Category: Market News

Clean Power Hydrogen PLC (LSE:CPH2) has entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding with ABE Gruppe, part of BKW Infra Services Europa, to explore a long-term partnership covering up to 175MW of membrane-free electrolyser capacity. The agreement spans potential supply, installation, commissioning, and maintenance over the next ten years, targeting deployment across Germany, Switzerland, and other markets served by BKW and ABE.

The collaboration is aimed at rolling out CPH2’s technology to renewable energy producers, industrial operators, and sectors including healthcare, life sciences, mobility, and data centres. It also aligns with Germany’s national hydrogen ambitions and could help position the company within the expanding decentralised green hydrogen market.

By tapping into BKW’s established infrastructure and customer network, the partnership seeks to unlock value from excess renewable generation while improving efficiency in hydrogen- and oxygen-intensive processes. The agreement highlights increasing interest in CPH2’s proposition of lower lifetime costs alongside high-purity hydrogen and oxygen output. Should the MoU translate into firm contracts, it could significantly grow the company’s installed base and generate recurring maintenance revenues over time.

Despite these strategic developments, the company’s outlook remains pressured by weak financial performance, including minimal revenue, widening losses, and ongoing cash burn that has eroded its equity base. Technical indicators show some positive momentum and an upward trend, though a high RSI suggests potential for near-term pullback. Valuation remains difficult to justify given continued losses and the absence of dividend visibility.

More about Clean Power Hydrogen PLC

Clean Power Hydrogen PLC is an AIM-listed developer of membrane-free electrolyser systems designed to produce high-purity hydrogen alongside medical-grade oxygen. Its patented technology is geared toward decentralised applications, including renewable energy capture, wastewater treatment, backup power for data centres, and use cases in healthcare, life sciences, and heavy-duty transport.

URU Metals (LSE:URU) has completed a detailed ground gravity survey across its high-priority Targets 1 and 2 at the Zeb Nickel Project, with results closely aligning with previously identified airborne electromagnetic and magnetic anomalies. The higher-resolution dataset highlights overlapping dense and conductive zones, interpreted as strong indicators of semi-massive to massive nickel sulphide mineralisation, reinforcing confidence in the project’s magmatic conduit model.

These results strengthen the technical basis for upcoming drilling by sharpening target definition. The data will also inform a planned frequency-domain electromagnetic survey aimed at further refining conductive zones before drilling begins. Located near Ivanplats’ major Platreef development, Zeb Nickel benefits from its position within a significant nickel and platinum group metals district, and the encouraging geophysical results may improve its attractiveness to potential investors and strategic partners.

The company’s outlook remains constrained by weak financial fundamentals, including its pre-revenue status, continued cash burn, and negative equity position. Technical indicators are also subdued, with a negative MACD signal and share price trading below key short-term averages. However, recent developments—such as securing a mining right and completing an oversubscribed financing—offer some support.

More about URU Metals

URU Metals is focused on the exploration and development of critical metals projects in South Africa. The company is advancing assets such as the Zeb Nickel Project, located on the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Complex, while maintaining a focus on responsible mining practices, regulatory adherence, and stakeholder engagement.

Europa Oil & Gas (LSE:EOG) said that North Yorkshire Council’s planning committee is inclined to refuse its application to drill a well at Burniston within the Cloughton prospect, despite planning officers previously recommending approval after a detailed review. A final determination is still subject to the Secretary of State’s decision on whether a formal environmental screening opinion is necessary, although the company has already submitted such an assessment voluntarily.

Europa expressed disappointment with the committee’s position and confirmed it will move forward with an appeal once the final recommendation is issued, maintaining confidence that approval can ultimately be secured. The company pointed to the earlier Wressle project—which was approved on appeal and is now said to have local backing—as an example of how operations can be carried out responsibly while delivering economic benefits to the surrounding community. Management argues the Burniston well aligns with both regional and national energy priorities.

The group’s outlook remains under pressure due to weak financial performance, including notable declines in revenue and profitability. That said, supportive corporate developments and some constructive technical signals suggest the possibility of improvement ahead. While valuation metrics currently reflect ongoing unprofitability, insider sentiment and strategic progress provide a degree of optimism.

More about Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings)

Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings) plc is an AIM-listed exploration, development, and production company with a focus on oil and gas assets across West Africa, the UK, and Ireland. The company pursues upstream opportunities in these regions, aiming to advance key projects such as Cloughton and Wressle toward production and long-term cash generation.

Vanquis Banking Group (LSE:VANQ) confirmed it will not challenge the Financial Conduct Authority’s Motor Finance Redress Schemes and is now focused on meeting the implementation requirements. The lender noted that it has not engaged in discretionary commission models or tied selling practices, meaning key elements of the scheme are not relevant to its business.

Vanquis added that its previously announced £3.0 million provision for potential motor finance compensation remains unchanged, indicating that the overall financial impact is expected to be modest. The group reaffirmed its intention to compensate customers appropriately where losses have occurred and said it will provide a further update in its first-quarter 2026 trading statement on 6 May.

While earnings recovery is becoming more evident, the company’s outlook continues to be constrained by relatively high balance-sheet leverage and subdued technical momentum. Support comes from earnings guidance and capital resilience, but valuation concerns—particularly a high price-to-earnings ratio—alongside execution and credit risks, continue to weigh on investor confidence.

More about Vanquis Banking Group

Vanquis Banking Group is a UK-based specialist lender that focuses on customers with non-standard credit histories. Its product range includes credit cards, personal loans, and related financial services, catering to segments of the retail banking market that are often underserved by traditional lenders.

In the world of mineral exploration, milestones like permits and approvals often mark the beginning, not the end, of real progress. That theme came through clearly in a recent discussion with Tristan Pottas, CEO of First Development Resources(LSE:FDR), who shared an optimistic and forward-looking update on the company’s Selta project.

With the Notice of Authority now secured, the company has officially cleared a critical regulatory hurdle, paving the way for drilling at Ladner West. As Pottas emphasized, responsible exploration begins with compliance, and reaching this stage reflects both diligence and discipline. More importantly, it signals the transition into what many investors consider the most exciting phase: drilling.

What stands out in First Development Resources’ approach is the depth of preparation leading up to this moment. Months of technical work, integrating geophysical techniques with historical geochemical data, have been carefully layered to identify high-priority targets. This data-driven strategy is designed to reduce uncertainty and maximize the likelihood of meaningful discoveries. By focusing on “coincident anomalies,” where multiple datasets point to the same conclusion, the company is positioning itself to drill with precision and confidence.

Pottas conveyed clear enthusiasm about what lies ahead, highlighting that drilling is where exploration truly comes to life. Should the program yield positive results, it could represent a significant inflection point for the business, one that has the potential to unlock substantial value.

Beyond the immediate drilling campaign, the Selta project offers another compelling advantage: multicommodity exposure. With targets spanning gold, lithium, rare earth elements, and base metals, the project provides both diversity and strategic flexibility. In a market where different commodities cycle in and out of favor, this breadth allows the company to adapt and pursue multiple opportunities simultaneously.

Gold continues to serve as a traditional safe haven, while lithium’s resurgence and the long-term importance of rare earth elements in modern technologies underscore the relevance of Selta’s resource mix. The identification of nine distinct targets further strengthens the project’s potential, offering multiple pathways for discovery and development.

Ultimately, First Development Resources is entering a dynamic and active phase. Backed by robust technical groundwork and a diversified commodity portfolio, the Selta project is well-positioned to generate sustained interest and, potentially, significant long-term value.

As Tristan Pottas made clear, the groundwork has been laid, now it’s time for the drills to turn.

For more information visit – https://firstdevelopmentresources.com/

Shares in Ubisoft (EU:UBI) dropped more than 4% on Thursday after the group revealed that Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced will be released on July 9, marking its first major launch since a January profit warning that pushed the stock to a multi-year low.

The updated version of the 2013 pirate-themed game, largely developed by Ubisoft Singapore, will include enhanced graphics, additional gameplay elements and an expanded narrative.

“Resynced is the story you know and love from the original Black Flag, but the teams at Ubisoft have added brand-new content and enhancements across the experience,” the company said.

The title will be priced at €59.99 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

Restructuring Efforts Continue

The announcement comes as Ubisoft continues to implement a broad restructuring plan unveiled in January, which included the cancellation of six projects.

The Paris-based publisher said it intends to reorganise its operations into five creative divisions structured by genre, as it looks to streamline costs and refocus its strategy following a period of underperformance and underwhelming releases.

Wishbone Gold Plc (AQSE:WSBN) announced it has raised gross proceeds of £1.1m in an institutional placing facilitated and arranged by Marex Financial.Read more

Sulnox Group PLC (AQSE:SNOX)secured its second patent in Hong Kong, covering technology with applications in the maritime industry’s management of “ships’ slops” — hydrocarbon-rich waste generated through tank cleaning, fuel purification and ballast water operations.

Ben Richardson, CEO of Sulnox, commented:

“This second Hong Kong patent is an important extension of our intellectual property, both in the critical Asian market generally, and in fuel reclamation specifically, supporting a sizeable revenue opportunity in the global maritime industry for tackling the issue of slops.”Read more

Connecting Excellence Group PLC (AQSE:XCE)announced the purchase of 10 Bitcoin at a total value of £585,000. The Company also secured a commitment from a strategic investor through a subscription, raising gross proceeds of £585,500. The proceeds will be used to support the expansion of the group’s Bitcoin treasury. Read more

Oil prices pushed higher on Friday amid renewed concerns over escalating military activity in the Middle East, after Iran released footage showing commandos boarding a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz and reports indicated its air defences had engaged “hostile targets.”

Brent crude futures rose 99 cents, or 0.94%, to $106.06 per barrel at 0410 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 71 cents, or 0.73%, to $96.56.

For the week, Brent advanced 17.13% and WTI climbed 15.13%, marking the second-largest weekly rise since the conflict began.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the onset of hostilities between the U.S., Israel and Iran has disrupted roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows.

Both benchmarks had already jumped more than 3% on Thursday, rising about $5 per barrel after reports of air defence systems engaging targets over Tehran and signs of internal divisions between hardline and moderate factions in Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran may have increased its weapons stockpile “a little bit” during the two-week ceasefire, but added that U.S. forces could neutralise it within a day.

Haitong Futures said the current ceasefire increasingly resembles a staging phase for renewed conflict. The firm warned that if U.S.-Iran negotiations fail to produce meaningful progress by the end of April and fighting resumes, oil prices could move to fresh highs for the year.

Iran on Thursday released footage it said showed commandos boarding a large cargo ship following the breakdown of peace talks, reinforcing its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route through which around 20% of global oil and gas typically flows.

As markets and policymakers look for a lasting resolution, Trump said he would not set a “timetable” for ending the conflict with Iran and emphasised his aim of securing “a great deal.”

“Don’t rush me,” he said when asked how long he was prepared to wait for a comprehensive peace agreement with Tehran.

Analysts caution that extended disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could push global inventories of crude and refined fuels below five-year seasonal averages by late May or early June, reintroducing a supply risk premium into oil markets, according to Mingyu Gao, chief researcher for energy and chemicals at China Futures.

Separately, Trump said in a social media post that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks after high-level discussions at the White House.

“The Meeting went very well! The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned militant group engaged in fighting with Israel, was not present at the talks and maintains that it has “the right to resist” occupying forces.

Trump added that he expects to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the near future.

Prior to that announcement, Israel had warned it was prepared to resume military operations against Iran.