ADVFN UK Market News

Author: Fiona Craig

  • Glencore says Collahuasi ruling poses no immediate threat to Chile copper output (GLEN)

    Glencore says Collahuasi ruling poses no immediate threat to Chile copper output (GLEN)

    Glencore (LSE:GLEN) has responded to a decision by Chile’s Second Environmental Tribunal seeking to overturn the 2021 environmental approval granted for infrastructure and expansion works at the Collahuasi copper mine, including a nearly completed seawater desalination facility. The ruling centres on two issues related to possible impacts on a nearby local community and the surrounding marine environment.

    Collahuasi working with authorities on review process

    Collahuasi said it is currently engaging with regulators to clarify which aspects of the original approval process the environmental authority will need to reassess. Despite the tribunal’s decision, the company stated that it does not anticipate any immediate disruption to copper production at the mine due to the availability of alternative water supply sources already in operation.

    Glencore also stressed that the original permitting process complied with Chilean regulatory requirements and had previously been upheld by a ministerial review committee. The company said Collahuasi will continue cooperating with authorities and stakeholders through the legal process to determine the next steps for the project, while further updates will be provided as the operational implications become clearer.

    The group’s broader outlook remains influenced by mixed financial trends. Revenue and earnings have recovered, although operating margins remain relatively narrow, leverage has increased and free cash flow conversion remains weak. Technical market indicators are more supportive, with the share price maintaining an upward trend above key moving averages. Valuation metrics continue to act as a constraint due to a relatively high price-to-earnings ratio and modest dividend yield, although management commentary has highlighted constructive guidance and long-term copper growth potential despite operational and cash flow risks.

    More about Glencore

    Glencore is one of the world’s largest diversified natural resource companies, producing and marketing more than 60 commodities through a global network of mining, processing and trading operations. The group employs over 140,000 people and contractors across more than 30 countries, supplying industries including automotive, steel, power generation, battery manufacturing and energy markets, while also providing logistics, financing and commodity marketing services.

  • Kainos delivers revenue and bookings growth as core divisions regain momentum (KNOS)

    Kainos delivers revenue and bookings growth as core divisions regain momentum (KNOS)

    Kainos (LSE:KNOS) reported a 17% increase in revenue to £431.1 million alongside a 19% rise in statutory pre-tax profit, supported by strong sales performance across all three of its operating divisions. The company said profitability margins were impacted by higher contractor, supplier and employee costs, as well as continued investment in its strategic partnership with Workday.

    Workday and digital operations drive expansion

    Bookings for the period climbed 32%, while contracted backlog increased 18%, reflecting sustained demand across the business. Kainos also maintained a strong cash position despite substantial investment in share buybacks, the development of its new Belfast headquarters and the acquisition of Davis Pier.

    Within the Workday Products division, annual recurring revenue rose 23% to £89 million, placing the business on course to reach £100 million ARR by the end of 2026. Growth was supported by senior leadership appointments and an exclusive agreement with Workday to resell a new Pay Transparency product.

    The company also reported that both Digital Services and Workday Services returned to growth during the year, benefiting from significant contract wins across the UK public sector and healthcare markets, alongside continued momentum in North America. Revenue linked to artificial intelligence initiatives also increased, with Kainos doubling the size of its Responsible AI team as it strengthens its position in government technology and enterprise cloud services.

    Kainos’s outlook remains supported by strong profitability and a low-leverage balance sheet, although technical market indicators remain weaker, with the share price trading below key moving averages and momentum measures remaining negative. Valuation metrics are more mixed, combining a relatively high price-to-earnings ratio with a solid dividend yield.

    More about Kainos Group plc

    Kainos Group plc is a UK-based IT services and software company operating across Digital Services, Workday Services and Workday Products. The group provides digital transformation services, cloud-based Workday consulting and proprietary software solutions to public sector, healthcare and commercial clients, with expanding operations across Europe and North America.

  • Advanced Medical Solutions releases 2025 annual report ahead of June AGM (AMS)

    Advanced Medical Solutions releases 2025 annual report ahead of June AGM (AMS)

    Advanced Medical Solutions Group (LSE:AMS) has published its Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 and confirmed that the documents, together with the notice for its forthcoming Annual General Meeting, have been distributed to shareholders. The AGM is scheduled to take place in London on 17 June 2026.

    Company highlights governance focus and integration progress

    All associated shareholder materials, including proxy voting forms and the formal meeting notice, have also been made available through the company’s website, reflecting AMS’s continued focus on shareholder engagement and corporate governance transparency.

    The group said it continues to benefit from its scalable and diversified operating model, while integration work following the acquisition of Peters Surgical is contributing operational and commercial synergies. Surgical products now account for the majority of overall group revenue, with a growing share of sales being generated through direct sales channels.

    Management believes these developments position the company for continued long-term growth and value creation, supported by expanding international operations and increasing commercial scale.

    AMS’s broader outlook remains influenced by mixed financial factors, including improving revenue and cash flow trends alongside weaker profitability compared with earlier peak periods and higher leverage levels. Technical trading indicators remain supportive due to a strong longer-term share price trend, although momentum measures appear stretched. Valuation metrics continue to weigh on sentiment, reflecting a relatively high price-to-earnings ratio and a modest dividend yield.

    More about Advanced Medical Solutions

    Advanced Medical Solutions Group is a UK-based medical technology company focused on tissue-healing solutions, including surgical adhesives, sealants, biosurgical products and sutures. The business combines advanced material science with specialised applicator technologies to develop differentiated medical devices and has been expanding its international presence, particularly in the United States, following the acquisition of Peters Surgical.

  • Tooru raises growth expectations as OAF and Pulsin deliver momentum (TOO)

    Tooru raises growth expectations as OAF and Pulsin deliver momentum (TOO)

    Tooru (LSE:TOO) said its operating subsidiaries continued to perform strongly through 2025 and into the early part of 2026, generating solid EBITDA alongside average monthly gross revenue of approximately £1 million and EBITDA of around £150,000. Management indicated that growth is expected to continue as the company’s brands expand their market positions and benefit from recent investment initiatives.

    OAF expansion and Pulsin recovery support growth strategy

    The company highlighted encouraging progress across its portfolio, particularly at OAF, which has secured a launch with Asda, broadened its product range within Tesco and increased brand visibility through participation in industry trade events. Management believes OAF is becoming an important near-term growth contributor within the group.

    Pulsin has also returned to growth following product range optimisation, additional capital investment and the introduction of a new contract manufacturing arrangement, which management said has contributed to improved profit margins. Alongside this, Tooru continues to explore the potential acquisition of Mylky as part of efforts to increase scale and earnings within the branded wellness sector.

    The company said these developments support its ambition to strengthen its position in the health and wellness market despite continued caution among investors towards growth-oriented businesses.

    More about Tooru plc

    Tooru plc is an AIM-listed business operating in the branded health and wellness sector. Its portfolio includes brands such as Juvela, OAF and Pulsin, with products distributed through both specialist retailers and major UK supermarket chains. The group focuses on expanding mainstream retail access for health-focused food and wellness products across the UK market.

  • Staffline reports strong 2026 trading and expands share buyback programme (STAF)

    Staffline reports strong 2026 trading and expands share buyback programme (STAF)

    Staffline (LSE:STAF) said positive trading momentum from 2025 has continued into the current year, with gross profit from continuing operations rising 14.6% during the first four months of 2026. Growth was supported by a 9.1% increase in temporary worker hours across its UK operations, alongside solid demand for both temporary and permanent recruitment services in Ireland.

    Buyback expansion reflects confidence in trading outlook

    Management highlighted a strong pipeline of new business opportunities and continued market share gains among blue-chip customers. Despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, the company said trading performance remains sufficiently robust to support a £3.18 million share buyback programme while maintaining full-year expectations.

    Staffline has already repurchased 7.01 million shares at an average price of 45.36 pence, a move the board said reflects confidence in the group’s cash generation capabilities and overall balance sheet strength. Directors also pointed to the company’s scale, geographic reach and reputation for service quality and governance as key drivers of continued organic growth within the recruitment market.

    While the company’s outlook benefits from improved profitability in 2025 and a manageable financial position, management acknowledged that weaker cash generation and negative free cash flow remain areas of concern. Technical market indicators are currently mixed to slightly negative, although valuation metrics remain moderately supportive, including a price-to-earnings ratio of around 11.4 times.

    More about Staffline

    Staffline Group is one of the UK’s largest recruitment businesses, operating through its Recruitment GB and Recruitment Ireland divisions. The company provides flexible workforce solutions across sectors including supermarkets, food production, logistics, manufacturing and public services, offering temporary, permanent, RPO and managed service recruitment solutions throughout the UK and Ireland.

  • Blencowe expands Orom-Cross graphite resource with maiden Beehive estimate (BRES)

    Blencowe expands Orom-Cross graphite resource with maiden Beehive estimate (BRES)

    Blencowe Resources (LSE:BRES) has announced a maiden JORC 2012 mineral resource estimate for the Beehive deposit at its wholly owned Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda. The new estimate adds 21.3 million tonnes at 6.58% total graphitic carbon, increasing total project resources to 64.3 million tonnes at 6.03% TGC across four separate deposits.

    Resource growth strengthens long-term project potential

    The company said the updated resource base reinforces Orom-Cross as a large-scale, multi-deposit graphite development with long operational potential. Mineralisation at Beehive remains open both along strike and at depth, while the current resource model covers only around 22% of the identified target anomaly, highlighting considerable scope for future expansion.

    Blencowe noted that the enlarged resource inventory was achieved at a conversion cost of less than US$10 per tonne, with the updated figures now being incorporated into ongoing optimisation work for the project’s definitive feasibility study. The company is also continuing to evaluate downstream processing opportunities alongside strategic funding and offtake discussions.

    Management believes the increased scale of the resource and the project’s comparatively low-cost profile could improve Orom-Cross’s attractiveness to potential commercial and financing partners as the company advances from exploration towards development.

    Despite the operational progress, Blencowe’s outlook continues to be affected by weak financial performance, including ongoing losses, no revenue generation and worsening negative operating and free cash flow during 2025. Market technical indicators also remain relatively soft, with the share price trading below key shorter-term averages and momentum measures subdued. Valuation metrics continue to be limited by negative earnings.

    More about Blencowe Resources Plc

    Blencowe Resources Plc is a UK-listed exploration and development company focused on the Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda. The project hosts large near-surface graphite deposits suited to open-pit mining and is being developed to supply graphite for industrial applications, including battery technology and energy storage markets.

  • ValiRx expands £1.15 million fundraising with UK retail share offer (VAL)

    ValiRx expands £1.15 million fundraising with UK retail share offer (VAL)

    ValiRx plc (LSE:VAL) has launched a retail share offer through Winterflood’s Retail Access Platform, aiming to raise up to £150,000 through the issue of as many as 75,000,000 new ordinary shares priced at 0.2 pence each. The pricing matches that of the company’s recently completed £1.005 million placing and subscription involving institutional investors.

    Retail investors offered warrants alongside new shares

    Participants in the retail offer will receive one warrant for every share subscribed, with the warrants exercisable at 0.28 pence over a three-year period, subject to shareholder approval at the forthcoming annual general meeting.

    The initiative broadens participation in the fundraising to include UK retail shareholders alongside institutional backers. Chief executive Mark Eccleston has also indicated his intention to subscribe for 25,000,000 shares, which the company said demonstrates management’s confidence in its strategic direction.

    Funds raised through the retail offer will be applied in the same manner as the proceeds from the institutional placing, supporting the company’s capital requirements and development pipeline. Completion of the offer remains dependent on admission of the new shares to AIM and, in relation to the warrants and broker warrants, on obtaining sufficient shareholder authorities for allotment.

    ValiRx’s outlook continues to be shaped by challenging financial performance, including ongoing losses and dependence on external financing. Technical indicators currently suggest a weaker market trend, although there is some potential for recovery. Valuation metrics remain under pressure due to negative earnings and the absence of dividend support.

    More about ValiRx plc

    ValiRx plc is an AIM-listed life sciences company focused on the development of early-stage cancer therapeutics and women’s health treatments. Its pipeline includes assets such as CLX001 and VAL201, with the business concentrating on innovative oncology and related therapies within the higher-risk, early-stage drug development sector.

  • Aeorema lifts profits and cash reserves following restructuring programme (AEO)

    Aeorema lifts profits and cash reserves following restructuring programme (AEO)

    Aeorema Communications (LSE:AEO) reported revenue of £29.5 million for the 18 months ended 31 December 2025, representing a 7% increase compared with the equivalent prior period. Underlying profit before tax more than doubled to £797,000, although reported profit was affected by non-cash foreign exchange losses and a modest loss linked to a liquidation process.

    Restructuring supports stronger margins and strategic focus

    During the period, the group completed a restructuring and cost reduction initiative that increased workforce seniority, improved earnings quality and strengthened the balance sheet, with cash holdings rising to £4.1 million after the reporting period. Management said the revised operating model allows the company to focus on a smaller number of larger, strategically important projects, supporting shareholder returns through dividends, a share buyback programme and record booking activity at major international events.

    Aeorema also expanded its presence across several high-profile global events, including Cannes Lions, Davos, CES, Climate Week and the United Nations General Assembly. The company additionally delivered debut activations at SXSW in Austin and POSSIBLE in Miami, further strengthening its position within the premium experiential marketing sector.

    Management highlighted that broader geographic exposure, a more diversified client base and a leaner operational structure have improved the group’s long-term positioning. Early trading in 2026 has been described as encouraging, with strong forward visibility expected to support margin rebuilding and ongoing competition with significantly larger international agencies.

    While the company’s outlook remains mixed due to some pressure on revenue and cash flow growth, supportive corporate developments and a moderate valuation profile provide a degree of optimism. Technical indicators also suggest improving momentum, although limited forward guidance continues to restrict visibility into future performance.

    More about Aeorema Communications

    Aeorema Communications plc is a UK-based strategic communications and experiential marketing group focused on delivering large-scale branded events and content campaigns for international clients. The company specialises in major global “tentpole” events such as Cannes Lions, Davos, CES, Climate Week and the United Nations General Assembly, serving multinational brands while competing alongside larger global agency networks.

  • Rockfire reports high-grade Molaoi drilling as resource upgrade work advances (ROCK)

    Rockfire reports high-grade Molaoi drilling as resource upgrade work advances (ROCK)

    Rockfire Resources (LSE:ROCK) has announced further drilling results from its wholly owned Molaoi zinc deposit in Greece, with drill hole HMO-015 returning several high-grade intersections containing zinc, silver and germanium within the project’s principal mineralised lode. The company is continuing its ongoing diamond drilling programme, which is designed to upgrade the existing JORC Inferred Resource to Indicated classification.

    Drilling campaign highlights continuity across main mineralised zone

    Additional assay results from hole HMO-016 are still pending, while drilling at hole HMO-017 remains underway. Preliminary portable XRF readings from HMO-017 have indicated elevated zinc, silver, copper and lead grades over narrow intervals, further supporting the continuity and strength of mineralisation across the 1,300-metre-long main zone.

    Management said every hole drilled into the principal lode to date has intersected consistent multi-metal mineralisation, reinforcing confidence in the scale and quality of the deposit. The company also highlighted continued support from local communities and the Greek government, noting that low-impact drilling methods are being used to minimise environmental disturbance and maintain positive stakeholder engagement.

    Rockfire’s broader outlook continues to be weighed down by weak financial performance, including ongoing losses, negative free cash flow and the absence of revenue generation. However, the company maintains a debt-free balance sheet and has reported improvements in operating cash flow. Technical market indicators remain relatively supportive, although valuation metrics continue to be constrained by negative earnings and the lack of dividend support.

    More about Rockfire Resources PLC

    Rockfire Resources is a London-listed exploration company focused on gold, base metals and critical minerals. Its flagship asset is the high-grade Molaoi zinc, lead, silver and germanium deposit in Greece. The company also holds interests in a portfolio of gold, copper and silver projects in Queensland, Australia, including the Plateau and Marengo assets, which are operated under farm-in agreements with local partners.

  • Winvia Entertainment agrees Rev Comps acquisition to expand UK prize draw operations (WVIA)

    Winvia Entertainment agrees Rev Comps acquisition to expand UK prize draw operations (WVIA)

    Winvia Entertainment (LSE:WVIA) has entered into an agreement to acquire the trade, business and selected assets of Rev Comps, a family-operated UK digital prize draw platform. The acquisition will be financed entirely from the company’s existing cash resources. Rev Comps reported revenue of more than £80 million and profit before tax of around £2.1 million for the year ended 31 May 2025, with its management team set to remain involved in the business after completion.

    Acquisition structured to support growth and consolidation

    The total consideration for the deal is £11.8 million, payable through staged cash instalments, alongside a further earnout arrangement tied to future profit growth through to 2028. Completion is anticipated by 1 July 2026, subject to the migration of Rev Comps onto Winvia’s proprietary technology platform.

    Management expects the transaction to enhance earnings during the first full financial year following completion, while also increasing Winvia’s scale and expanding its customer reach within the fragmented UK prize draw market. The company believes the integration will also improve operational efficiencies and strengthen its data-driven marketing capabilities as it continues to explore further consolidation opportunities across the sector.

    More about Winvia Entertainment PLC

    Winvia Entertainment PLC is a technology-focused entertainment group operating within the UK prize draw competition market and the regulated online gaming sector in Romania. The company manages several prize draw brands, including Best of the Best and Click Competitions, alongside a portfolio of online gaming businesses supported by its in-house proprietary technology platform.

    The group is currently the second-largest prize draw operator in the UK by market share, offering prizes ranging from luxury cars and watches to holidays, gadgets and properties. Its Romanian gaming division includes brands such as Princess Casino, Royal Slots and Luck, generating revenue through both owned operations and white-label and B2B partnerships.