Category: Market News

Seeing Machines Limited (LSE:SEE) reported robust growth in its Driver and Occupant Monitoring System (DMS/OMS) technology, with more than 4.2 million vehicles now equipped globally — a 62% increase from the prior year. Despite persistent headwinds in the automotive industry caused by tariffs and trade tensions, the company achieved a 4% sequential increase in quarterly production. Growth was largely driven by rising installation rates as automakers prepare for forthcoming European safety regulations. Although Guardian hardware sales came in below expectations in Q1 FY2026, Seeing Machines anticipates a rebound in Q2 supported by new customer orders and ongoing contract activity. Management remains confident in meeting full-year production goals and reaching a cashflow break-even run rate by year-end.

In a major development, the company secured a landmark order from a leading US multinational for its Guardian Generation 3 technology. The agreement includes the installation of 1,100 units by December 2025, with potential for further expansion in 2026. The deal reinforces Seeing Machines’ strong presence in North America and demonstrates the growing adoption of its fatigue management systems, which have been shown to reduce fatigue-related driving incidents by over 94%.

While Seeing Machines’ revenue growth and strategic positioning remain key strengths, the company continues to face profitability pressures, valuation headwinds, and execution risks tied to delayed sales and market expansion timelines.

More about Seeing Machines

Seeing Machines Limited, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Australia, is a global leader in vision-based monitoring technology. The company develops AI-driven systems designed to improve safety across Automotive, Commercial Fleet, Off-road, and Aviation sectors. Its proprietary technology integrates AI algorithms, optics, and embedded processing to deliver real-time insights into driver and operator behavior, helping reduce fatigue and enhance transport safety worldwide.

Empire Metals Limited (LSE:EEE) has commenced a diamond drilling program at the Thomas Prospect within its Pitfield Project in Western Australia. The new campaign targets a high-grade TiO₂-rich core identified in earlier exploration and forms part of the company’s plan to expand the project’s Mineral Resource Estimate. Supported by a recent £7 million capital raise and existing cash reserves, the drilling initiative will also fund ongoing development studies and future resource expansion phases.

Strategically positioned to meet the growing global demand for titanium, the Pitfield Project represents a key step in Empire Metals’ transition toward pilot-scale production. The company plans to deliver high-purity TiO₂ product samples to potential end users as part of its broader commercialization strategy.

More about Empire Metals

Empire Metals Ltd (AIM: EEE; OTCQX: EPMLF) is an exploration and resource development company focused on fast-tracking the commercialisation of its Pitfield Titanium Project in Western Australia. Hosting one of the world’s largest and highest-grade titanium deposits—estimated at 2.2 billion tonnes grading 5.1% TiO₂—the project is well supported by strong logistics and infrastructure. Empire Metals aims to produce premium-grade titanium metal and pigment products to serve the expanding global titanium market.

London BTC Company Limited (LSE:BTC) reported strong operational progress over the past six months, despite continued volatility in UK-listed Bitcoin equities. The firm has expanded its mining operations in North America, significantly increasing its Bitcoin holdings while maintaining a debt-free balance sheet. With Bitcoin trading near the $100,000 mark, the company is focused on capitalizing on its enhanced mining capacity to drive future revenue growth.

As part of its strategic roadmap, London BTC Company plans to pursue a dual listing on Nasdaq to complement its London Stock Exchange presence. The move is aimed at broadening investor access, supporting sustainable financing, and reinforcing its long-term growth objectives. The company is also diversifying its income streams through renewable energy-powered mining and considering investments in gold assets as a hedge against Bitcoin price volatility.

More about London BTC Company Limited

London BTC Company Limited is a UK-based cryptocurrency firm specializing in Bitcoin mining and asset acquisition. Operating decentralized mining sites across North America, the company focuses on building a strong Bitcoin treasury and providing investors with direct exposure to Bitcoin’s underlying economics. Its operations leverage favorable regulatory and energy environments to maximize efficiency and growth potential.

Franchise Brands plc (LSE:FRAN) delivered a resilient performance in the third quarter, remaining on track to achieve full-year adjusted EBITDA targets despite a challenging macroeconomic backdrop. The company continued to advance its “One Franchise Brands” integration strategy, improving operational efficiency and supporting healthy cash generation and debt reduction. Performance across divisions was mixed, with solid demand in essential services and notable growth momentum from Filta North America. Ongoing IT initiatives are expected to enhance competitiveness from 2026 onward, positioning the group for sustained expansion.

Financially, Franchise Brands continues to demonstrate strength through robust revenue growth and healthy profitability margins. While technical indicators show a mildly bearish trend and momentum signals remain neutral, the company’s fundamentals are sound. Valuation remains on the higher side, suggesting limited short-term upside, though operational progress and strategic execution provide longer-term potential.

More about Franchise Brands

Franchise Brands plc is an international multi-brand franchising group specializing in B2B van-based services. Operating seven franchise brands across 10 countries, including the UK, North America, and Europe, the company supports approximately 600 franchisees with shared resources in technology, marketing, and finance. Its leading brands include Pirtek, Filta, Metro Rod, and Metro Plumb, reflecting a diverse and resilient business model.

Castings PLC (LSE:CGS) reported a modest drop in revenue for the six months ended September 2025 but delivered higher profit before tax, in line with management’s expectations. The company successfully commissioned a new foundry production line, increasing its manufacturing capacity and strengthening its position to pursue growth in new markets. While demand from the heavy truck segment softened, Castings PLC continues to maintain a resilient balance sheet and is well-positioned to leverage opportunities across the US and other emerging sectors.

Financially, the group remains stable, with profit growth underscoring operational efficiency despite softer sales. Technical indicators point to short-term bearish sentiment, and recent corporate developments highlight ongoing pressures in demand and margins. Nevertheless, the company’s appealing valuation and strong dividend yield continue to offer potential value for investors.

More about Castings

Castings PLC is a UK-based manufacturer specializing in iron castings and machined components. The heavy truck sector accounts for roughly 75% of its turnover, though the company is diversifying into new markets such as wind energy, electric vehicle components, and infrastructure-related projects.

The week kicked off on an upbeat note for the markets. 

What initially appeared to be the start of a correction in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq barely took off. Buoyed by hopes of a quick end to the record US government shutdown and Trump’s tweet hinting at “dividends” for Americans financed by trade tariffs, sentiment had already returned to risk-on by Monday.

But how solid are these drivers in the long term?

Starting with Trump’s proposal of an equivalent to helicopter money, “saying it doesn’t mean doing it.” Some suggest it may have been aimed more at boosting market confidence — and perhaps bolstering his own declining popularity — than signaling real action. Optimism based purely on expectations could be fleeting.

Given the fact that tariffs are basically an import tax, borne mainly by U.S. companies and consumers, what Trump called a “dividend” is more like government-backed cashback. The inflationary pressures that come with tariffs will not disappear.  Markets would gain much more confidence if tariffs were actually eliminated. 

As for the shutdown, Democrats caved, and the Senate passed a bill to end the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The bill, pending House approval, would fund the government through January 30, 2026, reinstate furloughed employees, and guarantee back pay. Most of this is likely already priced in by the market.

So, have the markets peaked?

That depends on how circumstances evolve. Optimism is also riding on hopes for a more dovish Fed amid a cooling labor market. In October, U.S. companies cut 153,000 jobs, almost triple last year’s number. Tech and logistics layoffs pushed total job losses in 2025 past one million, the highest since the pandemic.

If Fed members signal in upcoming speeches that a larger rate cut may be necessary at the December meeting, it could boost not only gold prices but also overall market sentiment. On the other hand, if they insist that more data is needed before taking action, risk appetite could cool, punishing risky assets.

U.S. stocks traded mostly lower on Tuesday, as investors took a breather following a strong rally in technology names and growing optimism that Washington is close to ending the nation’s longest-ever government shutdown.

At 09:35 ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained around 80 points (0.2%), while the S&P 500 slipped 10 points (0.2%) and the NASDAQ Composite dropped 102 points (0.4%).

Lawmakers Move to End the Shutdown

The U.S. Senate passed a spending bill late Monday to reopen the federal government, sending it to the House of Representatives for a vote after eight Democrats joined Republicans to break the deadlock.

The measure is expected to clear the House and head to President Donald Trump for final approval, officially ending the historic 41-day shutdown, which has disrupted key sectors and is likely to have weighed on fourth-quarter GDP.

“The shutdown resolution (even though the government won’t actually reopen for several more days) is clearly a positive, and many feel it gives a bright green light for the much-anticipated year-end rally to finally commence,” analysts at Vital Knowledge said in a note.

The news helped Wall Street extend its rebound on Monday, led by sharp gains in artificial intelligence heavyweights Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Palantir (NASDAQ:PLTR).

UBS Sees the S&P 500 Reaching 7,500 in 2026

With most of the third-quarter earnings season complete, investor attention is shifting toward 2026 growth forecasts.

UBS expects the S&P 500 to climb to 7,500 by the end of next year, up from the current level near 5,830, fueled by “around 14% earnings growth,” nearly half of which should come from technology stocks.

In a research note Monday, UBS strategists said the global economy “is poised to accelerate in 2026” as confidence improves and fiscal stimulus measures take hold.

Still, they cautioned that major economies will have to “navigate a soft patch, with tariffs still feeding through to prices and exports” in the near term.

UBS forecasts roughly 10% market returns in 2026, driven primarily by earnings growth rather than higher valuations.

Corporate Movers: CoreWeave, Paramount, Rocket Lab, TheRealReal

CoreWeave (NASDAQ:CRWV) fell after revealing a delay at a third-party data center partner, overshadowing otherwise strong quarterly results. The Nvidia-backed AI cloud firm has recently secured multibillion-dollar deals with OpenAI and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) to expand its reach in the booming AI infrastructure market.

Paramount Skydance (NASDAQ:PSKY) rose after the entertainment group announced plans to cut an additional $1 billion in costs, adding to the $2 billion in savings outlined following its August merger.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB) gained after reporting a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss, while TheRealReal (NASDAQ:REAL) jumped 15% after raising its full-year revenue guidance and posting better-than-expected Q3 sales.

Oil Prices Extend Gains

Oil prices edged higher as traders reacted to progress in ending the shutdown, which could boost demand expectations.

Brent crude climbed 1.1% to $64.78 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) advanced 1.2% to $60.85 a barrel.

However, concerns about potential oversupply linger. OPEC+ recently agreed to raise production targets by 137,000 barrels per day for December, matching October and November levels, before pausing increases in early 2026.

Oil prices declined in Asian trading on Tuesday, pressured by persistent oversupply worries that overshadowed both optimism about a potential end to the U.S. government shutdown and uncertainty surrounding new U.S. sanctions on Russian oil majors Rosneft and Lukoil.

By 07:17 GMT, Brent crude futures were down 27 cents, or 0.4%, to $63.79 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) slipped 27 cents, or 0.5%, to $59.86. Both benchmarks had added roughly 40 cents in the previous session.

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history could end this week after the Senate passed a funding compromise. The measure now heads to the House of Representatives, where Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed a desire to approve it by Wednesday.

Although the prospect of the government reopening has broadly lifted market sentiment, crude prices remain capped by growing concerns over global supply gluts.

“As OPEC production increases grind on, global oil balances are acquiring an increasingly bearish hue on the supply side of the ledger with demand still trending lower in conjunction with a slowed economic growth path among major oil-consuming countries,” analysts at Ritterbusch and Associates said in a note.

Earlier this month, OPEC+ agreed to raise December output targets by 137,000 barrels per day, maintaining the same pace as in October and November, while also deciding to pause production hikes during the first quarter of next year.

The sustained rise in OPEC output has reinforced a bearish tone among investors, though attention remains fixed on U.S. sanctions against Russian energy firms. ANZ analysts noted that the latest measures under President Donald Trump’s administration could further disrupt markets.

Sources told Reuters that Lukoil declared force majeure at Iraq’s West Qurna-2 oil field and that Bulgaria was preparing to seize the company’s Burgas refinery, marking the most significant fallout yet from sanctions imposed last month.

Meanwhile, analysts reported that oil stored on ships in Asian waters has doubled in recent weeks, as tighter Western sanctions reduced exports to China and India, while import quota limits curbed Chinese demand. Some refiners in both countries have shifted toward Middle Eastern and alternative suppliers.

One potential challenge to oil’s bearish outlook “is the extent to which China will continue to push Russian supplies into strategic stockpiles and whether India will succumb to Trump’s suggestions that the country defer further purchases from Russia,” Ritterbusch added.

Gold prices advanced in Asian trading on Tuesday, climbing to their highest levels in nearly three weeks as investors sought safety amid uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policy, interest rates, and the lingering economic effects of the government shutdown. The recent strength of the dollar failed to dent demand for the precious metal, while signs of progress toward ending the shutdown did little to curb buying interest.

Spot gold rose 0.6% to $4,142.14 per ounce, while December gold futures gained 0.7% to $4,148.92 per ounce by 23:57 ET (04:57 GMT).

Gold Holds Strong Despite Rising Risk Appetite

Investors continued to favor gold even as risk sentiment improved slightly following progress in Washington, where lawmakers moved closer to resolving the longest U.S. government shutdown in history, now in its 41st day. The U.S. Senate approved a bill late Monday to restore federal funding, which will next be considered by the House of Representatives, where Republicans have signaled support.

The yellow metal has sharply rebounded above the key $4,000 per ounce mark, largely shrugging off pressure from a stronger U.S. currency. Analysts said the resilience of bullion reflects persistent caution about the broader economic and policy outlook.

Other precious metals followed gold higher: spot platinum added 0.7% to $1,587.48 per ounce, while spot silver climbed 0.9% to $50.97 per ounce.

Trade and Economic Jitters Boost Safe-Haven Demand

Analysts at ANZ said gold’s renewed strength was driven by safe-haven buying amid growing uncertainty around U.S. trade tariffs and the overall economic landscape. They pointed to recent developments in Washington, where the Supreme Court questioned the Trump administration’s use of an emergency act to enforce its tariff program — a move that could be ruled unconstitutional.

Trump warned on Monday evening that overturning his tariffs could cost the government more than $2 trillion in refunded duties.

“Whether or not the court rules Trump wrongly imposed tariffs by invoking the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, it is likely that there are other laws he can draw on if needed. In the meantime, the market is likely to face months of uncertainty with a ruling not expected before the end of the year,” ANZ analysts wrote in a note.

Economic data releases have been disrupted by the shutdown, leaving investors with limited visibility on the U.S. outlook. Traders have also been paring back expectations for another Federal Reserve rate cut in December, adding to the cautious tone in global markets.

U.S. stock futures traded slightly lower on Tuesday, as investors monitored developments in Washington after the U.S. Senate approved a bill to end the record-long federal government shutdown. Meanwhile, AI cloud provider CoreWeave (NASDAQ:CRWV) lowered its full-year revenue forecast, and SoftBank Group (USOTC:SFTBY) reported quarterly earnings that exceeded expectations.

Futures Weaken as Markets Eye Shutdown Resolution

U.S. stock futures hovered just below the flatline early Tuesday, with traders weighing the potential implications of the Senate’s vote to reopen the government.

By 02:42 ET, Dow futures were little changed, S&P 500 futures slipped 7 points (0.1%), and Nasdaq 100 futures declined 42 points (0.2%).

Major Wall Street indices closed higher on Monday, supported by optimism that lawmakers were nearing an agreement to end the historic government shutdown.

Analysts at Vital Knowledge noted that sentiment around the artificial intelligence sector remains strong, citing “bullish” expectations for upcoming results from major tech players, including Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA).

Still, uncertainty surrounds the path of Federal Reserve rate cuts this year, after one central bank official signaled on Monday that the scope for further reductions “is now limited.”

Senate Passes Bill to End Longest U.S. Government Shutdown

The U.S. Senate voted to send a spending bill to the House of Representatives, potentially ending the longest federal shutdown in U.S. history, after eight Democrats crossed party lines to support the measure.

Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress, are expected to continue backing the bill, which has received approval from the Trump administration.

The legislation will extend government funding through January 30, allocate a full year’s funding for the Agriculture Department, the legislative branch, and military construction, and ensure that laid-off federal workers are reinstated.

Some Democrats criticized members of their own party who supported the measure, arguing that any deal should include guarantees to lift deadlines that could impact healthcare coverage for millions of Americans. GOP leaders have pledged to hold a vote on the issue by mid-December.

Democrats have also accused President Donald Trump of using the shutdown to “deny food assistance and disrupt air travel” as a means of forcing negotiations, while administration officials defended the move as part of efforts to “cut spending and maintain aviation safety.”

CoreWeave Cuts Revenue Guidance Amid Data Center Delays

Shares of CoreWeave fell in extended trading after the Nvidia-backed AI cloud services firm reported a delay with a third-party data center partner, prompting a downward revision to its revenue forecast.

The company now expects fiscal 2025 revenue between $5.05 billion and $5.15 billion, down from prior guidance of $5.15 billion to $5.35 billion. Analysts surveyed by LSEG had projected $5.29 billion, according to Reuters.

Despite the guidance cut, CoreWeave reported stronger-than-expected third-quarter revenue of $1.36 billion, reflecting robust demand for AI cloud infrastructure. Adjusted operating income margin slipped to 16% from 21% a year earlier.

CFO Nitin Agrawal said the company plans to increase capital spending to strengthen its AI infrastructure, expecting to invest $12–14 billion in 2025.

“We remain focused on scaling our operations to meet accelerating demand,” Agrawal said, emphasizing the company’s continued partnership with OpenAI and Meta Platforms.

SoftBank Posts Strong Profit, Sells Nvidia Stake

SoftBank Group Corp. reported a sharply higher-than-expected fiscal second-quarter profit, driven by investment gains in its Vision Funds and continued exposure to artificial intelligence.

The Japanese conglomerate posted net profit attributable to shareholders of ¥2.502 trillion ($16.3 billion) for the July–September quarter, far exceeding Bloomberg estimates of ¥418.23 billion and more than doubling last year’s ¥1.179 trillion result.

SoftBank confirmed it sold its entire Nvidia stake (32.1 million shares) in October for $5.83 billion, though the sale was not reflected in its Q2 earnings and the company did not specify a reason for the divestment.

China Reportedly Plans Rare Earth Restrictions on U.S. Military

According to the Wall Street Journal, China is preparing to introduce a “validated end-user” system to restrict rare earth exports to companies tied to the U.S. military, while expediting shipments to civilian customers.

The plan aligns with President Xi Jinping’s recent pledge to President Donald Trump to resume rare earth exports to the U.S., though the new controls could make sourcing these materials more difficult for American firms serving both defense and civilian clients.

Rare earth elements are essential in electronics and defense manufacturing, and China, the world’s largest producer, continues to leverage its dominance in this sector amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States.