Author: Fiona Craig

Orcadian Energy (LSE:ORCA) has secured an extension for the Phase B P2482 license—covering the Elke and Narwhal discoveries—through July 2027. This additional time enables the company and its partners to refine development strategies in collaboration with the North Sea Transition Authority, with the aim of establishing a low-emissions production hub in the region.

In parallel, Orcadian is exploring zero-carbon energy solutions through partnerships with IPC and MLCP. These joint efforts focus on harnessing offshore power to support the UK’s clean energy goals, signaling a potential pivot toward more sustainable operations.

Despite these positive developments, Orcadian continues to face significant financial challenges, including an absence of revenue, high debt levels, and negative cash flow. These pressures contribute to a weak overall financial outlook, compounded by concerning valuation metrics and technical indicators. Nevertheless, the company’s recent strategic initiatives offer a degree of optimism around long-term transformation and growth potential.

About Orcadian Energy

Orcadian Energy Plc is an oil and gas exploration and development firm focused on the UK North Sea. The company is committed to integrating low-emission practices into its operations, with its flagship asset—the Pilot oilfield—being developed using advanced techniques such as polymer flooding and wind power. Orcadian holds interests in multiple North Sea licenses and is actively pursuing projects that balance energy production with environmental responsibility.

Gore Street Energy Storage Fund PLC (LSE:GSF) has released a series of key updates, including the declaration of a 1 pence dividend and plans for a special 3 pence dividend, which will follow the completion of the Big Rock investment tax credit sale. As part of its ongoing efforts to streamline operations and enhance shareholder value, the company has revised its management fee structure by removing performance and termination fees—changes expected to deliver meaningful cost efficiencies.

To support long-term value creation, Gore Street has engaged an independent advisor to evaluate mid-term strategic options and capital deployment strategies. This initiative is designed to align with investor interests and reinforce the fund’s commitment to financial resilience.

Operationally, the company continues to make progress, with two of its U.S. projects now fully operational. As of March 2025, Gore Street reported an unaudited net asset value (NAV) of 102.8 pence per share, underlining the strength of its asset base.

Gore Street’s solid balance sheet and recent strategic milestones—including asset monetization and geographic expansion—underscore its potential. However, the company still faces headwinds related to revenue stability and profitability, as reflected in its negative price-to-earnings ratio. Despite this, its strong dividend yield and forward momentum continue to appeal to income-focused investors.

Company Overview: Gore Street Energy Storage Fund

Gore Street Energy Storage Fund PLC is a specialist investor in the energy storage sector, with a primary focus on battery storage systems essential for stabilizing energy supply and demand. The company’s portfolio spans multiple energy markets, with recent strategic emphasis on expanding its footprint in the United States. Gore Street aims to deliver long-term income and capital growth through the active development and management of energy storage assets.

Blackbird PLC (LSE:BIRD) has reported strong momentum over the past year, marking a turning point with its Blackbird division achieving positive EBITDA and generating cash flow for the first time. The company also renewed key contracts with high-profile clients such as FIFA and CBS Sports, reinforcing its position in the media and broadcasting industry.

Its new platform, elevate.io, continues to gain traction, showing encouraging signs of growth through lower customer acquisition costs and a broadened set of features tailored to both the Creator Economy and Corporate users. The company is leveraging a data-driven marketing strategy to accelerate product adoption and strengthen its foothold in the competitive SaaS and media technology markets.

Despite ongoing financial headwinds around profitability and cash generation, Blackbird PLC maintains a solid equity position. While technical indicators suggest relative stability, some valuation concerns remain due to continued negative earnings. However, recent strategic moves and product advancements indicate a clear path toward future growth.

About Blackbird PLC

Blackbird PLC operates at the intersection of SaaS, Media, Entertainment, and content creation. The company delivers patented, cloud-native solutions for video editing and production. Its flagship products—Blackbird, designed for enterprise-level users, and elevate.io, aimed at creators and professional teams—enable efficient, remote video workflows for a variety of industries. Blackbird’s innovation-first approach positions it well within an evolving digital content landscape.

PZ Cussons (LSE:PZC) has agreed to sell its 50% interest in its Nigerian joint venture, PZ Wilmar, to Wilmar International for $70 million. The divestment aligns with the company’s broader strategy to reshape its portfolio and enhance returns for shareholders. By exiting the Nigerian venture, PZ Cussons aims to reduce its exposure to market volatility in the region and improve its balance sheet by cutting gross debt. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2025, subject to regulatory approval.

In its latest financial update, PZ Cussons reported an 8% like-for-like revenue increase for fiscal year 2025. Growth was largely fueled by solid performance across African markets and a rebound in the Asia-Pacific region, though the U.S. segment continued to face headwinds.

Despite facing financial and operational pressures—including falling revenues and concerning technical signals—the company has seen insider buying from top executives, suggesting confidence in its long-term vision. This internal support has helped to temper some investor concerns.

Company Overview: PZ Cussons

Headquartered in Manchester, UK, PZ Cussons is a long-established consumer goods group with global operations spanning Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Founded in 1884, the company specializes in Hygiene, Baby, and Beauty categories, boasting household brands such as Carex, Cussons Baby, Childs Farm, and St. Tropez. Sustainability and community impact remain central to its mission and corporate strategy.

Bezant Resources (LSE:BZT) has announced that the recent merger between Blackstone Minerals Ltd and IDM International Limited is now complete. This development directly affects Bezant’s stake in the Mankayan Copper-Gold Project. As part of the agreement, Bezant is set to acquire a substantial allocation of shares and options in Blackstone, a move that could enhance its financial standing and strategic leverage within the mining industry.

About Bezant Resources

Bezant Resources PLC is engaged in the exploration and development of copper and gold assets. With a primary focus on projects such as the Mankayan Copper-Gold Project in the Philippines, the company continues to work toward expanding its presence and competitiveness in the global mining sector.

European stocks on the DAX, CAC and FTSE100 have moved lower on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump urged residents of Tehran to “immediately evacuate,” signaling a potential escalation of the conflict.

In addition, Israel’s military claimed today it had killed Ali Shadmani, who it identified as Iran’s wartime chief of staff and said was the most senior military commander.

The German DAX Index is down by 0.8 percent, the French CAC 40 Index is down by 0.6 percent and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index is down by 0.3 percent.

RWS Holdings (LSE:RWS) surged 6.5 percent after the content solutions company unveiled a new growth strategy, focusing on growth, technology integration, and AI solutions.

Online fashion retailer ASOS (LSE:ASC) declined 1.1 percent after replacing its finance chief.

Informa (LSE:INF), which specializes in organizing events and publishing books, added nearly 2 percent after backing its full-year guidance.

Oil & gas giant BP Plc (LSE:BP.) jumped 2.2 percent and Shell (LSE:SHEL) rose 1.2 percent as oil prices rose sharply, reversing Monday’s brief decline.

Futures for the major U.S. indexes—the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq—are pointing to a lower open on Tuesday as Wall Street looks poised to retreat after Monday’s strong rebound.

Investors seem ready to take profits following the prior session’s gains, which had been fueled in part by hopes of de-escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.

Although initial reports suggested the conflict might ease—sparking Monday’s rally—concerns resurfaced after news broke that President Donald Trump left the G7 summit early to focus on the situation, raising fears of further escalation.

In a Truth Social post, Trump clarified the reason for his departure, countering French President Emmanuel Macron’s assertion that he left to help negotiate a ceasefire.

“He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire,” Trump said. “Much bigger than that.”

The pressure on markets also comes amid disappointing economic data from the Commerce Department, which showed U.S. retail sales dropped more than anticipated in May.

Retail sales decreased by 0.9% last month, following a revised 0.1% dip in April. Economists had forecast a smaller decline of 0.6% and were expecting a 0.1% increase for April, rather than the slight drop reported.

When excluding vehicle and parts dealers—who saw a sharp sales decline—retail sales fell 0.3% in May, after remaining flat in April. Economists had predicted a slight increase of 0.1% ex-auto.

Monday’s trading session saw stocks initially climb but then give up some gains, though the market still posted solid results. The strong bounce nearly erased the steep losses from Friday, driven by escalating tensions following Israel’s airstrikes on Iran.

By the close, all three major indexes were comfortably higher: the Nasdaq surged 294.39 points (1.5%) to 19,701.21, the S&P 500 rose 56.14 points (0.9%) to 6,033.11, and the Dow gained 317.30 points (0.8%) to 42,515.09.

The early strength on Monday reflected investors’ attempts to buy stocks at reduced prices after the prior session’s selloff triggered by Middle East hostilities.

Despite ongoing clashes over the weekend, optimism remains that the conflict might stay contained. The Wall Street Journal cited Middle Eastern and European officials reporting that Iran is urgently signaling a desire to end hostilities and resume nuclear talks.

“Despite a weekend of violence between the two countries, investors showed no signs of panicking, judging by movements in financial markets on Monday,” said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.

He added, “The Middle East conflict remains a fluid situation and there is the potential for markets to still experience sudden jolts if the tension escalates further.”

Investors are also eyeing the upcoming G7 summit in the Canadian Rockies, where world leaders are expected to discuss trade progress ahead of the expiration of President Trump’s 90-day pause on “reciprocal tariffs” early next month.

Attention will also turn to the Federal Reserve’s next monetary policy announcement. While interest rates are widely expected to remain unchanged, traders will be looking for clues in the Fed’s statement and officials’ forecasts regarding the future path of rates.

In sector action, airline stocks staged a notable recovery, with the NYSE Arca Airline Index jumping 3.3% after several days of declines.

Semiconductor stocks also performed strongly, as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index surged 3.0%.

Computer hardware, financials, and telecom sectors showed considerable gains, while pharmaceutical and oil services stocks lagged, bucking the broader market rally.

U.S. stock futures dipped on Tuesday amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, where ongoing clashes between Israel and Iran have investors cautious. While hopes persist for a ceasefire, discussions reportedly continue behind the scenes, including potential talks between U.S. officials and Tehran. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump left the Group of Seven summit in Canada early, denying that his departure was related to ceasefire negotiations. On the economic front, attention turns to U.S. retail sales data due later in the day, while the Bank of Japan announced a slower pace for tapering its monthly bond purchases starting next fiscal year.

Futures Fall as Geopolitical Risks Weigh

By early Tuesday morning, Dow futures were down 330 points (0.8%), S&P 500 futures slipped 0.7%, and Nasdaq 100 futures dropped by 157 points (0.7%). This comes after Wall Street posted gains Monday, as analysts noted some easing of concerns regarding the Israel-Iran airstrike exchanges.

Trump’s comments at the G7 summit have added some optimism around new trade deals, especially with Canada, despite ongoing tariff issues. Canada, a major supplier of steel and aluminum to the U.S., faces existing tariffs, but talks are underway that could lead to an updated economic and security agreement within a month. Trump also signed a trade deal with the UK that reduces some import tariffs, though steel and aluminum levies remain contentious.

Intensifying Conflict in the Middle East

Israel’s military announced several extensive strikes on Iranian military targets, including missile storage and launch facilities in western Iran. Additionally, Israeli forces claimed to have killed a senior Iranian general in Tehran overnight, though Iran has not confirmed this. Reports indicate U.S. officials are exploring the possibility of nuclear deal talks with Iran, involving envoys from both sides, as an effort to reduce tensions. However, Iran reportedly demands that Israel halt its airstrikes before agreeing to negotiations.

President Trump has maintained a tough stance, warning civilians to evacuate Tehran and insisting Iran must not enrich uranium, despite Tehran’s assurances that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons.

Oil and Gold Prices Steady

Oil prices saw a slight increase amid the turmoil, while gold remained stable, continuing to serve as a safe haven amid geopolitical uncertainty.

Trump’s Early Exit from G7

Trump left the G7 summit ahead of schedule, denying that the move was linked to ceasefire talks, describing his departure as related to “something much bigger.” Prior to his exit, G7 leaders issued a statement urging a de-escalation of the conflict but reaffirmed support for Israel, condemning Iran as a destabilizing force in the region.

Focus Shifts to U.S. Retail Sales

Investors await the release of U.S. retail sales figures for May, with economists forecasting a 0.5% decline month-over-month following a 0.1% gain in April. Despite concerns over tariffs, consumer sentiment in the U.S. improved in June—the first increase in six months—due in part to hopes for easing trade tensions with China. However, rising geopolitical risks and potential spikes in oil prices could threaten this fragile optimism.

Bank of Japan Slows Bond Purchase Tapering

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady at 0.5% as expected and announced plans to slow its tapering of monthly bond purchases starting April 2026, reducing the pace from 400 billion yen to 200 billion yen per quarter. This cautious approach aims to balance economic support while minimizing market disruption amid challenges posed by U.S. trade tariffs.

The BOJ’s decision comes ahead of several key central bank meetings this week, including the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy announcement on Wednesday.

European equity markets dropped sharply Tuesday, rattled by escalating violence between Israel and Iran just as the Federal Reserve commenced its two-day policy meeting.

By 03:05 ET, Germany’s DAX had fallen 1%, France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.8%, and the UK’s FTSE 100 was down 0.5%, reflecting growing investor anxiety over the conflict’s potential to destabilize global markets.

Israel-Iran Conflict Deepens Investor Caution

The ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran, now entering their fifth day, have cast a shadow over market sentiment. U.S. President Donald Trump intensified concerns by urging Iranian civilians to evacuate Tehran and abruptly ending his attendance at the Group of Seven summit. However, White House officials quickly reassured that the U.S. does not intend to directly engage in the conflict.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News that while Trump seeks a diplomatic deal with Iran over its nuclear program, the U.S. remains committed to protecting its regional assets.

G7 Nations Stand Behind Israel

The G7 group, comprising leading industrial nations, issued a statement supporting Israel and identifying Iran as a destabilizing force in the Middle East. Amid these tensions, Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the finalization of a trade deal between the U.S. and the UK, covering sectors such as automotive tariffs and aerospace, though detailed terms were not disclosed.

Federal Reserve Meeting in Focus

Investors are keenly watching the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting, where rates are widely expected to remain steady at 4.25%–4.50%. Market participants hope for guidance on whether rate cuts could be forthcoming or if ongoing trade uncertainties under the Trump administration will keep policy on hold.

Earlier Tuesday, the Bank of Japan maintained interest rates and pledged to continue government bond purchases over the next two years, albeit at a slower tapering pace starting in 2026. Other central banks, including the Bank of England, Norges Bank, Riksbank, and Swiss National Bank, also have policy decisions slated this week.

Renault Faces Leadership Shake-Up

Corporate news highlights include Renault’s search for a new CEO following Luca de Meo’s unexpected resignation. Renault shares plunged as much as 8% on Monday—their steepest one-day fall since February 2022. Industry insiders speculate that Denis Le Vot, a veteran Renault executive, or Maxime Picat of Stellantis could be frontrunners for the role.

Oil Prices Stabilize Amid Conflict

Oil markets steadied Tuesday after earlier volatility triggered by concerns about Middle East supply disruptions. At 03:05 ET, Brent crude futures rose slightly by 0.1% to $73.27 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures also gained 0.1% to $70.30 per barrel. Prices had dropped over 1% Monday on hopes for de-escalation, but surged again after Trump’s call for Tehran’s evacuation.

Shares of solar and renewable energy companies in the U.S. and Europe fell sharply Tuesday following a Senate Republican bill that would accelerate the phase-out of tax credits for wind and solar projects, disappointing clean energy supporters who had hoped for more generous relief than the House’s earlier cuts.

In U.S. markets, Sunrun (NASDAQ:RUN) plunged nearly 25% in premarket trading, while SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ:SEDG) and Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:ENPH) dropped around 20% and 15%, respectively. European renewable names also declined, with Orsted (LSE:10CF) down 1.2%, Nordex (TG:NDX1) slipping about 1%, and RWE (TG:RWE) losing 1.3%.

The Senate’s plan removes a strict 60-day construction start requirement but still calls for wind and solar tax credits to end in 2028. In contrast, incentives for nuclear, hydropower, and geothermal energy would remain available until a phased termination in 2036.

This legislation is part of President Donald Trump’s broader economic agenda, which rolls back several provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act. Notably, the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit would be eliminated 180 days after the bill’s enactment, rather than waiting until year-end as the House version stipulates.

The Senate bill also eliminates the hydrogen production tax credit—valued at up to $3 per kilogram—despite heavy lobbying by companies like Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) and various industry groups.

Additionally, the proposal removes incentives for both leased and owned rooftop solar installations, a change that experts warn could inflict serious harm on the already struggling solar market. This ongoing policy uncertainty has contributed to the bankruptcy of Solar Mosaic, a prominent home solar financing firm.

Unlike the House proposal, the Senate bill preserves nuclear energy tax credits by removing an impractical 2028 construction deadline.

Lawmakers aim to pass the Senate version and send it back to the House for final approval before the July 4 recess, though amendments may still occur.