Author: Fiona Craig

Image Scan Holdings PLC (LSE:IGE) reported a profitable performance in the second half of the fiscal year ending 30 September 2025, marking a turnaround after a difficult start. Early challenges—including supply chain disruptions and delays in a key defence contract—had weighed on results, but improved momentum in the latter half helped narrow the full-year loss. The company closed the period with a solid cash balance of £1.1 million and an impressive forward order book of £4.7 million, reflecting strong demand for its security and defence solutions. Looking ahead, Image Scan plans to broaden its product portfolio and accelerate order conversions to sustain growth.

The company’s financial outlook shows improving profitability and a stable cash position, though near-term sentiment remains tempered by bearish technical signals and valuation pressures stemming from a negative P/E ratio. Restoring consistent revenue growth and strengthening cash flow will be key priorities moving forward.

More about Image Scan Holdings PLC

Image Scan Holdings PLC designs and manufactures advanced X-ray screening systems, serving the global security, defence, and industrial markets. Its technologies are used in counter-terrorism operations and industrial inspection, particularly for automotive emissions components such as catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters. The company markets its products worldwide through a network of specialist distributors and partners.

IG Group Holdings plc (LSE:IGG) has revised its financial year end from 31 May to 31 December, a move that takes effect immediately. The change brings the company’s reporting cycle in line with standard market conventions, a step expected to improve operational efficiency and provide greater comparability with peers. IG Group has also issued an updated reporting timetable for both the transitional period and future results announcements, confirming that its dividend policy will remain unchanged.

The company maintains a strong financial footing, supported by robust profitability and a healthy balance sheet. Its current valuation appears attractive, characterized by a low price-to-earnings ratio and a generous dividend yield. However, recent softness in revenue and cash flow growth presents moderate headwinds, while technical indicators suggest a neutral near-term trend.

More about IG Group Holdings plc

IG Group Holdings plc is a UK-based FTSE 250 financial services company offering online trading and investment platforms. Through its suite of digital tools and educational resources, IG provides access to around 19,000 global financial markets, serving both retail and institutional clients worldwide.

Mila Resources Plc (LSE:MILA) has moved forward with its option agreement with EMX Royalty Corp, securing exploration licenses for three project areas in Queensland, Australia. Through this agreement, Mila will issue new shares to EMX, strengthening their partnership and enabling the company to fast-track its exploration and development plans. The acquisition is seen as a strategic step toward unlocking new gold resource potential and generating long-term value for shareholders.

While the company continues to grapple with financial difficulties, including ongoing losses and limited cash reserves, its recent initiatives—particularly at the Yarrol Gold Project—offer a path for potential recovery. Technical analysis points to short-term bullish momentum, although persistent valuation concerns remain due to negative earnings and the absence of dividend distributions.

More about Mila Resources Plc

Mila Resources Plc is a post-discovery gold exploration and development company focused on advancing early-stage projects toward production. The company specializes in acquiring exploration licenses and building asset value through targeted drilling and resource expansion, with a strategic emphasis on maximizing project potential for investors.

Ferro-Alloy Resources Limited (LSE:FAR) reported major progress on its Balasausqandiq vanadium project, revealing that capital costs have been trimmed by 40% after completing a detailed feasibility study. The company has finalized terms for front-end engineering and design with China National Chemical Engineering Sixth Construction Co., Ltd, which estimated construction expenses at approximately US$261 million. This substantial reduction boosts the project’s internal rate of return to 31% and raises its net present value to around US$931.6 million.

Further financial momentum comes from a conditional loan proposal by the Bank of Communication and the potential inclusion of Chinese insurance support, both of which could lower overall financing costs. These developments are expected to strengthen the project’s economic appeal and benefit stakeholders.

Despite these positive updates, Ferro-Alloy Resources Ltd. continues to face financial strain. The company’s weak financial performance and ongoing lack of profitability have weighed on investor confidence, with technical indicators pointing toward continued bearish momentum. The absence of dividend payouts further dampens its market outlook.

More about Ferro-Alloy Resources Ltd.

Ferro-Alloy Resources Limited is a mining company focused on developing the extensive Balasausqandiq vanadium deposit in southern Kazakhstan. The project’s ore body allows for comparatively low capital and operating expenses, supporting the company’s long-term production goals. In addition to vanadium, Ferro-Alloy also produces carbon black substitutes and other valuable by-products.

U.S. equity futures pointed to a higher open on Monday, suggesting that Wall Street could extend last week’s gains amid renewed strength in technology shares, particularly Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA).

The chipmaker’s stock jumped 2.2% in pre-market trading after Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) confirmed it had received export licenses from the Trump administration allowing it to ship Nvidia chips to the United Arab Emirates. The move boosted investor confidence across the AI and semiconductor sectors, setting a positive tone for the session.

Still, analysts expect overall trading volumes to be relatively muted as investors await key economic updates later in the week. The spotlight will be on ADP’s private payrolls report on Wednesday, which could offer valuable insight into the labor market’s strength amid uncertainty surrounding the outlook for U.S. interest rates.

Several major government reports remain delayed due to the ongoing federal shutdown, heightening the importance of private-sector data.

Friday’s session saw considerable volatility, with stocks rallying early before trimming gains, then rebounding again—only to pull back slightly into the close. Even so, the major averages all finished higher: the Nasdaq rose 143.81 points (0.6%) to 23,724.96, the S&P 500 gained 17.86 points (0.3%) to 6,840.20, and the Dow added 40.75 points (0.1%) to 47,562.87.

For the week, the Nasdaq led the way with a 2.2% gain, while the Dow and S&P 500 climbed 0.8% and 0.7%, respectively.

The previous week’s rally was fueled largely by strong corporate earnings, led by Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), whose shares soared 9.6% to a new all-time high after the company posted better-than-expected third-quarter results and a surge in cloud computing revenue.

“The e-commerce division may have by far the bigger public profile but it’s the cloud services AWS division which is the real engine of Amazon’s growth and, it’s this which sparked the share price into life,” said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

He added, “Demand for computing power linked to AI is showing no signs of letting up and that is driving significant growth for AWS, with third-quarter numbers helping to ease fears that this business was losing ground to rival operators.”

Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) also gained after announcing its board of directors approved a ten-for-one stock split, while Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) slipped even after beating expectations for its fiscal fourth quarter and offering upbeat guidance for the current quarter.

Interest rate uncertainty continued to weigh on sentiment after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated a cautious stance.

While the Fed lowered rates by 25 basis points last week as anticipated, Powell said another cut in December is “not a foregone conclusion,” emphasizing that Fed officials had “strongly differing views about how to proceed” heading into their final meeting of the year.

Retail stocks rallied strongly alongside Amazon, with the Dow Jones U.S. Retail Index jumping 4.0%, its highest close in over a month. Airline stocks also outperformed, with the NYSE Arca Airline Index surging 2.7% from a two-month low.

Elsewhere, biotechnology, computer hardware, and brokerage stocks posted notable gains, while gold miners retreated as precious metal prices slipped.

European stocks traded mostly higher on Monday, rebounding after several sessions of weakness as investors looked for direction amid mixed corporate updates and steady economic data.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose 0.3%, recovering part of Friday’s 0.5% decline, which had marked its fourth consecutive day of losses. Germany’s DAX gained 0.8%, while the UK’s FTSE 100 hovered near the flatline, and France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.1%.

Fresh data confirmed that eurozone manufacturing activity stagnated in October, as indicated by the final S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index, which came in at 50.0, matching the preliminary estimate and signaling no change in operating conditions. In September, the index had registered 49.8, reflecting a marginal contraction.

In corporate news, BP Plc (LSE:BP.) advanced after agreeing to sell its stakes in U.S. shale assets to Sixth Street in a $1.5 billion deal. Meanwhile, Renault (EU:RNO) surged following the announcement that it will sell a 26.4% stake in its Brazilian subsidiary, Renault do Brasil, to China’s Geely Automobile.

On the downside, Ryanair Holdings (LSE:0A2U) dropped sharply despite posting a 42% jump in first-half profits, as the airline warned of mounting fare pressure and external risks in the months ahead.

A busy trading week unfolds against the backdrop of a prolonged U.S. government shutdown, which continues to block major economic releases, including the nonfarm payrolls report. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court will take up a case examining the legality of Donald Trump’s tariff powers, while investors gear up for quarterly earnings from Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) and Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR). In the UK, attention centers on the Bank of England’s next policy decision, which remains too close to call.

1. U.S. economic blackout deepens

The federal government shutdown—now approaching historic length—continues to cloud the economic outlook. With key data delayed, investors and policymakers alike are flying blind. The September inflation report has already been published, but crucial employment figures, including the nonfarm payrolls and JOLTS job openings data, remain stuck in limbo.

This data drought complicates the Federal Reserve’s ability to adjust policy. After a 25-basis point rate cut last week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell hinted that officials could move more cautiously going forward if the shutdown persists and essential indicators remain unavailable.

Analysts at Vital Knowledge said the situation has created confusion, noting that “in some ways, people are feeling even more confused than before.” The lack of visibility has left markets uneasy despite last week’s major developments, including central bank decisions, blockbuster tech earnings, and renewed U.S.-China trade talks.

Although The Wall Street Journal reported modest progress toward ending the shutdown, President Donald Trump’s push for Republicans to sidestep Democrats has complicated negotiations.

2. Supreme Court revisits Trump’s tariff authority

Trade policy returns to the spotlight this week as the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments over the legality of Trump’s broad tariff powers. Lower courts have ruled that the former president exceeded his authority when he invoked emergency measures to impose higher tariffs on several nations.

The justices will consider whether Trump’s use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) was constitutional. While the 6-3 conservative majority has often supported Trump’s policies, the outcome remains uncertain. Trump, the first president to rely on IEEPA for trade measures, justified his actions by citing the $1.2 trillion U.S. trade deficit and deaths linked to fentanyl.

If the Court strikes down the tariffs, it could remove one of Trump’s key tools for leveraging trade negotiations during his second term.

3. AMD earnings take center stage

Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices will report quarterly results on Tuesday, becoming the next major player in the AI semiconductor race to disclose performance. The company recently entered a $1 billion partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy to build two supercomputers for advanced research in cancer treatment and national security.

AMD has also partnered with OpenAI to supply AI chips in a deal that could generate billions in annual revenue while giving the ChatGPT-maker a 10% equity stake. Executives described the partnership as “certainly transformative,” emphasizing its potential to accelerate AI adoption across industries.

Despite the optimism, some analysts have drawn parallels to the dot-com bubble, warning that the flood of AI-related alliances could fuel speculative excess. Still, AMD’s stock has surged over 112% year-to-date, reflecting investor confidence in its growth trajectory.

4. Palantir earnings in focus

Palantir Technologies will also be in the earnings spotlight, with results due Monday after the market close. The data analytics and AI software firm—known for its deep ties to the U.S. defense sector—has been one of the year’s top-performing tech stocks.

In August, Palantir raised its full-year revenue guidance for the second time in 2025, citing strong demand from both corporate clients and government agencies. The company has benefited from the Trump administration’s renewed focus on national security and the Pentagon’s shift toward commercial and “non-traditional” technology suppliers.

Palantir is projected to post $1.09 billion in revenue and $255.6 million in operating profit, according to Bloomberg consensus. Shares have more than doubled this year as investors bet on its leadership in the AI software space.

5. Bank of England decision approaches

After last week’s expected moves by the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and Bank of Japan, investors now turn their attention to the Bank of England (BoE).

Markets are leaning toward a pause in rate cuts, though there remains a 30% chance of a 25-basis point reduction. Holding rates steady would mark a break from the BoE’s year-long cycle of monetary easing. However, recent declines in inflation and wage growth—though still high—could strengthen the case for another cut.

BoE Governor Andrew Bailey cautioned in September that the policy path ahead is “more uncertain,” reflecting challenges in balancing persistent inflation with slowing economic growth.

As the week unfolds, investors will navigate a landscape shaped by missing U.S. data, shifting monetary signals, and the latest developments in the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence.

Renault Group (EU:RNO) has finalized an agreement to sell a 26.4% stake in its Brazilian subsidiary to China’s Geely Holding Group, deepening the partnership between the two automakers in one of Latin America’s key markets.

Under the deal, Geely Holding Group and Geely Automobile Holdings will gain access to Renault’s industrial resources in Brazil and begin producing Geely Auto–branded vehicles alongside Renault models at the Ayrton Senna plant.

For Renault, the partnership provides an opportunity to integrate Geely’s vehicle platform—which supports electric and hybrid powertrains—into its production lines, enabling the French automaker to expand its range of low- and zero-emission vehicles for the Brazilian market.

As part of the agreement, Renault do Brasil will also handle the distribution of Geely Auto’s electrified lineup, including sales, financing, and aftersales services, opening new growth channels for both brands.

The Geely EX5 electric SUV is already available to Brazilian consumers through dealerships operated within Renault’s retail network, marking the first step in this expanded collaboration.

Campari (BIT:CPR) shares tumbled after Italian authorities seized a major stake in the company held by its controlling shareholder, Lagfin, the Luxembourg-based holding of Chairman Luca Garavoglia, as part of a tax fraud investigation. The seizure, carried out on Friday, October 31, involves shares valued at nearly €1.3 billion, representing part of Garavoglia’s 52% controlling interest in the spirits group.

The Guardia di Finanza announced that the seizure was ordered by the preliminary investigations judge of the Monza court on charges of fraudulent declaration through other means and administrative liability of legal entities, according to a statement from the Monza Public Prosecutor’s Office. Both Garavoglia and Alberto Giovanni, Lagfin’s legal representative, have been listed as suspects.

The probe originated from a tax inspection following the 2018 merger of Campari’s Italian subsidiary into Lagfin. Investigators allege that the group failed to declare over €5.3 billion in capital gains subject to Italy’s exit tax after the merger. Authorities believe Lagfin formally moved assets to a newly created Italian branch while keeping real financial control at its Luxembourg headquarters.

According to the Guardia di Finanza, the seizure was executed “entirely through the placement of a lien on the ordinary shares of Campari,” corresponding to the amount of unpaid tax tied to the company’s transfer abroad.

The news triggered an immediate market reaction: Campari’s stock dropped 4% in early trading on the Milan Stock Exchange, hitting €5.67, making it the worst performer on the FTSE MIB, which was up 0.7% at the time.

The company swiftly issued two clarifications. In the first statement, Campari confirmed that “the dispute does not concern Davide Campari-Milano NV nor the Campari group,” adding that “there are no consequences” for the company or its operations.

In a second release quoting Lagfin, the holding company emphasized that the issue “concerns a tax dispute that has been ongoing for approximately two years and which has never involved the Campari group in any way.”

Lagfin further stated it “is certain that it has always operated in full compliance with all regulations, including Italian tax regulations, and will vigorously defend itself with calm rigor in all appropriate venues.”

The company also reassured investors that “since Lagfin holds more than 80% of Campari’s voting rights, the measure is absolutely not capable of affecting Lagfin’s controlling stake in Campari.”

Analysts, however, warned that the development could weigh on sentiment. JP Morgan said that “although the Campari group is not involved, the news could put pressure on the shares, with uncertainty lingering until the tax dispute is resolved.”

Market strategists estimate the seized shares represent around 16% of Campari’s total market capitalization — a level they describe as “significant” if authorities were to sell them to recover unpaid taxes.

Analysts at WebSim Intermonte noted that the tax dispute between Lagfin and Italian authorities “was already well known” and reiterated that “the measure does not affect Lagfin’s controlling stake in Campari.”

U.S. stock futures traded slightly higher on Monday as Wall Street looked ahead to another week of corporate earnings and a possible slowdown in key economic data releases amid the ongoing government shutdown. The extended closure — now lasting more than a month — threatens to delay another crucial reading on U.S. employment. Meanwhile, investors are watching for Palantir Technologies’ latest earnings and comments from President Donald Trump on restricting exports of Nvidia’s most advanced AI chips.

Futures Edge Higher

U.S. equity futures hovered near flat levels early Monday as investors weighed the market outlook following an eventful week of trading.

By 03:08 ET, Dow futures were little changed, S&P 500 futures were up 3 points (0.1%), and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 33 points (0.1%).

Wall Street ended last week on a positive note, with the major indexes logging gains after a flurry of tech earnings, central bank rate decisions, and direct trade talks between U.S. and Chinese leaders.

A surge in Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) shares, following stronger-than-expected quarterly results, helped push U.S. markets higher, extending their longest monthly winning streak in years. Those gains offset pressure from Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) warning about supply chain constraints ahead of the holiday season and cautionary comments from Federal Reserve officials that dampened hopes for more rate cuts before the end of 2025.

Shutdown Threatens Key Labor Data

Focus now shifts to the prolonged U.S. government shutdown, which is close to becoming the longest in the country’s history.

The impasse has left investors and policymakers with limited visibility on the economy, as several critical data reports have been delayed. While inflation data for September was released last month, major employment indicators have yet to be published.

The situation could persist this week, potentially delaying the nonfarm payrolls report, a key measure of the U.S. labor market usually released on the first Friday of each month. The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) is also expected to be postponed.

According to analysts at Vital Knowledge, “in some ways, people are feeling even more confused than before,” noting that the shutdown has partially deprived markets of a clear guide for the final stretch of the year.

The Wall Street Journal reported late last week that lawmakers in Washington were making progress toward a deal to reopen the government, though President Donald Trump’s insistence that Republican senators bypass Democrats has cast uncertainty over negotiations.

Palantir to Report After the Bell

All eyes are on Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR), which is set to announce quarterly results after markets close Monday.

In August, the data analytics and defense software firm raised its full-year revenue outlook for the second time in 2025, citing robust demand for its AI-driven services from both corporate and government clients.

A renewed focus by the Trump administration on strengthening national security, along with the Pentagon’s shift toward “non-traditional” and commercial suppliers, has further supported Palantir’s growth prospects.

The company’s shares have more than doubled this year as investors bet it will remain a key player in the artificial intelligence wave and a beneficiary of higher U.S. defense tech spending.

According to Bloomberg consensus forecasts, Palantir is expected to post a third-quarter operating profit of $255.6 million on revenue of $1.09 billion.

Trump Comments on Nvidia Chip Exports

Elsewhere, President Donald Trump said that Nvidia’s most advanced artificial intelligence processors would be restricted to U.S. buyers only, excluding customers in China and other countries.

Speaking in an interview with CBS’ 60 Minutes and during remarks aboard Air Force One, Trump stated that Nvidia’s powerful Blackwell chips should remain in American hands:
“We don’t give the Blackwell to other people,” he said.

His comments came after noting that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping did not discuss chip access during their high-profile meeting in South Korea last week — despite Trump previously suggesting the topic might arise.

The president’s latest stance indicates a potential move toward even tighter export controls on high-end U.S.-made AI technology.

Oil Prices Extend Gains After OPEC+ Decision

Crude prices climbed Monday after OPEC+ confirmed it will pause production increases during the first quarter of next year, helping ease fears of an oversupplied market.

Brent futures rose 0.7% to $65.20 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained 0.7% to $61.41.

The group of oil producers — which includes OPEC and its allies — agreed Sunday to raise output by 137,000 barrels per day in December, consistent with previous months. However, it will pause additional increases through the first quarter of 2026, citing concerns over a potential glut and softer demand during the winter.

OPEC+ noted that January through March typically represents the weakest period for global oil consumption.