Author: Fiona Craig

Rome Resources (LSE:RMR) has announced additional high-grade tin results from deep drilling at the Kalayi prospect, part of its Bisie North project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The latest phase of core drilling, covering 1,602 metres, indicates that the near-surface high-grade tin mineralisation defined in the maiden resource continues at depth. Several new drill holes intersected multi-metre zones grading above 3% tin, including intervals exceeding 5%. Among the highlights were 11 metres at 3.43% tin and 4 metres at 7.50% tin.

Management noted that the thickness and grade of these intercepts compare favourably with production from Alphamin Resources’ nearby Mpama North mine. With tin prices remaining firm, the results reinforce confidence in Kalayi’s potential scale and geological continuity.

The company said the latest data supports its structural interpretation of the deposit and will feed into an updated resource estimate expected in the coming months. At the same time, advanced modelling work at the Mont Agoma prospect is shaping the next drilling campaign. Management plans to update investors on progress and forthcoming activities through an interactive call scheduled this week.

Despite the operational progress, the company’s broader outlook remains challenged by financial pressures. Rome Resources is pre-revenue, reporting widening losses and sustained negative free cash flow, underscoring ongoing funding risk. Technically, the shares face mild headwinds from a weak longer-term trend and a negative MACD signal. Valuation metrics are also limited in usefulness given negative earnings and the absence of dividend support.

More about Rome Resources

Rome Resources is an AIM-listed exploration company focused on developing tin and copper assets in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its flagship Bisie North project hosts the Kalayi prospect, located approximately 8 kilometres from Alphamin’s high-grade Mpama North operation, providing a strong regional geological analogue for future development.

Block Energy (LSE:BLOE) has successfully concluded a carbon capture and storage (CCS) pilot at the Patardzeuli Field in Georgia, with independent verification confirming the reservoir’s suitability for long-term carbon dioxide sequestration.

Technical analysis by Oilfield Production Consultants determined that the Middle Eocene formation can permanently contain injected CO₂. During the pilot, 13.64 tonnes of carbon dioxide dissolved in water were injected into the reservoir. Ongoing monitoring and laboratory assessments showed that the CO₂ mineralised rapidly into stable carbonate minerals within one to three months, with no signs of gas migration or leakage detected.

The findings point to supportive geological and operational characteristics at the site, including reactive volcaniclastic rock, zeolite-rich intervals, and under-pressured reservoirs that reduce injection energy requirements. The presence of legacy wells further enhances cost efficiency by allowing existing infrastructure to be repurposed.

Following the positive results, Block Energy and its joint venture partner Rustavi Azot, part of Indorama Corporation, are advancing to a feasibility stage. This next phase will examine scalability, regulatory considerations, and commercial viability of full-scale CCS deployment. Management believes the project could contribute to regional industrial decarbonisation while establishing a potentially low-cost, infrastructure-driven revenue stream for the company.

Despite the technical milestone, the company’s broader outlook remains constrained by falling revenues and continued losses, reflected in negative margins and return on equity. Valuation indicators are also limited in usefulness due to a negative price-to-earnings ratio. Balancing these pressures are a relatively robust capital structure with low leverage and signs of improving cash flow, alongside strong recent share price momentum. However, a very elevated RSI suggests the rally may be stretched in the near term.

More about Block Energy Plc

Block Energy Plc is an AIM-listed energy company focused on oil and gas development and production in Georgia. In addition to hydrocarbon operations, the group is exploring carbon capture and storage initiatives aimed at leveraging existing infrastructure to support industrial emissions reduction while diversifying its long-term revenue base.

Landore Resources (LSE:LND) has finalised the sale of its interest in the Miminiska Project in northwestern Ontario after receiving a final cash instalment of C$1.3125 million from Storm Exploration under an option arrangement.

The payment was enabled by Storm’s subsequent sale of the asset to European Electric Metals. As part of the overall transaction, Landore retains ownership of 1,978,385 shares in Storm Exploration, preserving exposure to potential upside.

Management said the exit from Miminiska underlines the embedded value within Landore’s wider Ontario portfolio while materially improving the company’s liquidity position. The strengthened cash balance is expected to support ongoing advancement of the BAM Gold Project, including further work following the recently updated mineral resource estimate. The group also intends to continue evaluating opportunities to unlock value across its broader asset base into 2026 and beyond.

However, the investment case remains constrained by weak financial fundamentals. The company continues to report no revenue, recurring losses, and sustained cash outflows. From a technical standpoint, the shares are trading below key moving averages, with momentum indicators such as MACD signalling bearish conditions. Although Landore carries no debt and has seen some equity improvement, traditional valuation measures remain unreliable given negative earnings, and there is currently no dividend yield.

More about Landore Resources

Landore Resources Limited is an AIM-listed exploration and development company focused on precious and battery metals assets in eastern Canada and the United States. Its principal asset is the wholly owned BAM Gold Project in northwestern Ontario, which hosts an independently defined mineral resource and forms the cornerstone of the company’s strategy to realise value from both core and non-core properties.

Tiger Alpha PLC (LSE:TIR) has completed its exit from the Tiger Beta subnet on the Bittensor network, following the subnet’s deregistration by network administrators.

The company originally purchased the Tiger Beta subnet in June 2025 for $25,000, equivalent to 60 TAO, as part of a broader strategy to gain targeted exposure to specialist crypto subnets within decentralised infrastructure ecosystems.

After the deregistration process, all alpha tokens associated with Tiger Beta were automatically converted back into TAO, Bittensor’s native cryptocurrency, and transferred to Tiger Alpha. In total, the company received roughly 679 TAO, with an estimated market value of $124,257. The transaction represents a substantial return on the initial outlay and highlights the upside potential embedded in the group’s digital infrastructure investments, even amid ongoing volatility in cryptocurrency markets.

Despite this successful realisation, the company’s broader outlook remains constrained by continued financial weakness. Tiger Alpha has recorded multi-year losses, is still consuming cash, and reported negative equity in 2024. From a technical perspective, the shares remain under pressure, trading below key long-term moving averages, while momentum indicators such as MACD signal a bearish trend. Valuation metrics are similarly impacted, with a negative price-to-earnings ratio reflecting sustained losses.

More about Tiger

Tiger Alpha PLC is an investment vehicle specialising in digital assets and blockchain infrastructure. The group deploys capital into crypto-focused projects, including dedicated subnets within networks such as Bittensor, aiming to capture long-term value from the expansion of decentralised technologies and the wider cryptocurrency ecosystem.

U.S. equity futures are pointing to a stronger start on Thursday, suggesting markets may rebound after ending Wednesday’s uneven session slightly lower.

Futures extended their advance following the latest weekly jobless claims report from the Labor Department, which showed a smaller-than-expected decline in new applications for unemployment benefits.

Initial claims fell by 5,000 to 227,000 from a revised 232,000 the prior week. Economists had forecast a drop to 220,000 from the originally reported 231,000.

With claims still running at relatively elevated levels, the figures may soften the impact of Wednesday’s robust January payrolls report.

That employment data showed stronger-than-anticipated job creation, reinforcing the resilience of the U.S. labor market. However, it also dampened expectations for near-term interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve.

Market participants are now looking ahead to Friday’s consumer price index release, which could play a pivotal role in shaping rate expectations.

“Forecasts suggest the critical core CPI measure could ease to around 2.5%, marking a near five-year low,” said Daniela Hathorn, Senior Market Analyst at Capital.com. “If inflation comes in line with — or ideally below — expectations, the strength of the labor market may become secondary.”

She added, “A softer inflation print would keep rate cuts firmly priced in and could restore upward momentum in risk assets.”

On Wednesday, stocks initially climbed after the payrolls data but soon lost traction. The major indices spent much of the day fluctuating around the flatline before finishing modestly lower.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 66.74 points, or 0.1%, to 50,121.40. The Nasdaq Composite declined 36.01 points, or 0.2%, to 23,066.47, while the S&P 500 edged down 0.34 points to 6,941.47.

According to the Labor Department, nonfarm payrolls rose by 130,000 in January, following a downwardly revised 48,000 increase in December. Economists had expected a gain of 70,000 jobs.

The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.3% from 4.4%, defying forecasts for no change.

The report also featured a substantial downward revision to 2025 job growth, with employment gains adjusted to 181,000 from 584,000 previously reported.

“One big takeaway from today’s nonfarm payroll report is the 2025 average monthly gain in payrolls was 15,000,” said Jeffrey Roach, Chief Economist for LPL Financial. “Labor demand came to a standstill last year.”

Sector performance was mixed. Energy stocks outperformed alongside higher crude prices, with the Philadelphia Oil Service Index climbing 3.1% and the NYSE Arca Oil Index advancing 2.8%.

Gold stocks also benefited from rising bullion prices, lifting the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index by 2.6%.

Semiconductor, computer hardware, and natural gas shares posted gains, while airlines, software firms, and brokerage stocks lagged.

Gold and silver prices edged lower in Asian trading on Thursday after stronger-than-anticipated U.S. employment figures reduced expectations for additional Federal Reserve rate cuts. Losses, however, were tempered by ongoing safe-haven demand.

Despite the pullback, precious metals held on to much of this week’s gains, supported by a softer dollar overall and continued geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran.

Spot gold declined 0.7% to $5,051.26 per ounce, while April gold futures dropped 0.5% to $5,072.04/oz as of 01:36 ET (06:36 GMT). Spot silver slid 1.3% to $83.2505/oz, and platinum eased 1.6% to $2,107.30/oz.

Dollar rebounds after upbeat payrolls

The retreat in gold followed Wednesday’s U.S. nonfarm payrolls report, which showed January job growth exceeding expectations. The data underscored resilience in the labor market, dampening hopes that weakening employment conditions would prompt the Federal Reserve to accelerate rate reductions.

According to CME FedWatch data, markets now assign a 94.1% probability that the Fed will keep rates unchanged in March, with a 78% chance of a similar outcome in April.

The stronger jobs reading also fueled a rebound in the U.S. dollar overnight, creating headwinds for metals priced in the currency.

Still, the greenback stabilized in Asian hours and remained under some weekly pressure, partly due to renewed strength in the Japanese yen. Analysts at OCBC noted that for the dollar to stage a sustained recovery, further evidence of economic resilience in the U.S. would be required—potentially offering some support to gold in the near term.

“Structural drags — Fed succession uncertainty and broader US policy risks — mean the USD will still need additional upside surprises in upcoming data to sustain any rebound,” OCBC analysts said.

Even so, bullion markets have remained volatile in recent sessions, reflecting heightened uncertainty around U.S. monetary policy.

Inflation data and Iran tensions ahead

Investors are now awaiting additional U.S. economic indicators, including January consumer price index data due Friday. Inflation and labor market conditions remain the Fed’s primary considerations in shaping interest rate policy.

Weekly jobless claims figures are also scheduled for release later Thursday.

At the same time, geopolitical risks continued to underpin safe-haven demand. While Washington and Tehran have reported limited progress in recent nuclear discussions, the U.S. is reportedly preparing to deploy a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged Iran to accept a deal and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, keeping tensions in focus for global markets.

Oil prices ticked up on Thursday as markets kept a close eye on mounting geopolitical tensions between Washington and Tehran, with investors wary that any disruption to shipping routes or energy infrastructure could tighten global supply.

Brent crude futures rose 19 cents, or 0.27%, to $69.59 a barrel by 08:01 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 20 cents, or 0.31%, to $64.83.

The upward move follows gains in the previous session, when Brent added 0.87% and WTI climbed more than 1.05%. Concerns over potential fallout from U.S.-Iran tensions overshadowed news of a sizable build in U.S. crude inventories.

After meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said no “definitive” agreement had been reached on next steps regarding Iran, though he stressed that dialogue with Tehran would continue.

Earlier this week, Trump indicated he was considering deploying a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East if negotiations fail to yield progress, even as both sides prepared to resume talks.

U.S. and Iranian representatives held indirect discussions in Oman last week, but details of the next round—including timing and location—have yet to be confirmed.

Tony Sycamore, an analyst at IG, said that a sustained breakout above the $65–$66 range in WTI would likely require further escalation in the Middle East. Conversely, any easing of tensions could prompt a pullback toward the $60–$61 area as traders lock in profits.

On the economic front, stronger-than-expected U.S. employment data lent additional support to demand expectations. The Labor Department reported that job creation accelerated in January and the unemployment rate dipped to 4.3%, signaling ongoing resilience in the world’s largest economy.

“The resilient U.S. economy is also supporting oil demand expectations,” said Mingyu Gao, chief researcher for energy and chemicals at China Futures.

Still, gains were tempered by a sharp rise in U.S. stockpiles. The Energy Information Administration reported that crude inventories jumped by 8.5 million barrels last week to 428.8 million barrels—far exceeding analysts’ expectations for a 793,000-barrel increase.

Gao noted, however, that global inventory builds since the start of the year have generally undershot forecasts, and speculative net-long positions in international crude markets have yet to reach stretched levels.

Taken together, these factors suggest oil prices could remain biased to the upside, underpinned by geopolitical uncertainty, tighter sanctions on Russian exports and expectations of constrained supply, Gao added.