Author: Fiona Craig

Insig AI plc (LSE:INSG) has announced a new contract with a global advisory firm, marking the company’s first entry into the advisory sector—a move that opens up significant growth opportunities. The agreement centers on the use of Insig AI’s Generative Intelligence Engine, which will be applied to automate and enhance the benchmarking of corporate-reporting disclosures. This technology aims to deliver greater accuracy, efficiency, and consistency for the client, while positioning Insig AI to capture additional revenue streams in the future.

Despite promising growth potential, Insig AI’s outlook remains mixed. The company continues to post strong revenue expansion, but profitability pressures and financial instability persist. Technical indicators currently reflect neutral market conditions, while valuation metrics remain subdued due to ongoing losses and the absence of dividend distributions.

More about Insig AI PLC

Insig AI plc develops AI-driven analytics and machine learning solutions designed to improve data processing, analysis, and decision-making. Serving a wide range of industries, the company leverages its proprietary technology platforms to deliver innovative insights and enhance business performance through advanced automation.

Buccaneer Energy (LSE:BUCE) has reported results from its Allar #1 well in the Pine Mills Field, confirming that the well did not encounter a commercially viable hydrocarbon accumulation. As a result, the site will be plugged and abandoned.

While the outcome was disappointing from a production standpoint, the company emphasized that the geological and reservoir data obtained from the well are highly valuable. These findings will play a crucial role in refining drilling strategies and guiding the development of the upcoming Fouke #4 well. Buccaneer remains focused on its broader objective of boosting production and maximizing value from its Pine Mills operations.

More about Buccaneer Energy

Buccaneer Energy Plc is an international oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in Texas, USA. The firm is dedicated to developing and optimizing hydrocarbon assets, with a particular focus on the Pine Mills Field, where it continues to pursue opportunities for growth and improved recovery.

JTC PLC (LSE:JTC) has agreed to a £2.3 billion cash acquisition by Papilio Bidco Limited, a company advised by Permira Advisers LLP. The offer represents a substantial premium to JTC’s recent share price and is designed to accelerate the company’s long-term growth prospects. Under Permira’s ownership, JTC is expected to gain greater flexibility to execute its strategic plans and pursue new opportunities beyond the limitations of the public market.

The transaction underscores confidence in JTC’s strong operational foundation and growth potential. While the company has shown positive earnings momentum and strong technical indicators, investors remain cautious due to profitability pressures and a relatively high valuation. Nonetheless, consistent revenue expansion and a track record of successful acquisitions contribute to a constructively positive outlook for the business.

More about JTC PLC

JTC PLC operates globally in the Fund Administration, Corporate & Trust Services (FACTS) sector. The company is recognized for steady organic growth and well-timed strategic acquisitions, offering services across fund administration, employer solutions, and U.S. trust services. With a diverse and expanding client base, JTC is positioned to sustain long-term value creation within the financial services industry.

M.P. Evans Group PLC (LSE:MPE) has reported robust pricing for crude palm oil and palm kernels in the second half of 2025, a trend that is expected to boost its full-year financial performance. The company has benefited from a resilient pricing environment, with average selling prices remaining elevated, while maintaining strict cost controls and reinforcing its sustainability practices by reducing crop purchases from independent suppliers.

This disciplined approach has enabled M.P. Evans to fully repay its outstanding debt and anticipate higher-than-expected revenue and profit for the year. The company’s focus on operational efficiency and sustainable growth continues to underpin its strong financial trajectory.

From an investment standpoint, M.P. Evans demonstrates solid revenue expansion and profitability, supported by sound cash management. The stock’s valuation remains appealing, featuring a low price-to-earnings ratio and a healthy dividend yield. While technical indicators suggest some short-term caution, the company’s overall outlook remains decidedly positive.

More about M.P. Evans

Headquartered in the UK, M.P. Evans Group PLC produces sustainable Indonesian palm oil through the cultivation and processing of crude palm oil and palm kernels. The company is deeply committed to responsible agricultural practices and operates both company-owned estates and plantations managed in partnership with smallholder schemes.

ECO Animal Health Group (LSE:EAH) has secured a Positive Opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP) for its ECOVAXXIN® MS poultry vaccine, designed to protect against Mycoplasma synoviae. This regulatory milestone paves the way for a potential EU commercial launch by mid-2026, marking an important advancement in the company’s long-term growth strategy.

The new vaccine is intended to help poultry producers reduce economic losses by preventing air-sac and foot-pad lesions, conditions that can significantly impact egg yield and flock health. Building on this progress, ECO aims to broaden its presence across international markets by pursuing additional marketing authorizations and submitting new products from its active R&D pipeline over the coming year.

From a financial standpoint, ECO Animal Health continues to benefit from a solid balance sheet and improving cash generation. Nonetheless, technical indicators point to soft share momentum, while the stock’s relatively high price-to-earnings ratio suggests limited short-term upside, leading to a moderately balanced outlook.

More about ECO Animal Health

Headquartered in the United Kingdom, ECO Animal Health develops and markets veterinary pharmaceuticals focused on antibiotics and vaccines for pigs and poultry. With a robust R&D program and marketing authorizations in more than 70 countries, the company is recognized as a global player in the animal health industry.

European equities slipped slightly on Thursday, with regional benchmarks trading in the red despite overnight strength in Asia and a rebound on Wall Street.

Losses across the continent were contained after new data showed that Germany’s industrial production returned to growth in September, led by a recovery in the automotive sector.

According to Destatis, output rose 1.3% month-on-month, rebounding from a 3.7% decline in August, signaling that Europe’s largest economy may be regaining some momentum.

At mid-morning, the CAC 40 in France fell 0.6%, the DAX in Germany eased 0.2%, and the FTSE 100 in the U.K. edged down 0.1%.

In corporate developments, A.P. Møller-Mærsk (TG:DP4A) shares dropped sharply after the Danish shipping giant posted a decline in third-quarter net income, citing weaker freight rates and ongoing global trade challenges.

Commerzbank (TG:CBK) moved higher even though its Q3 earnings came in below analysts’ forecasts, while Skanska (TG:SKNB) slumped after the Swedish builder reported profit short of market expectations.

In contrast, Zalando (BIT:1ZAL) surged after a strong third quarter boosted by its July 2025 acquisition of About You, which strengthened its presence in the online fashion market.

Henkel (TG:HEN) also climbed after the consumer goods and adhesives manufacturer reported solid organic sales growth in the quarter.

Elsewhere, ArcelorMittal (EU:MT) advanced after reporting a 31.35% increase in net income for the September quarter, while Swisscom (TG:SWJ) gained on the back of a 36.9% jump in revenue to CHF 11.175 billion in the first nine months of 2025.

Meanwhile, AstraZeneca (LSE:AZN) traded higher after the British pharmaceutical group reaffirmed its full-year outlook.

U.S. equity futures pointed slightly higher early Thursday, suggesting Wall Street could build on the previous session’s gains as investors cautiously wade back into the market.

The major indexes are poised to edge up in early trading, with some traders looking to scoop up stocks at relatively attractive levels even after Wednesday’s rebound. Despite recent strength, the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow remain well below last week’s record highs.

Concerns over a potential AI-driven bubble and a near-term correction continue to linger, but overall momentum still appears tilted to the upside.

Economic news remains limited amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, though new data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas showed a sharp rise in corporate layoffs last month.

According to the report, U.S. employers announced 153,074 job cuts in October, up 183% from September’s 54,064 and 175% higher than the 55,597 cuts seen a year earlier.

“Some industries are correcting after the hiring boom of the pandemic, but this comes as AI adoption, softening consumer and corporate spending, and rising costs drive belt-tightening and hiring freezes,” said Andy Challenger, workplace expert and chief revenue officer at the firm.

He added, “Those laid off now are finding it harder to quickly secure new roles, which could further loosen the labor market.”

So far this year, employers have announced more than 1.09 million job cuts, the highest level for the first ten months of a year since 2020.

Company movers

Snap (NYSE: SNAP) shares surged nearly 20% in premarket trading after the social media company unveiled a $500 million share buyback program and issued upbeat fourth-quarter revenue guidance.

AppLovin (NASDAQ: APP) also gained premarket after reporting better-than-expected third-quarter earnings, while DoorDash (NASDAQ: DASH) tumbled over 10% after missing profit forecasts.

Market recap

Following Tuesday’s selloff, stocks rallied through most of Wednesday’s session before pulling back slightly late in the day. Even so, the major indexes ended higher:

• Nasdaq rose 0.7% to 23,499.80
• Dow Jones added 0.5% to 47,311.00
• S&P 500 climbed 0.4% to 6,796.29

Much of Wednesday’s strength was driven by bargain hunting after Tuesday’s steep drop, which stemmed partly from valuation worries. Sentiment was also helped by upbeat U.S. economic data.

ADP reported that private sector employment increased by 42,000 jobs in October, rebounding from a 29,000-job decline the prior month. Economists had expected a gain of only 25,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said its services PMI rose to 52.4 in October, up from 50.0 in September — the strongest level since February — signaling renewed expansion in the sector.

Despite a late-session pullback, several sectors showed notable strength. Airline stocks soared, with the NYSE Arca Airline Index up 5.8%, while biotech, semiconductor, and computer hardware shares also posted solid gains. In contrast, housing and software stocks moved lower, even as gold miners benefited from firmer metal prices.

Crude oil prices edged higher on Thursday, recovering slightly after settling at two-week lows in the previous session, as fears of an oversupplied market eased.

By 07:53 GMT, Brent crude futures climbed 24 cents, or 0.38%, to $63.76 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures gained 25 cents, or 0.42%, to $59.85 per barrel.

Global oil benchmarks ended their third consecutive monthly decline in October, pressured by concerns of excess supply as both OPEC and non-OPEC producers ramped up output.

However, sentiment began to shift toward the end of the month after sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the U.K. on major Russian oil companies prompted traders to scale back their bearish bets, Haitong Securities noted.

The firm added that OPEC+’s decision to delay additional production hikes until the first quarter of next year also helped ease oversupply fears.

Still, worries over sluggish demand continue to weigh on the market.

According to J.P. Morgan, global oil consumption has risen by 850,000 barrels per day so far this year through November 4 — slightly below its previous forecast of 900,000 barrels per day.

“High-frequency indicators suggest that U.S. oil consumption remains subdued,” the bank said, citing weak travel activity and a slowdown in container shipping volumes.

Oil prices had fallen in the prior session after data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed that domestic crude inventories jumped by 5.2 million barrels last week to 421.2 million barrels, far exceeding forecasts for a modest 603,000-barrel build.

“We think that downward pressure on oil prices will prevail, supporting our below-consensus forecast of $60 per barrel by end-25 and $50 per barrel by end-26,” Capital Economics said in a note.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia — the world’s largest oil exporter — cut the price of its crude for Asian customers for December delivery, responding to ample global supply as OPEC+ producers continue to boost output.

Gold prices held onto gains during Asian trading on Thursday, stabilizing after a sharp rise of more than 1% in the previous session. A softer U.S. dollar and continued uncertainty surrounding the prolonged U.S. government shutdown helped sustain investor demand for the safe-haven metal.

Spot gold rose 0.2% to $3,988.79 per ounce by 00:37 ET (05:37 GMT), while U.S. gold futures inched up 0.1% to $3,995.70 per ounce.

The metal had surged 1.3% in the prior session amid heightened risk aversion and renewed concerns about a possible stock market bubble.

Gold Steadies as Dollar Retreats; Shutdown Stays in Focus

The U.S. Dollar Index fell 0.2% in Asian trading, extending losses as investors shifted back into risk assets after a brief sell-off in tech stocks earlier this week. Wednesday’s rebound on Wall Street eased concerns about stretched valuations in the sector.

Even so, the ongoing U.S. government shutdown — now the longest in history — continues to cast a shadow over markets. The suspension of key federal economic data releases has left traders dependent on private-sector reports, complicating efforts to assess the strength of the U.S. economy.

Meanwhile, labor market data remained resilient. The latest ADP report showed that private-sector employment rose by 42,000 in October, nearly double economists’ expectations.

The stronger jobs data tempered hopes for a Federal Reserve rate cut in December. Since gold offers no yield, expectations of higher-for-longer rates tend to limit its upside.

Adding to market caution, the U.S. Supreme Court this week began hearings on the legality of tariffs enacted under former President Donald Trump — a case that could have lasting implications for trade policy, inflation, and supply chains.

“We remain positive on our gold outlook, despite the recent pullback in prices, with key supports, including central bank and safe haven demand, still in place,” ING analysts said in a note.

“Although trade tensions have recently eased, significant geopolitical uncertainty persists, driving demand for safe assets,” they added.

Other Metals Trade in Narrow Ranges

Broader metals markets remained subdued. Silver futures edged up 0.2% to $48.12 per ounce, while platinum futures were steady at $1,564.60 per ounce.

On the industrial side, benchmark copper futures on the London Metal Exchange gained 0.4% to $10,771.20 per ton, and U.S. copper futures rose 0.6% to $5.02 per pound.

The U.S. dollar slipped slightly on Thursday, taking a breather after hitting multi-month highs earlier in the week, while the British pound firmed in anticipation of the Bank of England’s latest policy announcement.

At 04:10 ET (09:10 GMT), the Dollar Index — which measures the greenback against six major peers — traded down 0.3% at 99.772, having reached its strongest level since April earlier this week.

Dollar Pulls Back After Rally

The dollar saw a mild correction in early Thursday trading, retreating from its recent highs as upbeat U.S. labor figures lifted risk appetite and reduced demand for the safe-haven currency.

The greenback’s recent strength has been underpinned by rising expectations that the Federal Reserve will hold off on cutting interest rates in December, especially after Chair Jerome Powell cautioned that a rate reduction “was not a given” for the year’s final meeting.

“While we note signs that the dollar rally is running out of steam, it’s equally true that markets are lacking a compelling story to rebuild dollar shorts,” said analysts at ING in a research note. “The lack of data and cautious Fed communication means there aren’t many in sight. We expect some rangebound trading today, with lingering risks of correction in the dollar based on short-term overvaluation.”

Sterling Firms Ahead of BOE Decision

In Europe, GBP/USD climbed 0.2% to 1.3072, supported by a softer dollar as traders awaited the Bank of England’s policy decision.

The U.K. central bank is widely expected to keep its benchmark rate unchanged at 4.0%, as Britain continues to grapple with the highest inflation among the G7 nations.

However, the outcome is not entirely certain. Signs of easing inflation pressures and expectations that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will raise taxes in the upcoming budget could influence the tone of the meeting.

“Markets are pricing in a 25% probability of a Bank of England cut today,” said ING. “Our call is for a hold, as a single positive inflation print shouldn’t be enough to bring an MPC majority behind a cut.”

“But the vote split could be 6-3 or perhaps a more dovish 5-4, which would signal the bar isn’t high for a cut in December.”

Meanwhile, EUR/USD rose 0.2% to 1.1520 after hitting a three-month low earlier this week.

German industrial production figures came in weaker than forecast, increasing 1.3% in September compared to the expected 3%, highlighting sluggish activity in Europe’s largest economy.

That said, “EUR/USD is trading well within undervaluation territory, as the dollar rally has extended beyond what can be justified by short-term drivers such as rate differentials and equities,” noted ING.

BOJ Rate Hike Expectations Grow

In Asia, USD/JPY fell 0.3% to 153.74, with the yen finding support from stronger wage growth data.

Wages rose 1.9% in September, up sharply from 1.3% in August — the weakest level in a year. The improvement adds pressure on the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates. The latest figures came just a day after minutes from the BOJ’s September meeting revealed that policymakers are increasingly open to a rate hike in the coming months.

Elsewhere, USD/CNY slipped 0.1% to 7.1224 after the People’s Bank of China set a slightly stronger daily midpoint, while AUD/USD edged up 0.1% to 0.6510 following robust export and trade balance data for September.