Category: Market News

Walker Crips Group plc (LSE:WCW) has accepted a recommended all-cash offer from PhillipCapital UK Ltd, which plans to acquire the company’s entire issued share capital. The deal places an equity value of roughly £5.96 million on Walker Crips, marking a substantial premium to its recent trading levels. The Independent Directors have unanimously backed the transaction, citing the potential for strengthened capabilities and improved competitiveness within the UK wealth management market, even as the firm navigates regulatory pressures and liquidity constraints.

Walker Crips continues to grapple with notable financial and operational headwinds, including falling revenues, weak cash flow, and persistent negative sentiment reflected in bearish technical trends. Its negative P/E ratio underscores ongoing valuation challenges. Restoring operational efficiency and stabilizing cash generation remain critical priorities for the company’s near-term financial recovery.

More about Walker Crips

Walker Crips Group plc is a long-standing participant in the UK wealth management sector, offering investment management services and structured financial products. The firm is recognized for its established brand and loyal client base, built over decades of market presence.

Alien Metals Ltd (LSE:UFO), working alongside joint-venture partner West Coast Silver Limited, has reported encouraging findings from the Phase 2 diamond drilling campaign at the Elizabeth Hill Silver Project in Western Australia. The latest holes encountered new zones of shallow, high-grade silver outside the areas historically mined, pointing to a larger mineralized system than previously understood. These results add momentum to the project’s development prospects and further solidify Alien Metals’ standing within the exploration and mining sector.

More about Alien Metals Ltd

Alien Metals Ltd is an exploration and development company listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. Its primary focus is advancing a direct-shipping iron ore operation at the Hancock project in Western Australia. The company also maintains exposure to PGM and gold assets, along with an expanding portfolio of silver exploration projects.

EnSilica plc (LSE:ENSI) has landed a $1.4 million purchase order to continue development of a satellite payload ASIC for a major global satellite services provider. The award builds on an earlier feasibility study and is expected to contribute to FY26 revenue. Should the program proceed into full deployment, EnSilica notes the opportunity could translate into several million dollars of additional business over the coming years. The contract reinforces the company’s standing as a key independent supplier of complex communications ASICs, supported by deep capabilities in advanced digital signal processing and RF technologies.

The company’s broader outlook reflects a blend of opportunity and caution. Strategic contract wins and an improving cash-flow profile point to meaningful growth potential. At the same time, ongoing losses and a negative P/E continue to pressure valuation metrics. While technical trends indicate steady, if moderate, positive momentum, EnSilica’s corporate developments remain the primary driver of its forward-looking narrative.

More about EnSilica PLC

EnSilica plc is a fabless semiconductor design specialist focused on custom ASIC development and supply for OEMs and system integrators. Its expertise spans RF, mmWave, mixed-signal, and digital ICs, serving global clients across automotive, industrial, medical, and communications markets. Headquartered near Oxford in the UK, the company operates design centers in the UK, India, Brazil, and Hungary.

Anemoi International Ltd (LSE:AMOI) reported solid gains from recent digital-asset disposals, marking a successful phase in the execution of its Crypto Treasury Management Strategy. The company realized a 12% return from divesting its full position in IB1T and booked a 17.1% gain from selling more than 80% of its BTGD holdings, all within a six-month window. Management highlighted these results as evidence of its disciplined approach to portfolio optimization and its ability to respond quickly to evolving crypto-market dynamics.

More about Anemoi International Limited

Anemoi International Ltd operates within the financial sector with a core emphasis on crypto treasury management. Its activities center on overseeing, allocating, and optimizing cryptocurrency holdings to capture value and improve overall portfolio performance.

Rainbow Rare Earths (LSE:RBW) says a sharp rise in yttrium prices has meaningfully strengthened the value proposition of its Phalaborwa project, where yttrium is part of the SEG+ mixed rare-earth product. Based on current pricing, the company estimates the uplift could contribute roughly $30 million in annual EBITDA. The surge stems largely from Chinese export restrictions that have tightened global supply and disrupted downstream markets. With its relatively low capital requirements and strategically important output, Phalaborwa is increasingly positioned as a high-margin rare-earth supplier outside China.

Despite the project’s growing strategic appeal, Rainbow Rare Earths’ overall outlook is tempered by continued losses and the absence of revenue, which heighten financial risk. Even so, technical indicators point to solid upside momentum, suggesting investor optimism around the company’s key development assets. While the valuation remains difficult to gauge given negative earnings, progress on Phalaborwa and other future-facing projects provides a degree of forward-looking support.

More about Rainbow Rare Earths

Rainbow Rare Earths is working to build an independent, responsibly sourced supply chain for rare earth elements—materials essential to clean energy technologies. The company is advancing a novel approach that extracts rare earths from phosphogypsum, a by-product of phosphoric acid production, offering faster and lower-cost routes to output than conventional mining. Its primary developments include the Phalaborwa Project in South Africa and the Uberaba Project in Brazil, both targeting the production of rare earth oxides used in high-performance magnet applications across advanced industries.

AstraZeneca (LSE:AZN) is moving ahead with a sweeping $2 billion expansion of its Maryland manufacturing footprint, a project expected to create roughly 2,600 jobs and reinforce the resilience of the U.S. medicine supply chain. The plan centers on upgrading the company’s biologics hub in Frederick while adding a cutting-edge production site in Gaithersburg, both slated to come online by 2029. The initiative forms part of AstraZeneca’s broader, multiyear $50 billion investment strategy to scale R&D and medicine manufacturing and to speed patient access to next-generation treatments.

The company’s latest guidance remains supported by strong revenue momentum, expanding margins, and continued commercial traction across priority markets. Management’s upbeat commentary on the earnings call underscored confidence in its long-term strategy. Even so, AstraZeneca’s premium valuation and ongoing attention to cash-flow discipline provide modest counterweights to an otherwise constructive outlook.

More about AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, UK, focused on discovering and delivering innovative prescription medicines. Its portfolio spans Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceutical therapies, including cardiovascular, renal and metabolic conditions, and respiratory and immunology. The company’s medicines reach patients in more than 125 countries.

U.S. stock futures are signaling a robust start to Thursday’s session, with markets preparing to build on the momentum seen late Wednesday.

The positive tone is largely attributed to the much-anticipated quarterly update from Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), which delivered another standout performance and offered guidance that surpassed already-elevated expectations.

Nvidia shares are up 5.1% in premarket trading after the chip designer unveiled third-quarter numbers comfortably ahead of forecasts, along with an outlook that reassured investors concerned about overstretched valuations in the AI sector.

The results helped ease worries that the recent selloff in tech signaled the beginnings of an AI-driven market bubble.

“Nvidia’s results had the potential to be a make-or-break moment for global financial markets,” said Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell. “Any disappointment could have fuelled concerns around an AI bubble poised to burst.”

“Fortunately, Nvidia has brought the party back to life, with suggestions that everything is hunky dory with all things AI,” he added. “Demand for its products remains strong, and chief executive Jensen Huang continues to talk up AI like it’s the best thing since sliced bread.”

Futures remained firmly higher after the release of the long-delayed September U.S. jobs report, which showed a far stronger hiring pace than economists projected.

Nonfarm payrolls jumped by 119,000, reversing a revised decline of 4,000 jobs in August. Economists had penciled in just 50,000 new positions.

The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4% from 4.3%, defying expectations for a steady reading.

Solid hiring may help counter concerns about the health of the economy, but it also adds to speculation that the Federal Reserve may hold off on another rate cut at its December meeting.

On Wednesday, U.S. equities swung throughout the session before ending modestly higher. The Nasdaq gained 131.38 points, or 0.6%, to 22,564.23 after an early surge of nearly 1.7%. The S&P 500 added 24.84 points (+0.4%) to 6,642.16, while the Dow finished up 47.03 points (+0.1%) at 46,138.77.

Early buying appeared to reflect bargain hunting after several days of steep declines that pushed the major averages to one-month lows. But enthusiasm faded as traders turned cautious ahead of Nvidia’s results.

Nvidia had already advanced 2.9% Wednesday before the earnings release, rebounding from its weakest close in nearly a month.

Investor uncertainty also lingered after the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting minutes revealed wide disagreements about the direction of interest rates. Officials expressed “strongly differing views” on what the December 9–10 policy decision should be.

While most policymakers still expect rates to move lower over time, several questioned whether a December cut was appropriate. Others said a cut could be justified depending on how economic data evolves, while “many participants” leaned toward keeping policy steady through year-end.

Chip-related stocks were among the strongest performers on Wednesday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rising 1.8% from recent lows. Gold miners also advanced, as shown by a 1.2% increase in the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index.

Energy stocks moved the opposite direction, dropping sharply alongside crude oil and pulling the NYSE Arca Oil Index down 1.7%.

European markets traded broadly higher on Thursday, lifted by Nvidia’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) strong quarterly results and upbeat outlook, which helped cool fears of an overheating AI sector.

The major indices moved firmly into positive territory: Germany’s DAX climbed 1.1%, France’s CAC 40 advanced 0.9%, and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 added 0.7%.

Tech stocks led the charge, with ASML Holding (EU:ASML) jumping almost 2% after investors responded positively to Nvidia’s numbers.

Valneva (EU:VLA) also surged after the French vaccine maker reaffirmed its upgraded full-year guidance alongside improved nine-month revenue.

Airbus (EU:AIR) traded higher as well, after initiating the second tranche of its previously announced share buyback program.

Halma (LSE:HLMA) posted one of the session’s stronger gains, with shares rising sharply following record first-half results and an upgraded full-year outlook.

Wind turbine manufacturer Nordex (TG:NDX1) climbed after securing a new contract for 12 N133/4.8 turbines for Ireland’s Drumnahough Wind Farm.

AstraZeneca (LSE:AZN) also advanced after the FDA expanded the approved use of its drug Koselugo to adult patients.

Not all stocks participated in the rally.

Mitie Group (LSE:MTO) fell after announcing the acquisition of a specialist engineering firm.

Johnson Matthey (LSE:JMAT) dropped following changes to its leadership structure and a decline in interim earnings.

JD Sports (LSE:JD.) also traded sharply lower after cutting its profit forecast.

Nationwide Building Society (LSE:NBS) reported lower statutory profit before tax for the six months to 30 September, posting £486 million compared with £568 million a year earlier, after factoring in £409 million in Fairer Share payments made to members.

On an underlying basis, however, profit before tax rose to £977 million from £959 million, supported by stronger income following the acquisition of Virgin Money.

Total underlying income increased to £3.11 billion from £2.13 billion in the comparable period, driven by growth across mortgages and retail deposits as well as the contribution from Virgin Money.
The mutual lender’s underlying net interest margin improved to 1.58%, up from 1.50%. Administrative costs rose sharply to £1.99 billion from £1.16 billion, reflecting the longer reporting period and expenses linked to integrating Virgin Money.

Chief executive Dame Debbie Crosbie said Nationwide was “number one for growth in mortgages and retail deposits”, noting that more customers had switched their current accounts to the society than to any other provider. “All of this, combined with the benefits of our acquisition of Virgin Money, has led to an increase in underlying profit before tax, while delivering £1.2 billion of value to our members,” she added.

Net mortgage lending came in at £4.7 billion, down from £6.3 billion the previous year, although overall mortgage balances rose to £280.6 billion from £275.9 billion — lifting Nationwide’s share of the mortgage market to 16.3%.

Gross mortgage lending climbed to £22.2 billion compared with £17.6 billion a year earlier, reflecting the consolidation of Virgin Money loans. Mortgage arrears of more than three months remained low at 0.42%, slightly under the 0.43% reported in March.

Retail deposits grew by £5.3 billion to £266 billion, keeping Nationwide’s market share at 12.2%. Business current accounts increased to 292,000 from 278,000 in March.

According to the society, its retail deposit interest rates were on average 31% higher than the wider market during the period. Internal switching data showed the group has attracted more than one million net current account switchers since 2013.

Impairment charges rose sharply to £146 million from £7 million, reflecting Virgin Money’s lending exposure as well as the absence of a £40 million release recorded a year earlier. Total impairment provisions increased to £1.31 billion.

Consumer lending balances grew to £11.5 billion, with arrears more than three months past due falling to 0.99% from 1.11%. Business and commercial lending eased slightly to £14.9 billion from £15.1 billion.

Chief financial officer Muir Mathieson said the group achieved “market-leading growth” alongside a “strong financial performance,” highlighting a CET1 ratio of 18.4% and a 5.2% leverage ratio, both described as “robust.”

Nationwide said the integration of Virgin Money was progressing ahead of schedule. The group has agreed to sell Virgin Money’s investments and pensions arm and is preparing for the Part VII transfer of Clydesdale Bank PLC’s assets and liabilities on April 2, 2026, which will involve around 6.6 million customers. System migrations are planned to begin after the transfer.

The lender noted that UK economic growth remained modest but said the housing and savings markets were showing resilience. It also reported strong capital, liquidity and credit quality, including an average Liquidity Coverage Ratio of 163% during the period.

Gold prices eased on Thursday during Asian trading hours, pulling back after two days of gains as traders sharply dialed down the likelihood of a Federal Reserve rate cut next month.

Improved risk sentiment, boosted by upbeat quarterly results from Nvidia Corp., reduced immediate appetite for safe-haven assets. With investors now waiting for the delayed U.S. nonfarm payrolls report, momentum in the gold market softened.

Lingering worries over rising government spending in major economies provided some underlying support for the metal. Higher Japanese government bond yields and escalating diplomatic friction between China and Japan also helped maintain some haven demand.

Spot gold slipped 0.2% to $4,070.27 per ounce, while December futures declined 0.3% to $4,069.09 by 00:15 ET (05:15 GMT).

Gold Rally Takes a Breather as Rate-Cut Odds Shrink

Bullion’s run higher stalled after gaining more than 1% over the previous two sessions.
The pause followed a sharp reassessment of the chances that the Fed will cut rates when it meets on December 10–11.

Minutes from the central bank’s October meeting revealed widening disagreement among policymakers about further easing, prompting investors to scale back expectations.
CME’s FedWatch tool now shows only a 21.5% probability of a 25-basis-point cut — nearly half of the 42.4% odds priced in just a day earlier.

A prolonged government shutdown has delayed key economic data releases, meaning the Fed will head into December’s meeting with limited new information to guide its decision.
Higher-for-longer U.S. rates typically weigh on gold, which does not generate income.

Among other precious metals, spot platinum rose 0.8% to $1,560.13 per ounce, while spot silver was steady at $51.3415 per ounce.

Markets Turn to Jobs Data for Fresh Direction

The next major event for traders will be the long-delayed September nonfarm payrolls report, due later on Thursday.
Although the data arrives too late to heavily influence December’s policy outcome, it will still provide insight into the direction of the U.S. labor market.

The shutdown-related delays mean October’s payroll report will likely never be released, adding further uncertainty.

Private-sector indicators and weekly jobless claims suggest the labor market continues to weaken gradually — a trend that could eventually justify looser monetary policy.
However, sticky inflation is expected to limit how aggressively the Fed can respond.