ADVFN UK Market News

Author: Fiona Craig

  • Bonanza-Grade Silver Results Reinforce Elizabeth Hill Potential

    Bonanza-Grade Silver Results Reinforce Elizabeth Hill Potential

    Alien Metals Ltd (LSE:UFO) said Phase 2 diamond drilling completed by joint venture partner West Coast Silver at the Elizabeth Hill Silver Project has delivered outstanding high-grade silver results. The standout intercept measured 27.4 metres at 1,314 g/t silver, including exceptional “bonanza” sub-intervals reaching grades as high as 33,107 g/t. In addition, the program has identified new mineralisation extending further to the northwest as well as within granite-hosted rocks, supporting the view that the high-grade system remains open along strike.

    These results have increased confidence in the overall scale and growth potential of the Elizabeth Hill project, particularly as drilling continues to demonstrate continuity beyond historically mined areas. Alien Metals said further drilling is being considered once pending aircore assay results are received in mid-February, which could provide additional targets and enhance the company’s exposure to what is regarded as one of Australia’s highest-grade silver prospects.

    From a financial perspective, the company’s outlook remains constrained by its pre-revenue status, ongoing losses, and continued cash burn, despite signs of improvement during 2024. This weakness is partially offset by technical indicators, with the share price trading above key moving averages and supported by a positive MACD signal. Valuation metrics remain limited, however, due to negative earnings and the absence of dividend yield data.

    More about Alien Metals Ltd

    Alien Metals Ltd is a London AIM-listed minerals exploration and development company focused on Western Australia. Its portfolio includes a 90% interest in the Hancock Iron Ore Project, which is targeting a 2Mtpa operation, alongside interests in the Munni Munni PGM Project and a 30% joint venture stake in the Elizabeth Hill Silver Project near Karratha.

  • Gold rallies after steep selloff, steadies near $5,000 an ounce

    Gold rallies after steep selloff, steadies near $5,000 an ounce

    Gold prices surged on Tuesday, with silver and platinum also posting strong gains, as precious metals recovered following two days of sharp, volatility-driven losses.

    By 08:25 ET (13:25 GMT), spot gold had climbed 5.8% to $4,931.00 an ounce, while April gold futures advanced 6.4% to $4,952.34 an ounce. Spot silver jumped more than 14% to $88.338 an ounce, and spot platinum rose 5.9% to $2,230.10 an ounce.

    Precious metals rebound after profit-taking

    Gold had plunged to around $4,400 an ounce on Monday, erasing nearly $1,200 an ounce from the record high reached just last week. The selloff was largely attributed to aggressive profit-taking after U.S. President Donald Trump nominated former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh to lead the central bank.

    The nomination eased a key source of market uncertainty, reducing demand for safe-haven assets, while Warsh is widely seen as less dovish than investors had anticipated. Even so, gold showed signs of resilience late on Monday, finishing the session well above its lows.

    “Further stabilisation will be determined by the mentality of the retail market. Physical demand from this sector has been strong in recent months and could provide a strong backdrop to the selling from leveraged trades in the institutional market,” ANZ analysts said in a note, adding that gold’s underlying fundamentals remain supportive.

    “Central bank gold purchases should be strong amid strained international relations, while concerns about Fed independence and rising risk premiums on US assets may add volatility that supports investment demand for gold through 2026,” the analysts added.

    ING, however, cautioned that near-term risks have not fully disappeared. “Near-term downside risks persist as year-to-date gains are almost fully unwound, and some investors may continue to take profits,” the bank said. “But absent a material shift in fundamentals, the pullback looks more like a correction than the start of a new trend. Volatility will remain elevated.”

    Warnings of speculative excess emerge

    Despite the rebound, some strategists are increasingly wary of the speed and scale of the recent rally. Peter Berezin, chief global strategist and director of research at BCA Research, warned that prices may have moved “too far, too fast.”

    In a note to investors, Berezin outlined a long-term scenario in which gold could theoretically lose most of its value. He argued that the current rally reflects genuine concerns about currency debasement, driven by rising U.S. budget deficits, expanding debt levels and heavy foreign ownership of U.S. assets, which has left the dollar vulnerable as investors trim exposure.

    At the same time, foreign central banks have continued to build gold reserves. “While the physical volume of gold purchases has dipped, the dollar value continues to increase,” Berezin wrote.

    However, he pointed out that inflation indicators have yet to validate the debasement thesis. Long-term inflation expectations remain relatively stable, and Bitcoin — often described as “digital gold” — has so far failed to participate in the rally.

    Copper regains ground

    Copper prices also moved higher on Tuesday, recovering from recent declines. Benchmark copper futures on the London Metal Exchange rose 4% to $13,451.00 a ton, while COMEX copper futures gained 4.3% to $6.0780 a pound.

    Unlike precious metals, copper’s losses have been relatively contained, supported by a constructive demand outlook linked to expanding energy infrastructure and ongoing data center construction. ANZ analysts noted that Chinese buyers stepped in last week to take advantage of lower prices, with inventories also being built ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

    As the world’s largest copper importer, China is expected to remain a key driver of demand, particularly as Beijing continues to roll out additional stimulus measures.

  • Wall Street Futures Signal More Upside After Strong Prior Session: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq

    Wall Street Futures Signal More Upside After Strong Prior Session: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq

    U.S. equity futures were trading higher early Tuesday, pointing to a firmer open on Wall Street and suggesting that stocks could build on the gains recorded in the previous session.

    Early momentum is being fueled in part by a sharp rally in Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR). Shares of the AI-driven software company were up about 11.7% in premarket trading after the company reported fourth-quarter results that beat expectations and issued an upbeat outlook.

    Mining shares are also expected to see early gains, as gold and silver prices have rebounded sharply following a recent selloff, improving sentiment across the materials space.

    That said, investor enthusiasm could be somewhat restrained as attention turns to Washington, where the House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a funding measure aimed at ending the partial government shutdown.

    The shutdown has already led the Labor Department to postpone the release of the job openings report due this morning, as well as the closely watched monthly employment report that had been set for release on Friday.

    After a mixed showing last week, U.S. stocks finished mostly higher on Monday. All three major indices advanced, with the Dow leading the way. Although the averages pulled back from their session highs late in the day, they remained solidly in positive territory. The Dow gained 515.19 points, or 1.1%, to close at 49,407.66, the Nasdaq rose 130.29 points, or 0.6%, to 23,592.11, and the S&P 500 added 37.41 points, or 0.5%, to 6,976.44.

    The rally was underpinned by fresh data from the Institute for Supply Management, which showed U.S. manufacturing activity unexpectedly returned to growth territory in January for the first time in a year. The ISM manufacturing PMI climbed to 52.6 from 47.9 in December, well above the 50 mark that signals expansion and comfortably ahead of forecasts calling for 48.5.

    The stronger-than-expected data helped investors look past lingering trade frictions and renewed uncertainty around the path of U.S. monetary policy. Market sentiment was also lifted by signs of easing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, following reports that Tehran is open to renewed negotiations with Washington over its nuclear program.

    Stocks received additional support after President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that the U.S. had reached a trade agreement with India. Following a conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump said reciprocal U.S. tariffs on Indian goods would be reduced to 18% from 25%, while India would reportedly cut both tariff and non-tariff barriers on U.S. products.

    Despite the generally positive tone, traders appeared hesitant to take larger positions ahead of Friday’s release of the Labor Department’s monthly jobs report. The report is expected to show that U.S. payrolls increased by 70,000 in January, following a gain of 50,000 in December, and could influence expectations for interest rates.

    From a sector perspective, airline stocks were among the strongest performers, with the NYSE Arca Airline Index jumping 4.3%. Computer hardware stocks also rallied, as reflected in a 4.2% rise in the NYSE Arca Computer Hardware Index.

    Banks, semiconductor shares and retailers also posted solid advances, while energy stocks lagged the broader market amid a sharp drop in crude oil prices.

  • European Shares Mixed After Strong Run to New Highs

    European Shares Mixed After Strong Run to New Highs

    European equity markets were mixed on Tuesday, pausing after a strong rally earlier in the session that had pushed several indices to record levels.

    The initial surge was underpinned by calmer conditions in commodity markets, signs of easing trade and geopolitical frictions, and expectations that the U.S. Congress will vote on a spending package to end the government shutdown.

    Sentiment was also supported by data showing that French inflation unexpectedly slowed to a five-year low last month, reinforcing the view that euro zone inflation could remain below the European Central Bank’s target for longer this year.

    By mid-session, Germany’s DAX was up around 0.3%, while France’s CAC 40 was down 0.2% and the UK’s FTSE 100 had fallen 0.7%.

    At the stock level, Fortum Oyj moved lower after reporting 2025 earnings that missed market expectations. Alfa Laval also declined after posting a sequential drop in fourth-quarter margins.

    Shares in Publicis Groupe (EU:PUB) slid sharply after the company reported a full-year profit that was lower than the prior year. Akzo Nobel (EU:AKZA) also came under pressure after adjusted EBITDA fell in the fourth quarter amid weak revenue performance.

    In London, AstraZeneca (LSE:AZN) shares dropped after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rejected a subcutaneous version of its lupus treatment, which would have simplified administration.

    On the upside, Amundi (EU:AMUN) rallied after reporting stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter net inflows, as clients sought greater diversification within Europe and away from the U.S. dollar.

    Meanwhile, Nordex (TG:NDX1) advanced after announcing it had secured a 189MW order from OX2 to supply turbines for the Fagerasen wind farm project in Sweden.

  • Oil Prices Slide as Traders Weigh U.S.–Iran Thaw and Stronger Dollar

    Oil Prices Slide as Traders Weigh U.S.–Iran Thaw and Stronger Dollar

    Oil markets extended their decline on Tuesday, with prices down around 1% for a second straight session, as investors assessed signs of a potential easing in tensions between the United States and Iran. Additional pressure came from a firmer U.S. dollar, which tends to dampen demand for dollar-priced commodities.

    By 0903 GMT, Brent crude futures were lower by 68 cents, or 1%, at $65.62 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude also slipped 60 cents, or 1%, to $61.54 a barrel.

    The latest losses follow a sharp sell-off on Monday, when oil prices fell more than 4% after U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran was “seriously talking” with Washington, a comment interpreted by markets as a signal of possible de-escalation with the OPEC producer.

    Officials from both countries told Reuters that Iran and the United States are expected to restart nuclear negotiations on Friday in Turkey. Trump also warned that with large U.S. warships moving toward Iran, “bad things could happen” if the talks fail to deliver an agreement.

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Tuesday that engagement with the U.S. should continue to safeguard Iran’s national interests, provided that “threats and unreasonable expectations” are avoided, in a post on X.

    “The volatile price actions of oil seen in the last four weeks have been driven by the geopolitical risk premium factor that is linked to the current U.S. administration’s expansionary foreign policy, especially the ’on-off’ threats towards Iran,” said Kelvin Wong, senior market analyst at OANDA.

    Further weighing on prices, the U.S. dollar index hovered near its highest level in more than a week. A stronger greenback typically curbs demand for oil from non-U.S. buyers by making crude more expensive in local currency terms.

    Supply dynamics were also in focus. Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday that the country has ample fuel supplies and is even running a surplus, adding that Russia’s oil products market stabilised last autumn.

    Separately, Trump announced a trade agreement with India that cuts U.S. tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50%, in return for India halting purchases of Russian oil and lowering trade barriers.

    “Overnight, the U.S. and India agreed on a trade deal … if we do see this happen, it will only lead to a further increase in the amount of Russian oil floating at sea,” ING analysts said in a note.

    Trump revealed the deal on social media following a call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that India had agreed to buy oil from the U.S. and potentially from Venezuela as well.

    Looking ahead, analysts expect continued volatility. “Looking ahead into February, prices are likely to remain choppy and range-bound … (they) are expected to stay highly reactive to headlines and macro cues rather than a decisive trend, with risk skewed to the downside,” said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.

  • U.S. Futures Climb as Earnings Season Kicks Off; SpaceX–xAI Deal and Palantir Results in Focus: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Wall Street

    U.S. Futures Climb as Earnings Season Kicks Off; SpaceX–xAI Deal and Palantir Results in Focus: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Wall Street

    U.S. equity futures were trading higher ahead of a packed week of corporate earnings, with markets digesting a series of major headlines. Elon Musk’s SpaceX has agreed to acquire xAI in a landmark transaction valuing the combined group at more than $1 trillion, while Palantir (NASDAQ:PLTR) reported record quarterly revenue, lifting its shares in after-hours trading. Investor mood has also improved following a rebound in gold prices after a sharp selloff, even as oil prices drift lower on signs of easing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

    Futures move higher

    Stock futures in the U.S. pointed upward early Tuesday as investors positioned for a heavy flow of results. By 02:33 ET, Dow futures were up 34 points, or 0.1%, S&P 500 futures had gained 19 points, or 0.3%, and Nasdaq 100 futures were ahead by 143 points, or 0.6%.

    Wall Street closed higher on Monday after a choppy session, helped by renewed strength in AI-related semiconductor stocks. Alphabet shares hit a fresh all-time high, while Amazon added around 1.5%. Both companies are scheduled to release earnings later this week.

    Sentiment was further supported by President Donald Trump’s decision to cut U.S. import tariffs on goods from India to 18%, down from levels that had previously been the highest applied to any U.S. trading partner.

    In Washington, the House of Representatives is set to vote later today on legislation aimed at ending a partial government shutdown. The shutdown has already delayed key economic releases, including the monthly nonfarm payrolls report that had been due on Friday. Separately, data showed U.S. factory activity expanded last month for the first time in a year.

    SpaceX strikes deal for xAI

    SpaceX has agreed to acquire xAI in a transaction valuing the combined business at roughly $1.25 trillion, underscoring Elon Musk’s ambition to build scale across sectors ranging from space exploration to artificial intelligence and robotics.

    SpaceX, known for its reusable rockets and vast satellite constellation, and xAI, the company behind the AI assistant Grok, rank among the world’s most closely watched private firms. A long-anticipated SpaceX IPO could take place as soon as this year, while xAI was valued at $230 billion in a fundraising round in January. Bloomberg News reported that shares in the merged entity are expected to be priced at $526.59 each.

    Palantir delivers record quarter

    On the earnings front, Palantir shares jumped in extended trading before giving back some of the initial gains. The data analytics company posted record revenue of $1.41 billion for the final quarter of 2025, driven by strong demand from both government agencies and commercial clients for its AI-enabled software.

    Revenue surged 70% year on year, beating Wall Street expectations, while net income reached a record $609 million. Despite benefiting from enthusiasm around artificial intelligence, Palantir’s stock has underperformed so far this year amid a broader pullback in software names. The company has also faced scrutiny over its work with the Trump administration, particularly related to immigration enforcement.

    Elsewhere on the earnings calendar, Pfizer is due to report before the U.S. market opens, while Advanced Micro Devices is scheduled to release results after the close.

    Gold rebounds

    In commodities, gold prices rose as the metal steadied after two days of steep losses, helping ease investor anxiety following a bout of heavy volatility. Spot gold jumped 5.8% to $4,931.60 an ounce, while April gold futures climbed 6.5% to $4,954.04.

    Gold had fallen to around $4,400 an ounce on Monday, nearly $1,200 below last week’s record high. The pullback followed profit-taking after President Trump nominated former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh as the next Fed chair, reducing uncertainty and cooling some safe-haven demand. Warsh is seen as less dovish than markets had anticipated, and gold typically performs better in a low-rate environment.

    Despite the correction, analysts at ING said the underlying case for gold remains intact. “The structural drivers — elevated geopolitical risk, macro uncertainty, diversification flows and ongoing central bank buying — remain firmly in place,” wrote analysts Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey. Silver futures, which suffered their steepest one-day drop on record on Friday, also rebounded sharply.

    Oil prices ease again

    Oil prices slipped for a second straight session, as signs of de-escalation between the U.S. and Iran reduced the geopolitical risk premium in crude markets. Brent futures fell 0.6% to $65.91 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude declined 0.5% to $61.80.

    Both benchmarks had dropped more than 4% in the previous session after President Trump said Iran was “seriously talking” with Washington, signalling a potential easing of tensions with the OPEC member. Reuters has reported that Iran and the U.S. are expected to resume nuclear talks on Friday in Turkey.

    Additional pressure came from a firmer U.S. dollar, with the dollar index hovering near a one-week high, weighing on demand for dollar-denominated oil from overseas buyers.

  • European Markets Inch Up as Metals Slide Reverses; Publicis Draws Attention: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European Markets Inch Up as Metals Slide Reverses; Publicis Draws Attention: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European equities traded modestly higher on Tuesday, supported by a positive finish on Wall Street overnight and signs that the recent selloff in precious metals was short-lived.

    By 08:05 GMT, Germany’s DAX was up around 0.8%, France’s CAC 40 had added 0.4% and the UK’s FTSE 100 was edging 0.1% higher.

    Calmer metals markets lift sentiment

    After several volatile sessions marked by sharp falls in gold and silver prices late last week and over the weekend, global markets appear to have steadied. Precious metals rebounded on Monday, helping restore confidence and pushing the Dow Jones Industrial Average more than 500 points higher, a gain of roughly 1%, on Wall Street.

    Broader sentiment was also buoyed after US President Donald Trump announced late Monday that Washington had reached a trade agreement with India, cutting tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from as high as 50%. The deal followed months of negotiations and was widely interpreted as a move toward easing previously strained trade relations.

    Publicis in focus

    In Europe, attention has returned to the earnings season, with a heavy slate of results from major companies expected this week.

    Publicis Groupe (EU:PUB) was among the stocks in focus after a series of strong client wins helped lift fourth-quarter underlying revenue ahead of expectations at the French advertising group. For 2025, Publicis generated €2.03 billion in free cash flow before working capital movements, up 10.6% year on year, and proposed a dividend of €3.75 per share, an increase of 4.2%, to be paid entirely in cash.

    French asset manager Amundi (EU:AMUN) also reported a solid set of numbers, posting a 6% rise in adjusted pretax income for 2025 to €1.86 billion. The performance was driven by record net inflows of €88 billion as the group launched a new strategic plan running through 2028.

    Elsewhere, Akzo Nobel (EU:AKZA) said fourth-quarter margins improved strongly from a year earlier, as the Dutch paints maker continues to navigate weak demand while pursuing a potential merger with US rival Axalta Coating Systems.

    Investors were also digesting a busy earnings calendar in the United States, including results from PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL), Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and Marathon Petroleum (NYSE:MPC), ahead of numbers from Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) due after the close. Sentiment toward AI-related stocks remains fragile following a poorly received update from Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) last week.

    French inflation surprises on the downside

    Economic data released earlier showed inflation pressures remain muted in France, the euro zone’s second-largest economy. Consumer prices fell 0.3% month on month in January, while the annual rate slowed to just 0.3%, below expectations of 0.6%.

    The European Central Bank meets later this week and is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged at 2% for a fifth consecutive meeting. ECB President Christine Lagarde may face questions on the impact of a stronger euro on inflation, after the single currency briefly rose above $1.20 last week, its highest level since 2021. Although the euro has since eased, it remains more than 2% higher over the past two weeks.

    Oil prices ease again

    Oil prices moved lower for a second session on Tuesday, as easing tensions between the US and Iran reduced the geopolitical risk premium in crude markets. Brent futures slipped 0.4% to $65.96 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude fell 0.4% to $61.90.

    Both benchmarks had dropped more than 4% in the previous session after President Trump said Iran was “seriously talking” with Washington, signalling a potential de-escalation with the OPEC member. Reuters reported on Monday that Iran and the US are expected to resume nuclear talks on Friday in Turkey.

    Additional pressure on prices came from a firmer US dollar, with the dollar index hovering near a one-week high, making dollar-denominated crude more expensive for overseas buyers.

  • FTSE 100 Opens Higher as Metals Recover and Miners Advance; AG Barr Gains

    FTSE 100 Opens Higher as Metals Recover and Miners Advance; AG Barr Gains

    UK equities started Tuesday’s session on a firmer footing, supported by a rebound in metal prices that boosted mining stocks. Broader European markets also traded higher in early deals, outperforming the UK market.

    Mining shares led the gains after recovering from the previous session’s sharp sell-off in precious metals. Producers of gold, silver and copper including Fresnillo PLC (LSE:FRES), Antofagasta PLC (LSE:ANTO), Endeavour Mining (LSE:EDV), Anglo American PLC (LSE:AAL), Glencore PLC (LSE:GLEN) and Rio Tinto PLC (LSE:RIO) were all higher shortly after the open.

    By 08:39 GMT, the FTSE 100 was trading slightly higher, while sterling gained around 0.1% against the US dollar to 1.3686. European peers showed stronger momentum, with Germany’s DAX up 1.1% and France’s CAC 40 rising 0.6%.

    UK roundup

    A.G. Barr reports FY25/26 growth

    A.G. Barr PLC (LSE:BAG) shares rose 6.1% after the soft drinks group said results for FY25/26 met expectations. Revenue increased by around 4% to £437m from £420m a year earlier, while adjusted operating margin improved to approximately 14.7% from 13.6%. The margin expansion of about 110 basis points helped drive double-digit growth in adjusted profit for the year.

    AstraZeneca slips on FDA setback

    AstraZeneca PLC (LSE:AZN) shares moved lower after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rejected the company’s initial application for a subcutaneous injection version of its lupus drug Saphnelo. The group said it has since submitted the requested additional information and is working with the regulator to progress the filing.

    Plus500 launches US prediction markets offering

    Plus500 Ltd (LSE:PLUS) announced it has entered the US retail prediction markets space with the launch of event-based contracts on its Plus500 Futures platform. The new B2C offering includes products from Kalshi Exchange, with transactions cleared directly through Kalshi Klear LLC.

    UK grocery inflation cools

    UK grocery inflation eased to 4.0% in the four weeks to 25 January, marking its lowest level since April last year, according to figures from Worldpanel by Numerator. The reading was down from 4.3% previously, offering modest relief for consumers.

  • AstraZeneca Shares Ease After FDA Pushes Back on Saphnelo Injection Filing

    AstraZeneca Shares Ease After FDA Pushes Back on Saphnelo Injection Filing

    AstraZeneca PLC (LSE:AZN) shares slipped around 1.5% in early trading after the US regulator declined to approve the company’s initial application for a subcutaneous injection version of its lupus treatment Saphnelo.

    The group said it received a complete response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, indicating that the filing could not be approved in its current form. AstraZeneca has since submitted the additional information requested and said it is working closely with the regulator to progress the application as quickly as possible. A regulatory decision on the resubmission is now expected in the first half of 2026.

    Saphnelo, which is used to treat the autoimmune condition systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), continues to be marketed in the US in its already-approved intravenous infusion format. The original application for the injection version was supported by an interim analysis from the Phase III TULIP-SC study, which showed that subcutaneous dosing met the trial’s primary endpoint and had a safety profile consistent with the intravenous formulation.

    AstraZeneca noted that the regulatory setback in the US contrasts with progress elsewhere. The subcutaneous form of Saphnelo was approved in the European Union in December 2025 for adults with moderate to severe SLE. Full results from the TULIP-SC trial, published in January 2026, confirmed that the injection met its primary endpoint of reducing disease activity.

    The company added that Saphnelo is now approved for the treatment of moderate to severe SLE in more than 70 countries globally, including the US, EU and Japan, and has been used to treat over 40,000 patients worldwide.

  • Plus500 Shares Jump After Launch of US Prediction Markets Offering

    Plus500 Shares Jump After Launch of US Prediction Markets Offering

    Plus500 Ltd (LSE:PLUS) shares climbed around 7.5% after the fintech group announced its expansion into the US retail prediction markets space. The move comes with the launch of event-based contracts on its US B2C trading platform, Plus500 Futures, marking a new product vertical for the company in a fast-developing segment of the trading industry.

    The London-listed group said the new offering will feature products from Kalshi Exchange, the first US-regulated exchange dedicated to event-based contracts. Through this integration, Plus500’s US customers can trade regulated prediction markets linked to economic data releases, financial market events, geopolitical developments and other clearly defined real-world outcomes.

    Management described the launch as a strategic step in diversifying Plus500’s product suite, leveraging its proprietary technology, clearing memberships and established risk management infrastructure. Trades on the platform will be cleared directly via Plus500’s full clearing membership with Kalshi Klear LLC, providing a fully regulated and transparent framework for participants.

    Plus500 highlighted growing interest in prediction markets from both retail and institutional users, citing their appeal as a structured and compliant way to express views on real-world events. The company said its scalable infrastructure positions it well to support wider adoption of these products, both through direct-to-consumer innovation and business-to-business partnerships.

    The latest launch builds on Plus500’s earlier move into prediction markets in December 2025, when it became the clearing partner for CME Group and FanDuel on the FanDuel Prediction Markets platform. Management said this track record underlines its ambition to play a broader role across the regulated prediction markets ecosystem.