Category: Market News

East Star Resources (LSE:EST) has outlined a new Independent JORC-compliant Exploration Target for the Rulikha Deposit in Kazakhstan, estimating an upper range of 23 million tonnes at 2.4% copper equivalent. The target suggests the deposit could host more than 550,000 tonnes of contained copper, marking a substantial potential boost to the company’s overall copper inventory.

The update underscores the deposit’s attractive characteristics — shallow, high-grade copper mineralisation, multiple valuable by-products, and strong local infrastructure. However, East Star notes that water availability and environmental permitting remain key hurdles. Should the target ultimately be upgraded to a formal JORC resource, Rulikha could effectively triple the company’s copper inventory, supporting a large-scale operation with the potential to deliver meaningful benefits to surrounding communities.

More about East Star Resources

East Star Resources focuses on exploring and developing copper and gold assets across Kazakhstan. Its portfolio spans volcanogenic massive sulphide prospects as well as copper porphyry and epithermal gold targets. The company also maintains a strategic joint venture with Endeavour Mining dedicated to gold exploration.

88 Energy Limited (LSE:88E) has updated investors on progress at Project Phoenix, outlining plans to drill the Franklin Bluffs-1H horizontal well and carry out an extended production test in 2026. Working alongside partner Burgundy Xploration LLC, the company is pushing ahead with operational preparations and funding efforts, even as recent U.S. government shutdown disruptions slowed certain timelines.

The initiative is designed to unlock additional productivity from the SMD-B reservoir. Burgundy has expanded its land position and pledged further capital to support development, reinforcing the project’s momentum. If current plans stay on track, 88 Energy could begin production in 2027, bolstering its presence within Alaska’s oil and gas landscape.

More about 88 Energy

88 Energy Limited is an exploration and development company with a focus on conventional oil and gas opportunities on Alaska’s North Slope. The firm holds a notable stake in Project Phoenix, a key pillar of its broader strategy in the region.

Genedrive plc (LSE:GDR) has confirmed that its Genedrive® MT-RNR1 ID Kit is now being deployed across NHS Scotland, marking a major step in efforts to prevent antibiotic-induced hearing loss in newborns treated in neonatal intensive care. Backed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the rollout is expected to materially improve clinical decision-making by enabling rapid genetic screening, helping clinicians tailor treatments and ultimately supporting better long-term outcomes for infants and their families.

Financially, Genedrive continues to grapple with the challenge of turning revenue momentum into sustained profitability. While the balance sheet remains healthy, valuation indicators are constrained by the company’s loss-making status, and technical signals currently point to downward pressure on the share price. Even so, recent operational progress strengthens Genedrive’s strategic position and may improve its prospects over time.

More about Genedrive

Genedrive plc is a UK-based pharmacogenetic testing company focused on developing rapid, cost-efficient point-of-care solutions that help clinicians personalise treatment decisions. Its core technologies—including the Genedrive® MT-RNR1 ID Kit and the Genedrive® CYP2C19 ID Kit—provide fast genetic insights designed to guide medication choices and dosing, particularly in urgent or emergency care settings.

Workspace Group PLC (LSE:WKP) has moved ahead with its conviction-driven portfolio reshaping, finalizing the sale of three properties for a combined £41.7 million. The disposals form part of the company’s wider “Fix, Accelerate, Scale” programme, which targets £200 million in asset sales over a two-year window to streamline the portfolio and improve long-term shareholder value.

The company’s near-term outlook is shaped by steady financial fundamentals and progress on its strategic roadmap, as discussed during its recent earnings call. Still, a relatively high P/E ratio and several operational pressures—including softer occupancy and reduced asset valuations—temper sentiment. Technical readings also indicate limited momentum, resulting in a broadly moderate view of the shares.

More about Workspace Group plc (REIT)

Workspace Group PLC is a major provider of flexible and sustainable office space across London, offering adaptable workspace solutions designed for modern, growing businesses. The company places a particular emphasis on flexibility, environmental performance, and meeting the evolving needs of its customer base.

Helical PLC (LSE:HLCL) released its half-year update, pointing to a busy development pipeline and meaningful strategic progress across central London. The company remains upbeat on the capital’s office market, citing sustained appetite for high-quality workspace and a shortage of Grade A supply—conditions it believes will continue to support rising rents.

Flagship schemes, including 10 King William Street and Brettenham House, are expected to push rental levels higher once completed. Alongside its core office activity, Helical is expanding into student accommodation and continues to favour joint-venture and capital-light models to enhance returns. Although the value of its investment properties dipped modestly, the uplift in its development portfolio reflects a deliberate emphasis on locations with the strongest demand.

From a market perspective, Helical trades on an attractive valuation supported by a low P/E ratio and a moderate dividend yield. Even so, concerns linger around its heavy leverage and uneven cash generation. Technical indicators paint a neutral picture, showing no clear directional trend.

More about Helical

Helical PLC is a London-focused real estate developer specialising in premium office buildings in well-connected, supply-constrained districts. The company concentrates on sectors such as technology and AI and is increasingly exploring opportunities in the student accommodation market.

European equities advanced on Tuesday, rebounding from the uneven performance seen at the start of the week.

By midday, the U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index was up 0.4%, while France’s CAC 40 Index and Germany’s DAX Index each climbed 0.7%.

Fresh data from Destatis showed the German economy flatlined in the third quarter, as a small rise in investment was offset by continued weakness in exports. The statistical office confirmed that GDP was unchanged from the previous quarter, following a 0.2% contraction in Q2.

“Economic activity was hampered in the third quarter by weak exports, while investments increased slightly,” said Ruth Brand, President of the Federal Statistical Office.

Among individual movers, ABN AMRO (EU:ABN) surged after announcing plans to eliminate 5,200 full-time roles by 2028 as newly appointed CEO Marguerite Berard aims to lift long-term profitability.

Kingfisher (LSE:KGF) also jumped after the home improvement chain raised its profit guidance.

Skanska (BIT:1SKAB) traded higher as well after securing a contract to build a new data center in the United States.

On the other end of the market, British airline easyJet (LSE:EZJ) slipped despite delivering stronger-than-expected full-year operating profit.

Thyssenkrupp Nucera (BIT:1TKA) shares tumbled in Frankfurt after the electrolyser manufacturer projected a sharp fall in 2026 sales.

U.S. stock futures hovered near unchanged levels on Tuesday, pointing to a quiet start as markets pause to digest Monday’s powerful rebound.

After several sessions marked by sharp swings, traders appear inclined to reassess near-term risks. Monday’s rally built on Friday’s turnaround, helping erase much of last week’s steep selloff.

Fresh data released Tuesday — delayed by the government shutdown — showed softer-than-expected retail sales and producer prices in line with forecasts, but futures barely reacted.

Retail sales rose 0.2% in September, half the expected pace, while producer prices climbed 0.3%, matching estimates. ADP also reported a worsening pace of private-sector job losses.

Tech stocks were the standout performers on Monday. The Nasdaq surged 2.7%, the S&P 500 gained 1.6%, and the Dow posted a smaller but solid advance. Still, all three indexes ended last week with significant declines.

Geopolitical and monetary policy developments have added to the improving sentiment. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there had been “tremendous progress” in peace talks over the Russia–Ukraine conflict, while Fed officials continued to signal support for a December rate cut — with CME data now pricing in nearly an 85% chance.

Semiconductors, hardware, networking, gold miners, airlines, and biotechnology stocks all posted meaningful gains as most sectors joined the rebound.

Intertek Group (LSE:ITRK) dropped more than 4% on Tuesday after the UK-based testing and inspection firm reported third-quarter organic revenue growth that slightly lagged market forecasts, even as the company reaffirmed its full-year guidance.

For the July–October period, Intertek delivered 4.1% organic growth. That matched Morgan Stanley’s 4.2% estimate but fell short of the 4.5% Visible Alpha consensus, which the brokerage noted included “several stale estimates.”

The latest figure compares with 4.5% organic growth in the first half of 2025 and came in below the 6.3% and 6.0% posted by rivals Bureau Veritas and SGS, respectively, for their July–September quarters. Reported revenue rose 2.2%, held back by a -1.8% foreign-exchange impact.

Morgan Stanley characterized the update as “a decent print, but growth print and guide below peers; margins remain robust.”

Divisional performance varied. Consumer Products grew 5.4% in the quarter, consistent with full-year guidance calling for high-single-digit gains. Corporate Assurance advanced 6.6%, also in line with its high-single-digit target.

World of Energy was flat, with the note pointing to softness in transportation technologies, “(autos programmes being scaled back).”

Outlook for the division was revised to “Stable” from a prior expectation of low-single-digit growth. Industry & Infrastructure expanded 6%, prompting an upgrade of its full-year view to mid-single-digit growth, supported by stronger minerals demand. Health and Safety rose 0.8%, with guidance unchanged at low-single-digit growth.

Intertek maintained its full-year forecast for mid-single-digit organic revenue growth at constant currency, along with margin improvement and solid cash generation.

According to company-compiled consensus cited in the note, the market expects revenue of £3.43 billion, organic growth of 4.6%, EBIT of £611 million with a 17.8% margin, adjusted pretax profit of £564 million, and adjusted earnings per share of 250.5p.

Morgan Stanley said it anticipates organic growth projections to “trim slightly to c. 4.3%,” partially offset by a higher expected contribution from acquisitions of around 0.5%, versus the 0.2% reflected in current estimates.

The bank added that, with currency assumptions already set at a 3% decline for the year, it does not foresee changes to headline profit or earnings forecasts.

Many were hoping that a strong earnings report from Nvidia would help turn sentiment around. The company’s numbers for Q3 FY2026 indeed didn’t disappoint, yet the S&P 500 index is still on track for its worst November since 2008.

So what’s going on?

First, let’s talk about Nvidia’s results. Revenue hit $57 billion, up 22% from last quarter and 62% from a year ago. But most importantly, the company expects around $65 billion in revenue next quarter.

Furthermore, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang argued that AI demand is real: companies are moving to GPUs, new AI applications are emerging, and “agentic AI” will need even more computing power. 

The takeaway, thus, is that Nvidia stock price growth is driven by structural shifts in AI, not hype.

So why didn’t the indexes soar?

Because uncertainty remains.

In particular, there’s still no clarity on how long Nvidia can sustain this kind of explosive growth. Infrastructure constraints and a heavy reliance on a few major customers raise concerns, especially at a time when consumer sentiment is deteriorating.

On top of that, the broader fear of an AI bubble hasn’t gone away. Investors see companies boosting their CAPEX just to stay competitive, in some cases relying on debt to do so — for example, Oracle. Finally, there is a worry that weakness in just one key player could ripple across the entire sector, and let’s not forget about still-high valuations.

As a result, investors have been trimming their exposure to riskier assets, including Bitcoin, which last week dropped to nearly $80,000.

And then there’s the rapid deterioration of U.S. liquidity. Repo rates are climbing, reverse repo balances are plunging, and funding costs for banks and hedge funds are spiking. If leveraged investors are forced to unwind positions, it could lead to waves of forced selling, creating a domino effect across the market.

Whether this will lead to an already long-forecasted market crash depends, of course, on how circumstances unfold. One of the factors to watch will be macro data in the U.S. and Fed rhetoric, especially regarding liquidity issues.

Investor positioning in major U.S. indices moved lower again last week, with the S&P 500 attracting a new wave of short positions, according to strategists at Citigroup.

Chris Montagu’s team said the Nasdaq 100 stands apart from the broader retreat, supported by a combination of new long entries and ongoing short covering—lifting overall net exposure to the index.

In the U.K., FTSE 100 positioning has stayed mostly flat as traders hold their fire ahead of the government’s upcoming budget announcement.

Meanwhile, the Euro Stoxx 50 has been drifting lower for more than a month, though strategists note it still sits comfortably in bullish territory.

Flows in the European banking sector are dominated by long unwinding, indicating that investors are locking in profits after extended accumulation.