Author: Fiona Craig

Genedrive plc (LSE:GDR), a developer of rapid genetic testing solutions for point-of-care healthcare, has secured funding of approximately £5.26 million before expenses through a combination of share placing, subscriptions, an open offer and a loan conversion.

The open offer raised about £0.91 million and was taken up by 60.7% of eligible shareholders, while a further £0.35 million came from additional subscriptions by investors who were unable to fully participate in the earlier placing or offer. When combined with the firm and conditional subscriptions, placing and loan conversion, the total fundraising is expected to generate around £4.9 million in net proceeds, subject to shareholder approval and the admission of 515,964,264 new shares. Following issuance, the company’s total share count will rise to 1,605,568,256.

Notable shareholders David Nugent and Robert English participated in the expanded fundraising round. Chief executive Dr. Gino Miele and chief financial officer Russ Shaw also subscribed through the open offer as related parties, with the board stating—after consulting its advisers—that their involvement was fair and reasonable for shareholders.

Genedrive intends to use the strengthened capital position to advance its commercial strategy in point-of-care pharmacogenetics, supporting the rollout of its testing platform and expanding adoption of its key diagnostic kits.

From an outlook perspective, the company continues to face challenges linked to persistent operating losses, ongoing cash burn and a reduced equity base, although it carries minimal debt. Technical indicators are somewhat supportive, with the share price trading above key moving averages and a positive MACD reading, though a high RSI suggests potential near-term overbought conditions. Valuation remains difficult to assess due to negative earnings and a corresponding negative price-to-earnings ratio.

More about Genedrive

Genedrive plc is a UK-based developer of rapid pharmacogenetic tests designed to guide personalised treatment decisions at the point of care, particularly in time-critical clinical environments. Its flagship products include the Genedrive MT-RNR1 ID Kit, used to help guide antibiotic treatment in newborns, and the Genedrive CYP2C19 ID Kit. Both run on the company’s proprietary thermocycler platform and use single-use, ambient-stable cartridges that remove the need for cold-chain logistics while enabling fast, low-cost genetic testing.

t42 IoT Tracking Solutions (LSE:TRAC), a provider of tracking and monitoring technology for global shipping containers, reported improved financial performance for 2025 as stronger margins and growth in subscription-based services supported profitability.

The company, known for its Lokies secure tracking padlocks and broader Internet of Things (IoT) logistics solutions, said unaudited revenue for the year increased to more than $6.1m, up from $4.16m in the previous year. Gross margins also strengthened to around 45%, while software-as-a-service (SaaS) revenue rose by roughly 10%.

Improved product mix and expanding recurring revenue helped the group move into profitability, delivering an operating profit of approximately $0.4m and EBITDA of about $1.05m. Management indicated that a growing order pipeline and long-term contracts should support continued commercial momentum, adding that the ongoing instability in the Middle East has so far had minimal impact on operations. The company expects to publish its audited results in April 2026.

Despite the improved operational results, the company’s broader outlook remains constrained by historically weak financial performance, including periods of declining revenue, negative margins and a leveraged balance sheet. From a technical standpoint, the shares appear overbought in the short term while maintaining an overall bearish trend. Valuation metrics remain challenging to interpret due to a negative price-to-earnings ratio and the absence of a dividend yield.

More about t42 IoT Tracking Solutions PLC

t42 IoT Tracking Solutions plc, formerly known as Starcom Systems plc, develops real-time tracking, monitoring and analytics systems for the global container and freight industry. Its cloud-connected, multi-sensor devices provide visibility and security across supply chains, serving ports, shipping companies, cargo owners, freight forwarders, insurers, customs authorities and security agencies. The company operates through a global network of distributors and partners and currently supports customers in more than 55 countries.

AdvancedAdvT Limited (LSE:ADVT) has stated that it does not plan to make a takeover offer for advertising firm M&C Saatchi plc following the appointment of its chairperson, Vin Murria, as non-executive deputy chair of the M&C Saatchi board.

Under the UK Takeover Code, the announcement places AdvancedAdvT and parties acting in concert with it—including Murria—under Rule 2.8 restrictions, preventing them from making a bid for the company unless specific conditions arise. These conditions could include the emergence of a third-party offer or other material changes in circumstances that would permit the group to reconsider its position.

Murria personally holds an 11.8% stake in M&C Saatchi, while AdvancedAdvT owns an additional 9.8%, giving the group meaningful influence without pursuing a formal acquisition. The decision suggests a strategic preference to remain a significant shareholder and board participant for the time being, potentially supporting governance stability at M&C Saatchi while maintaining flexibility for future strategic action within the framework of takeover regulations.

From a financial perspective, AdvancedAdvT’s outlook benefits from a strong balance sheet with no debt and signs of improved profitability in recent periods. However, revenue and cash flow performance has been uneven, while technical indicators show weak market momentum. The company also appears relatively expensive on a price-to-earnings basis, with no dividend yield currently provided.

More about AdvancedAdvT Ltd.

AdvancedAdvT Limited is a London-listed technology group focused on delivering software platforms and solutions across areas including business operations, healthcare compliance and human capital management. The company aims to support digital transformation in the workplace through tools such as artificial intelligence, data analytics and business intelligence, while pursuing growth through both organic expansion and targeted acquisitions in related sectors and international markets.

Aurrigo International plc (LSE:AURR) has signed its largest contract to date, agreeing a £6.28m deal with Ultra Global Limited to design and manufacture 25 autonomous guided vehicles intended for airport and passenger transit applications in the UK.

The programme will upgrade Ultra Global’s existing transport platform and is expected to generate approximately £1.53m in revenue during FY26 and a further £4.75m in FY27. The agreement will also support the expansion of Aurrigo’s manufacturing activity in the West Midlands. As Ultra Global is considered a related party, the board confirmed that the transaction has been reviewed and deemed fair and reasonable for shareholders.

Under the terms of the contract, Aurrigo will enhance the vehicles’ power systems, electronics, software, sensing technology and mechanical components to produce a customised fleet designed to carry small groups of passengers. The initial vehicles will be used for customer demonstrations, helping showcase the technology to potential buyers in both domestic and international markets.

The project is expected to strengthen collaboration between the two companies and could open the door to additional orders as demand grows for autonomous passenger transport solutions in aviation and other controlled environments.

Despite strong revenue growth, Aurrigo’s broader outlook remains constrained by ongoing losses and negative free cash flow, although the company maintains a relatively low level of debt. From a technical perspective, the share price trend remains positive, though a very high RSI suggests the stock may be overbought in the near term. Valuation metrics remain difficult to assess due to negative earnings and the absence of dividend yield data.

More about Aurrigo International PLC

Aurrigo International plc is a UK-based developer of autonomy software, fully autonomous vehicles and mobile robotics systems. The company specialises in airport ground support equipment designed to automate the movement of cargo, baggage and passengers in safety-critical airside environments. Headquartered in Coventry, Aurrigo also operates offices in Singapore, Cincinnati and Ottawa, drawing on more than three decades of expertise in advanced automotive systems to improve efficiency, safety and sustainability in demanding operational settings.

Arc Minerals (LSE:ARCM) has started a ground-based geophysical survey across its PL135/2017 licence at the Virgo Project, located within Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt. The campaign combines magnetic and Induced Polarisation (IP) methods to map as much as 15 kilometres of the contact between the D’kar and Ngwako Pan formations, a geological boundary known to host significant copper deposits in the region.

The new work builds on a successful IP programme carried out in 2024. The current phase will include approximately 295 line kilometres of magnetic surveying, followed by 52.5 kilometres of IP work. By improving its geological understanding and identifying conductive structures associated with mineralisation, Arc Minerals aims to refine exploration targets and define higher-priority areas for drilling.

Advancing the survey could help the company strengthen its position within the Kalahari Copper Belt, a region gaining attention as a potential future source of global copper supply.

From a financial perspective, the company’s outlook remains constrained by the typical profile of early-stage explorers, including no revenue, ongoing losses and negative operating and free cash flow. However, Arc maintains a relatively low-debt balance sheet. Market technicals offer some support, with the share price trading above the 20- and 50-day moving averages and a positive MACD signal indicating short-term momentum. Valuation metrics remain difficult to interpret due to negative earnings and the absence of dividend yield data.

More about ARC Minerals

Arc Minerals Ltd is a London-listed exploration company focused on identifying and developing large-scale copper deposits. Its portfolio includes the Virgo Project in Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt, where exploration targets copper and silver mineralisation along the highly prospective Central Structural Corridor.

Endeavour Mining (LSE:EDV) has confirmed that a contractor died on 6 March 2026 after sustaining injuries while carrying out maintenance activities at the scrapyard of the Mana gold mine in Burkina Faso.

The company said that both mining and processing operations at the site remain ongoing while it conducts a full internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Endeavour expressed its condolences to the contractor’s family, friends and colleagues, reiterating that the health, safety and wellbeing of workers and partners remain a central priority.

More about Endeavour Mining

Endeavour Mining is a major global gold producer and the largest gold miner in West Africa. The company operates a portfolio of producing mines in Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, supported by a pipeline of development and exploration projects across the region. A member of the World Gold Council, Endeavour focuses on responsible mining and sustainable value creation for employees, shareholders and host communities. Its shares are listed in both London and Toronto under the ticker EDV.

Cobra Resources (LSE:COBR) has announced encouraging early results from reverse-circulation (RC) drilling at the Blue Rose target within its Manna Hill Copper Project in South Australia, confirming the prospect as a copper discovery. Assay data from the first four holes of an 18-hole program returned broad, near-surface mineralisation, including an intercept of 74 metres grading 1.02% copper and 0.25 grams per tonne gold.

The drilling campaign also identified separate high-grade molybdenum zones linked to porphyry-style intrusive rocks, pointing to the presence of a larger mineralised system. These features could also offer potential metallurgical benefits during future processing. With permits secured for additional RC and diamond drilling, and more assay results expected in March, the findings significantly improve the perceived scale and development potential of the Manna Hill project.

The discovery adds momentum to Cobra’s broader growth strategy, complementing its Boland rare earths asset. However, the company’s financial profile remains a limiting factor, with no current revenue, continued operating losses and ongoing cash burn. This is partly offset by a debt-free balance sheet.

From a market perspective, the stock shows technical strength, trading above key moving averages with positive momentum. Despite this, valuation metrics remain difficult to assess due to negative earnings and the absence of dividend yield data.

More about Cobra Resources Plc

Cobra Resources Plc is an exploration and development company focused on critical and base metals in South Australia. Its portfolio includes the Boland project, a 100%-owned in-situ recoverable dysprosium and terbium resource, and the Manna Hill project targeting copper, gold and molybdenum mineralisation. The company retains the right to secure full ownership of Manna Hill, positioning it within a stable and established mining jurisdiction.

Mkango Resources (LSE:MKA) has expanded its recycling operations through its subsidiary HyProMag, which has brought a second automated hard disk drive (HDD) pre-processing unit online in the UK. The new system is installed at HyProMag’s commercial-scale magnet recycling facility located at Tyseley Energy Park in Birmingham.

The unit, created in partnership with Spanish engineering company Inserma, is designed to rapidly dismantle hard drives by separating magnet and printed circuit board assemblies in roughly three seconds. Each machine is capable of handling more than 30,000 drives per week when operating on a single shift, enabling high-volume recovery of valuable materials from retired data storage equipment.

Magnets recovered from the drives will be processed using HyProMag’s proprietary Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap (HPMS) technology, which extracts rare earth elements from end-of-life magnets. Meanwhile, the printed circuit boards removed during the process will be sold for precious metals recovery. The approach provides a cost-efficient and environmentally responsible method of recovering critical materials from decommissioned data-centre hardware.

Mkango plans to replicate the technology beyond the UK, with potential deployments in Germany, the United States and large-scale data centres worldwide. By expanding this automated processing capability, the company and its partners aim to secure additional sources of rare earth materials, reinforce their role in the magnet recycling supply chain, and help lower both costs and emissions associated with secure data destruction.

More about Mkango Resources

Mkango Resources is a rare earths company listed on both AIM and the TSX Venture Exchange. Through its Maginito subsidiary, the company is building an integrated business focused on recycled rare earth magnets, alloys and oxides, including the HyProMag recycling operations in the UK, Germany and the United States. Alongside recycling initiatives, Mkango is advancing primary rare earth production via the Songwe Hill project in Malawi and the Pulawy rare earth separation facility in Poland. Both developments have been designated Strategic Projects under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.

Oil prices recovered from earlier declines to trade broadly flat during Asian hours on Friday, while remaining on track for a substantial weekly rise as the escalating conflict in the Middle East fueled concerns about disruptions to global crude supply.

As of 01:49 ET (06:49 GMT), Brent crude futures for May delivery slipped 0.2% to $85.25 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 0.3% at $80.75 per barrel.

Brent had surged nearly 5% in the previous session, reaching its highest level since July 2024, while WTI jumped more than 8%.

If the current momentum holds, both benchmarks are set to climb by more than 18% over the course of the week.

Middle East tensions continue to support prices

Some investors locked in profits following the sharp rally earlier in the week, but oil prices remained supported as geopolitical tensions intensified and concerns lingered about the safety of key global shipping routes.

The conflict in the Middle East entered its seventh day on Friday, with hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran continuing to escalate. Missile strikes, retaliatory attacks and disruptions affecting energy infrastructure across the region have kept global oil markets on edge.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he wanted a role in determining Iran’s next leader once the conflict ends.

Oil markets have rallied strongly this week, with particular attention centered on the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage between Iran and Oman that represents the world’s most vital oil transit route.

Approximately 20% of global oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz each day, making it a critical chokepoint in the global energy trade. Any interruption to shipments through the passage could sharply tighten supplies and drive prices significantly higher.

“The market remains well supported with few signs of de-escalation in the Middle East and a resumption of energy flows in the region,” ING analysts said in a note.

“Clearly, with every day that goes by without flows resuming, the oil market will reprice the amount of supply lost, leaving room for prices to move higher,” they added.

U.S. allows India to continue buying Russian crude

In an effort to ease some of the supply concerns, the United States said it would temporarily permit India to purchase Russian oil for a period of 30 days.

“While this might help put some immediate downward pressure on the market, it is not a game-changer. The only way for prices to come down on a sustained basis is a resumption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz,” ING analysts wrote.

Analysts warn that the sharp rise in crude prices could intensify global inflation pressures, particularly if the conflict disrupts supply for an extended period. Higher energy costs may also complicate the policy outlook for central banks, including the U.S. Federal Reserve.