Author: Fiona Craig

FRP Advisory Group Plc (LSE:FRP) reported at its Annual General Meeting that it achieved profitable growth in FY 2025, with all service divisions contributing positively. The company also declared an interim dividend of 1p per share for the first quarter of FY 2026, underlining management’s confidence in its strategy of combining organic expansion with targeted acquisitions.

The integration of recent acquisitions is progressing smoothly, and trading is currently in line with expectations. Management described the near- and medium-term outlook as positive, supported by steady performance across the business.

FRP’s outlook is reinforced by its solid financial performance, stable balance sheet, and disciplined cash flow management. Although the valuation remains reasonable, technical indicators point to potential overvaluation risks, suggesting some caution in the short term.

About FRP Advisory Group Plc

Founded in 2010, FRP Advisory Group is a UK-based specialist advisory firm offering a broad range of services to companies, investors, lenders, and individual clients. Its expertise spans restructuring, corporate finance, debt advisory, forensic investigations, and financial advisory, making it a trusted partner in complex business situations.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Mortgage Advice Bureau (Holdings) plc (LSE:MAB1) has released its interim results for the first half of 2025, posting revenue of £148.2 million, up 19.6% year-on-year. Statutory profit before tax surged 54.8%, reflecting both business expansion and operational efficiency.

The group has grown its market share in both new mortgage lending and product transfers, while also completing strategic acquisitions to strengthen its regional reach and adviser network. Alongside this, MAB is investing in technology and artificial intelligence to improve lead generation and conversion rates, setting the stage for continued growth.

Looking ahead, the company confirmed plans to transition to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in 2026. Management believes this move will broaden its investor base and raise its market visibility.

Mortgage Advice Bureau’s performance is underpinned by strong financial results and recent corporate developments, though technical indicators and valuation measures point to a more balanced outlook.

About Mortgage Advice Bureau (Holdings) plc

Mortgage Advice Bureau is a leading UK mortgage network and broker, operating through a nationwide network of Appointed Representatives (ARs). The firm provides advice on mortgages, specialist lending, protection, and general insurance products. It supports AR firms with proprietary technology, adviser recruitment, lead generation, and digital marketing services, making it a key player in the UK mortgage market.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Diaceutics PLC (LSE:DXRX) has posted solid results for the first half of 2025, with revenue climbing 22% on a constant currency basis to £14.6 million. The company reaffirmed that it is on track to reach profitability for the full year, supported by a growing order book and rising annual recurring revenue.

During the period, Diaceutics expanded both its customer portfolio and the number of therapeutic brands it serves, further cementing its role as a key commercialization partner for global pharma and biotech firms. The business has also invested heavily in artificial intelligence initiatives and platform upgrades, investments that are expected to unlock greater operational efficiency and long-term growth.

Although macroeconomic uncertainty remains a factor, management expressed confidence in achieving its 2025 profitability goals, underscoring the group’s strategic focus on precision medicine and sustainable earnings growth.

While strong technical momentum and positive corporate progress support the investment case, near-term profitability challenges and valuation considerations temper the outlook. Nevertheless, the company’s solid balance sheet and strategic expansion underpin a promising longer-term trajectory.

About Diaceutics PLC

Diaceutics is a leading solutions provider to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, specializing in the commercialization of precision medicine. Its integrated approach combines data analytics, scientific expertise, and advisory services, all delivered through its proprietary platform, DXRX – The Diagnostics Network®.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

System1 Group PLC (LSE:SYS1) has provided its second-quarter trading update, reporting that revenue is expected to be about 5% lower than the same period last year. The decline is attributed to reduced spending from key clients and the impact of foreign exchange movements.

Despite these headwinds, the company continues to demonstrate resilience, maintaining a strong cash position while investing in long-term growth initiatives. Management noted that new business wins should be in line with last year’s levels. However, full-year results are now expected to fall short of market forecasts, with revenue likely to remain broadly flat compared with the prior year, reflecting higher investment in growth opportunities.

System1’s financial track record remains a cornerstone of its investment case, with consistent revenue and profitability supporting its fundamentals. While technical indicators currently point to a bearish outlook, the stock’s valuation appears reasonable, offering some balance to the overall assessment.

About System1 Group PLC

Operating in the marketing services sector, System1 provides a decision-making platform designed to guide businesses in shaping effective marketing strategies. The company emphasizes product innovation and has a strong track record of winning mandates from major global brands.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Keystone Law Group Plc (LSE:KEYS) has announced strong financial results for the six months to 31 July 2025, reporting a 16.5% year-on-year increase in revenue to £54.2 million. Adjusted profit before tax rose 20.4% to £7.3 million, underscoring the group’s healthy performance.

The firm welcomed 30 new Principals during the period, a sign of favorable recruitment dynamics and the continued strength of its model. Alongside this, Keystone has launched initiatives focused on artificial intelligence and refreshed its brand identity, moves aimed at improving efficiency and boosting its visibility in the market. Management now expects full-year 2026 revenue and adjusted profit before interest and tax to come in ahead of current analyst forecasts.

Keystone’s latest results are supported by steady top- and bottom-line growth, disciplined cost control, and strong cash generation. While technical indicators suggest some short-term volatility, the company’s valuation remains reasonable, complemented by an appealing dividend yield. The absence of recent earnings calls or corporate announcements has no bearing on its current outlook.

About Keystone Law Group Plc

Ranked among the UK’s Top 100 law firms, Keystone Law operates as a technology-driven platform offering traditional legal services in an innovative way. Its model emphasizes flexibility and independence for its lawyers, who are all self-employed Principals. With more than 450 lawyers serving over 50 sectors across 20 practice areas, Keystone taps into an addressable UK market worth around £12 billion.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

European equities are posting a varied performance on Monday as investors await key U.S. inflation figures and comments from Federal Reserve officials for insights into future interest rate decisions. Markets are also keeping an eye on upcoming rate announcements from Switzerland and Sweden later this week.

In London, the FTSE 100 Index is up 0.2%, while in Paris, the CAC 40 has dipped 0.1%, and Germany’s DAX is down 0.5%.

Volkswagen (TG:VOW3) shares fell after the automaker revised its 2025 outlook downward. Porsche AG (BIT:1PORS) also dropped sharply after scaling back its electric vehicle rollout plans in response to softer demand.

Dutch surveying firm Fugro (EU:FUR) retreated after pulling its 2025 guidance, citing “significant changes” in recent market conditions.

On the upside, Centrica (LSE:CAN) gained in London following the announcement of the second and final phase of its share repurchase program.

Meanwhile, Fresnillo (LSE:FRES) surged as gold prices climbed past $3,700 an ounce, driven by investor expectations of a more dovish approach to future interest rate cuts.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

U.S. stock index futures signaled a weaker start on Monday, suggesting markets may give back some of last week’s gains after two consecutive sessions of strong advances.

Analysts pointed to profit-taking as one reason for the early weakness, with investors locking in gains after Friday’s surge that drove all three major indexes to fresh record closes. The rally was fueled by the Federal Reserve’s widely anticipated quarter-point rate cut.

Adding to the cautious tone was news from Washington. The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump signed a proclamation restricting entry for certain H-1B visa workers. The policy introduces a new $100,000 application fee, described by the administration as a way to “curb abuses that displace U.S. workers and undermine national security.”

Market watchers noted that the technology sector could be particularly sensitive to the change. “Investors will be watching closely for any fall-out in the technology sector from the sharp rise in H1-B visa fees – affecting skilled foreign workers,” said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

“The news sparked some initial confusion around whether it would affect current visa holders and while this fear has been addressed and it has been confirmed as a one-time fee, it could still have a significant impact on tech firms,” he added. “Many in the sector employ large numbers of people on these visas.”

Even so, overall trading volumes may remain muted ahead of key U.S. inflation data releases and scheduled remarks from several Federal Reserve officials, including Chair Jerome Powell.

Markets Last Week

Stocks closed out last week on a strong note. The Nasdaq rose 160.75 points, or 0.7%, to finish at 22,631.48, while the S&P 500 added 32.40 points, or 0.5%, to 6,664.36. The Dow advanced 172.85 points, or 0.4%, to 46,315.27.

For the week, the Nasdaq gained 2.2%, with the S&P 500 and Dow up 1.2% and 1.1%, respectively. September, often a difficult month for equities, has so far bucked that trend as optimism over lower rates has underpinned sentiment.

The Fed’s rate cut on Wednesday — along with its guidance for two additional reductions this year — reinforced bullish momentum. Confidence was further supported by President Trump, who described his latest conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping as “very productive.”

According to Trump, the call covered trade, fentanyl controls, the war in Ukraine, and a deal over TikTok’s U.S. operations.

Sector Moves

Friday’s session highlighted sector divergences. Gold producers rallied, with the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index jumping 4.3% as bullion prices climbed. Software names were also strong, pushing the Dow Jones U.S. Software Index up 1.8%.

In contrast, energy shares dropped in tandem with crude oil’s retreat. The Philadelphia Oil Service Index lost 2.1%, while the NYSE Arca Oil Index declined 1.5%. Homebuilders also weakened, dragging the Philadelphia Housing Sector Index down 1.2%.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

London’s blue-chip FTSE 100 index edged up on Monday, supported by strength in gold miners after bullion hit record highs, while airline shares slumped following a cyberattack that crippled airport operations across Europe.

As of 11:35 GMT, the FTSE 100 was up 0.1%, with the pound advancing 0.2% against the U.S. dollar to 1.35. On the continent, Germany’s DAX climbed 0.2%, while France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.6%.

Ransomware attack disrupts European air travel

A ransomware assault on Collins Aerospace’s Muse check-in and boarding platform has disrupted operations at several major airports since Friday, forcing staff to revert to manual check-ins.

The attack impacted Heathrow, Brussels, Berlin, and Dublin airports, leading to severe delays and cancellations. Brussels Airport was hit hardest, scrapping nearly half of its scheduled Monday departures as technical and security problems persisted.

Airline stocks dropped in response. Shares of Deutsche Lufthansa AG (TG:LHA), International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A. (LSE:ICG), Air France-KLM SA (EU:AF), EasyJet PLC (LSE:EZJ), Wizz Air Holdings PLC (LSE:WIZZ), Ryanair Holdings PLC (LSE:0RYA), and TUI AG (TG:TUI1) were down between 0.5% and 1.3%.

Ericsson, Nokia secure £2 billion VodafoneThree contract

In telecom news, VodafoneThree — the recently merged Vodafone UK (LSE:VOD) and Three UK — awarded a £2 billion ($2.7 billion) contract to Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) and Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK) to expand and modernize its network. Ericsson will oversee deployment across 10,000 sites and upgrades to core systems, while Nokia will contribute to 7,000 sites.

UK considering visa fee cuts for top talent

Separately, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is weighing a plan to scrap certain visa fees for highly skilled international workers, according to the Financial Times. The move would contrast with stricter immigration rules recently adopted in the United States.

Canada reviews Teck–Anglo American merger

Meanwhile, Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the proposed $53 billion merger between Teck Resources Ltd (NYSE:TECK) and Anglo American PLC (LSE:AAL) is under government review to assess whether it serves the national interest.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Shares of Ecora Resources (LSE:ECOR) climbed on Monday after the Democratic Republic of Congo announced it would end its cobalt export ban and implement quotas. Meanwhile, Rainbow Rare Earths reported positive testing results at its Phalaborwa project in South Africa.

The Congolese authorities confirmed that the export ban will be lifted on October 16. Under the new framework, cobalt shipments will be limited to 18,125 tons for the remainder of 2025. Annual quotas of 96,600 tons are set for both 2026 and 2027. Officials added that 10% of future production will be allocated to strategic projects, and quotas could be adjusted based on market developments or progress in local refining.

Cobalt represented roughly half of Congo’s output in 2024 and 44% of the global supply, according to RBC Europe. The new regulations are expected to influence availability in the coming years.

Rainbow Rare Earths reported that its Phalaborwa project made progress after testing confirmed the successful integration of a cerium depletion step into the processing flowsheet. The company noted that this improvement enhances the quality of the mixed rare earth product and reduces the volume of material entering the separation circuit, which should lower both capital and operating costs at that stage of production.

The Phalaborwa project is focused on recovering and separating rare earth elements from phosphogypsum stacks, a byproduct of phosphoric acid production. Rainbow Rare Earths said it is now finalizing the separation stage of the flowsheet, with completion expected in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Ecora Resources holds a 0.85% gross revenue royalty on the Phalaborwa project. Analysts at RBC Capital Markets said in a note: “Cobalt represents 30% of ECOR’s 2026e revenue, and we expect the cobalt market to tighten in response to today’s measures, providing upward pressure on prices.”

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Capgemini (EU:CAP) saw its shares decline up to 3% on Monday following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of higher fees on H-1B visas, a move that could affect the global IT services industry.

The new proclamation, signed Friday, requires a “$100,000 payment to accompany or supplement H-1B petitions for new applications,” a notable jump from the current fee structure.

A White House post on X over the weekend clarified that this change does not apply to existing H-1B visa holders.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data show that Capgemini ranked as the 11th largest H-1B employer between fiscal year 2016 and June 30, employing over 30,000 workers through its U.S. subsidiary during that timeframe.

Bernstein analyst Richard Nguyen, who has an outperform rating on the stock, remarked, “Trump’s policy could disrupt some onshore projects in the U.S., make pricing negotiations with customers more difficult, and require additional cost adjustments.”

Nguyen also noted that Capgemini may mitigate the impact by leveraging offshore resources, adding that the company “has already decreased its reliance on H-1B workers over the past five years.”

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.