,795,645 shares following admission to trading in London.

Despite the strategic progress, Blencowe continues to face material financial headwinds, including the absence of revenue, ongoing losses, and negative operating cash flows. Market indicators remain weak, reflecting these challenges, although recent funding activity and strategic partnerships provide some optionality for future development. Overall, near-term financial and operational pressures continue to dominate the investment outlook.

More about Blencowe Resources

Blencowe Resources Plc is a London-listed natural resources company focused on advancing the Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda. The company aims to supply natural flake graphite into European battery and energy-transition supply chains, including participation as an exclusive supplier to the EU SAFELOOP initiative under the European Union’s Project Horizon framework.

Starwood European Real Estate Finance Limited (LSE:SWEF) has confirmed a fourth-quarter 2025 dividend of 1.375 pence per share, consistent with its stated distribution target. The dividend will be paid on 27 February 2026 to shareholders on the register at 6 February 2026, with the shares trading ex-dividend from 5 February 2026. The company also reiterated its full-year dividend objective of 5.5 pence per share, representing an annualised yield of approximately 6.2% based on the closing share price on 22 January 2026.

The reaffirmation highlights the group’s ongoing focus on delivering predictable income to investors as it advances the orderly realisation of its remaining portfolio. Management continues to prioritise capital returns while maintaining visibility on distributions during the wind-down phase of the business.

From a financial standpoint, the company remains resilient, supported by a debt-free balance sheet and solid cash generation, even as revenue and profitability face pressure. Share price momentum has been constructive, trading above key moving averages, while valuation signals are mixed, combining an elevated dividend yield with a negative price-to-earnings ratio. Recent shareholder returns and continued progress in asset realisations provide an additional positive underpinning.

More about Starwood European Real Estate Finance

Starwood European Real Estate Finance Limited is a London-listed investment company focused on the structured wind-down and realisation of a portfolio of European real estate-related investments. Its assets are managed by Starwood European Finance Partners Limited, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Starwood Capital Group, placing the company within the specialised real estate credit and investment segment of the market.

Oil prices edged lower on Thursday, giving back part of the gains from earlier sessions, as investors reassessed the balance between supply and demand and reacted to data pointing to higher U.S. crude and gasoline inventories.

Brent crude slipped 28 cents, or 0.43%, to $64.96 a barrel by 07:49 GMT. March West Texas Intermediate fell 19 cents, or 0.31%, to $60.43 a barrel.

Both benchmarks had climbed more than 0.4% on Wednesday, extending a 1.5% rally from the previous day, after OPEC+ producer Kazakhstan temporarily halted output at the Tengiz and Korolev fields because of power distribution issues.

Market sentiment was also shaped by comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who on Wednesday softened his stance on Greenland by ruling out the use of military force and retreating from tariff threats aimed at Europe.

The easing of rhetoric around Greenland could help lower trade frictions between the United States and Europe, providing support for global economic activity and oil demand, said Mingyu Gao, chief researcher for energy and chemicals at China Futures.

“At the same time, the United States has not ruled out possible military involvement in Iran, which is also supporting oil prices,” Gao said.

Trump said on Wednesday that he hoped there would be no further U.S. military action involving Iran, but warned that Washington would respond if Tehran were to restart its nuclear programme.

Taking into account developments related to Greenland and the reduced likelihood of action in Iran, oil prices are likely to hover around $60 a barrel, according to Tony Sycamore, an analyst at online broker IG.

Also on Wednesday, Trump said he believed “we’re reasonably close” to reaching a deal to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, adding that he would meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy later in the day.

An end to the conflict could lead to the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Russia, easing supply constraints and putting downward pressure on prices.

Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency lifted its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2026 in its latest monthly report, pointing to a slightly smaller market surplus this year.

On the inventory front, U.S. crude and gasoline stocks rose last week, while distillate inventories declined, according to market sources citing figures from the American Petroleum Institute.

Crude inventories increased by 3.04 million barrels in the week ended January 16, the sources said. Gasoline stocks climbed by 6.21 million barrels, while distillate inventories fell by 33,000 barrels.

A Reuters poll of eight analysts had forecast an average increase of around 1.1 million barrels in crude inventories for the period.

“High crude inventories are limiting further upside in oil prices in an oversupplied market,” said Yang An, an analyst at Haitong Futures.