Category: Market News

Alien Metals Limited (LSE:UFO) has reported that its joint venture partner, West Coast Silver Limited, has confirmed the discovery of native silver and associated minerals in four out of five initial drill holes at the Elizabeth Hill Silver Project in Western Australia. The findings strengthen the project’s potential as a historically high-grade silver deposit and highlight new opportunities for further resource development. This confirmation is expected to enhance Alien Metals’ strategic position in the precious metals sector and create value for project stakeholders.

More about Alien Metals Ltd

Alien Metals Ltd is a mineral exploration and development company listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. The company’s key focus is advancing its Hancock iron ore project in Western Australia into a profitable direct shipping ore operation. It also holds interests in additional iron ore exploration projects and owns one of Australia’s largest platinum group metal deposits, Munni Munni. Through its joint venture with West Coast Silver Limited, Alien Metals is actively developing the Elizabeth Hill Silver Project.

capAI plc (LSE:CPAI) has begun trading its ordinary shares on the US OTCQB Venture Market under the ticker symbol ‘CPIQF’. The cross-listing is designed to strengthen the company’s international profile, boost liquidity, and attract a wider base of AI-focused investors in the United States. The move aligns with growing global interest in artificial intelligence and provides US investors with easier access to capAI’s shares through a transparent and regulated trading platform aimed at innovative growth companies.

More about capAI plc

capAI plc operates within the artificial intelligence sector, focusing on enhancing market visibility and investor accessibility for international businesses. By listing its shares on multiple markets, the company seeks to expand its global footprint and engage a broader investor community, particularly across the US.

Conduit Holdings Ltd (LSE:CRE) reported solid third-quarter 2025 results, including an 8.5% rise in gross premiums written and a 5.4% investment return over the first nine months of the year. The company is strategically repositioning parts of its portfolio to improve profitability and reduce volatility, emphasizing enhanced retrocession coverage. Conduit has also reinstated its share buyback program and strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Stephen Postlewhite as Chief Underwriting Officer. Looking ahead, the firm expects moderate growth amid evolving market conditions and will prioritize excess of loss reinsurance within its Property division.

While Conduit’s strong financial results and disciplined cash flow management underpin its solid fundamentals, a relatively high P/E ratio indicates potential valuation risks. Technical signals point to a neutral trend in the short term, though the company’s appealing dividend yield offers a counterbalance to these concerns.

More about Conduit Holdings Ltd

Conduit Holdings Ltd is a Bermuda-based reinsurance group operating as Conduit Re. It provides multi-line reinsurance solutions across Property, Casualty, and Specialty sectors. The company focuses on maintaining a high-quality investment portfolio and pursuing disciplined, long-term growth within the global reinsurance market.

Metro Bank (LSE:MTRO) posted a strong third-quarter 2025 performance, reporting sustained profitability and a 12% rise in target lending segments compared with the first half of the year. The bank continues to hold the lowest cost of deposits among major UK High Street lenders and is optimizing its asset rotation strategy to support long-term expansion. Its targeted focus on corporate, commercial, SME, and specialist mortgage lending has produced a solid credit-approved pipeline, setting the stage for continued growth into the next quarter.

Metro Bank also anticipates being reclassified as a transfer firm under the Bank of England’s updated framework, a move expected to positively influence its capital requirements. While profitability and strategic progress remain strong, challenges such as uneven revenue growth and cash flow constraints persist. Market indicators suggest operational stability, reinforced by insider confidence and ongoing structural improvements.

More about Metro Bank

Metro Bank is a UK-based independent bank providing services across corporate, commercial, SME, and specialist mortgage sectors, along with retail and private banking solutions. The bank operates 76 branches across the UK, complemented by digital and telephone banking channels. It is authorized by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Cizzle Biotechnology Holdings PLC (LSE:CIZ) has raised an additional £250,000 through convertible loan notes from investor Frazer Lang to accelerate the rollout of its CIZ1B biomarker test for the early detection of lung cancer. The new capital will help broaden the test’s reach across North America, the UK, and Europe, while also supporting the company’s ongoing collaborations with healthcare partners such as the NHS to improve early cancer screening and diagnosis.

More about Cizzle Biotechnology Holdings PLC

Cizzle Biotechnology Holdings PLC is a UK-based diagnostics company focused on developing innovative blood tests for the early detection of cancer. Its flagship product, the CIZ1B biomarker test, offers a non-invasive method to identify lung cancer in its initial stages. The company continues to build strategic partnerships to commercialize its proprietary technology and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Barclays Research has turned modestly positive on Europe’s luxury goods industry after a better-than-expected third-quarter earnings season suggested that the wave of analyst downgrades may finally be coming to an end.

The bank said that “2026 estimates are in the right place,” underpinned by resilient demand from affluent U.S. consumers and early evidence that “China’s market does not seem to be getting worse.”

As part of its sector review, Barclays upgraded Moncler (BIT:MONC) to “overweight” and downgraded Hermès (EU:RMS) to “equal weight,” while maintaining LVMH (EU:MC) at “equal weight” and Kering (EU:KER) as well as Ferragamo (BIT:SFER) at “underweight.” The brokerage said it continues to hold a “neutral” stance on the overall European Luxury & Specialty Retail space.

Moncler’s upgrade reflected what analysts described as an “attractive risk/reward” setup, with a €61 price target. Barclays noted that the Italian luxury outerwear maker had “benefited less than peers from the sector rebound” and could show sequential growth in Q4 despite challenging comparisons.

Engagement indicators such as Google Trends were said to be “supportive,” while management’s early fourth-quarter comments — “October started well and results are positive” — reinforced optimism.

Moncler’s U.S. expansion remains a key growth driver, with its store base projected to rise 4–5% annually over the next three years. The stock trades at a 2-year forward P/E of 20.7x, representing a 5% discount to its 10-year average.

By contrast, Hermès was cut to “equal weight” with a €2,310 price target, as Barclays cited “fewer short-term catalysts to drive the shares.” The French luxury house, known for its defensive earnings profile, posted single-digit organic growth year to date, a trend Barclays expects to continue through year-end.

Analysts observed that Hermès “still trades on a 2Y fwd PE of 40.0x, which is 1% above its historical average,” calling the stock’s valuation stretched as revenue outperformance narrows. EBIT margins are expected to stay near 40%, as “the operating leverage of the brand is relatively low.”

For LVMH, Barclays kept its €560 target price and Equal Weight rating unchanged. The firm’s Fashion & Leather Goods division is forecast to decline 5% in Q4 amid tougher comparisons, though cost efficiencies may cushion margin pressure. The brokerage also factored in a higher French corporate tax rate, trimming its 2026 EPS forecast by 3%.

Kering’s earnings forecasts for FY25 and FY26 were raised by 18% and 10%, respectively, resulting in a new price target of €245, though Barclays maintained an “underweight” rating. The report noted that the Gucci owner’s 51% rally in recent months “has not been accompanied by EPS upgrades,” and that its 2-year forward P/E of 27.5x now stands almost double its 10-year average.

Barclays also pointed to encouraging signs from China, with LVMH reporting that “Mainland China [was] turning positive in Q3,” while Hermès cited “a quite strong and dynamic business” during Golden Week, and Ferragamo described “an encouraging improvement in China.”

The brokerage added that Richemont (BIT:1CFR) and Burberry (LSE:BRBY) — both due to report mid-November — could benefit from “positive read-across” trends seen among peers.

Despite growing optimism, Barclays warned that the recovery remains fragile, noting that “the sector is not out of the woods yet.” Most brands still posted negative Q3 sales growth, and store traffic challenges continue. While the bank sees potential for improvement in 2026, it cautioned that “a significant EPS momentum inflection is not guaranteed.”

U.S. stock futures pointed to a sharply lower open on Tuesday, suggesting that markets may come under renewed pressure after a mixed session at the start of the week.

A major factor behind the weakness is Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR), whose shares tumbled 8.2% in premarket trading, weighing heavily on sentiment across the technology sector.

The sharp decline comes despite the data analytics firm reporting better-than-expected quarterly results and raising its revenue forecast, as investors continue to question the stock’s lofty valuation.

“It speaks to just how supercharged Palantir’s share price has been in 2025 that even a set of numbers as impressive as those it produced for its third quarter were insufficient to sustain the momentum,” said Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell.

He added, “Even in the context of the booming AI sector, the company’s valuation has reached high levels as investors have seized on its perceived close links with the Trump administration and AI-driven revenue growth.”

Elsewhere, Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER) fell in premarket trading despite delivering third-quarter revenue ahead of Wall Street estimates, while Spotify Technology (NYSE:SPOT) looked set for early gains after the music streaming platform beat forecasts with its latest results.

Broader market sentiment also turned cautious following remarks from Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) CEO David Solomon, who warned of potential turbulence in equity markets over the next two years.

“It’s likely there’ll be a 10 to 20 percent drawdown in equity markets sometime in the next 12 to 24 months,” Solomon said at the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit in Hong Kong. “Things run, and then they pull back so people can reassess.”

Monday’s session ended mixed: while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 extended gains, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped. The Dow fell 226.19 points, or 0.5%, to 47,336.68, the S&P 500 added 0.2% to 6,851.97, and the Nasdaq climbed 0.5% to 23,834.72.

The Nasdaq’s strength was fueled by Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), which rose 4% to a record high following a $38 billion cloud computing partnership with OpenAI, granting access to Amazon Web Services infrastructure for AI workloads.

Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) also advanced 2.2% after Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) confirmed it had received export licenses from the Trump administration to supply Nvidia chips to the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, declines in Merck (NYSE:MRK), down 4.1%, alongside Nike (NYSE:NKE), 3M (NYSE:MMM), and Chevron (NYSE:CVX), weighed on the Dow.

Traders appeared hesitant to make large moves ahead of ADP’s private payroll report, set for release Wednesday, which could provide clues on labor market strength amid uncertainty over interest rates and the ongoing government shutdown.

On the data front, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reported that U.S. manufacturing contracted faster than expected in October, with its PMI falling to 48.7 from 49.1 in September. Economists had forecast a slight uptick to 49.5.

Among sectors, oil service stocks gained as crude prices edged higher, sending the Philadelphia Oil Service Index up 2.2%. Retail shares also strengthened thanks to Amazon’s surge, while computer hardware stocks advanced and housing stocks lagged.

European equity markets traded sharply lower on Tuesday as a combination of mixed corporate earnings, disappointing U.S. manufacturing data, and cautious remarks from Federal Reserve officials dampened investor confidence and reduced appetite for riskier assets.

By mid-morning, the FTSE 100 in London was down 0.4%, while France’s CAC 40 dropped 1.0% and Germany’s DAX slid 1.2%.

Among individual movers, Telefónica (BIT:1TEF) saw its shares sink after the Spanish telecom giant announced plans to halve its dividend for 2026 as part of a broader strategic overhaul aimed at reducing debt and boosting efficiency.

Fresenius Medical Care (BIT:1FME) also fell, despite reporting better-than-expected third-quarter results, as the German dialysis group reaffirmed its 2025 guidance, noting that cost-saving initiatives had supported profitability.

Shares of Edenred (EU:EDEN) tumbled after the French employee benefits provider cut its medium-term earnings growth targets, citing macroeconomic headwinds and slower client demand.

In Sweden, Skanska (BIT:1SKAB) edged lower following news that the construction company will invest about SEK 820 million in the fifth phase of its Nowy Rynek office development in Poznań, Poland.

On the upside, Geberit (BIT:1GEBN) gained after the Swiss plumbing materials manufacturer raised its 2025 sales outlook, reflecting improving market demand.

Philips (EU:PHIA) shares also advanced, with the Dutch medical technology group lifting the upper end of its full-year margin forecast after reporting third-quarter revenue in line with market expectations.

Gold prices edged lower in Asian trading on Tuesday, weighed down by a strengthening U.S. dollar and growing uncertainty over the Federal Reserve’s next policy decision following Chair Jerome Powell’s hawkish comments last week.

By 01:58 ET (06:58 GMT), spot gold was down 0.4% at $3,986.10 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures slipped 0.5% to $3,994.30. The metal once again failed to hold above the $4,000 level as the dollar extended its rally, making bullion more expensive for international buyers.

Gold Pressured by Dollar Strength and Fed Ambiguity

The U.S. dollar climbed to a three-month high on Monday against major peers, supported by fading expectations of another interest rate cut this year.

Powell signaled last week that the central bank was not yet committed to further easing, saying a December rate move was “not a foregone conclusion.” As a result, investors have dialed back bets on near-term monetary loosening.

Uncertainty was compounded on Monday when several Fed officials offered differing perspectives on the economic outlook. Some highlighted the ongoing need to guard against inflation, while others warned that the labor market is beginning to cool.

The divergence in views deepened doubts about when the Fed might resume rate cuts, keeping the dollar well-supported.

Gold, which pays no interest, generally loses its appeal in environments of high interest rates or a strong dollar. The prospect of fewer rate cuts and elevated real yields has continued to dampen investor appetite for the precious metal.

Still, analysts noted that downside risks for gold remain limited amid ongoing fragility in U.S.-China trade relations. While recent signs of progress between Washington and Beijing have reassured investors, renewed concerns over restrictions on advanced chip exports have tempered optimism.

Metal Markets Follow Gold Lower

Other precious and industrial metals also retreated as the stronger dollar weighed on sentiment.

Silver futures dropped 1.5% to $47.315 per ounce, while platinum futures fell 1.3% to $1,557.85 per ounce.

On the London Metal Exchange, benchmark copper futures slipped 1.3% to $10,705.20 per ton, and U.S. copper futures mirrored the move, falling 1.3% to $4.99 per pound.

Oil prices retreated on Tuesday as traders interpreted OPEC+’s latest production decision—a pause in output increases during the first quarter—as a potential indication that the market could face oversupply.

By 0700 GMT, Brent crude futures slipped 37 cents, or 0.6%, to $64.52 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell by the same margin to $60.68 a barrel.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) announced on Sunday that it would implement a modest production hike for December but hold off on further increases in early 2026. The coalition has lifted output targets by roughly 2.9 million barrels per day—equivalent to about 2.7% of global supply—since April but has recently slowed that pace amid growing expectations of a supply surplus.

“(The) market may see this as the first sign of acknowledgement of potential oversupply situation from the OPEC+ front, who have so far remained very bullish on demand trends and ability of market to absorb the extra barrels,” said Suvro Sarkar, energy sector team lead at DBS Bank.

Still, some industry executives are pushing back against talk of an impending glut. The heads of several major European energy firms on Monday argued that global demand remains strong and that production growth is likely to moderate. Meanwhile, U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary James Danly said he does not believe there will be an oil glut in 2026.

Sources within OPEC+ said the decision to maintain steady targets followed lobbying by Russia, which sought a pause as Western sanctions have made it harder for the country to expand exports. Both the U.S. and U.K. imposed new restrictions in October on Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia’s two largest oil producers.

JP Morgan analysts wrote that “our oil strategists maintain their view that while the risk of disruption has increased, U.S. measures, along with complementary actions by the UK and EU, will not prevent Russian oil producers from operating.”

Despite the current slide in prices, independent market analyst Tina Teng said the ongoing sanctions could still provide near-term support to crude markets.

Traders are now awaiting fresh U.S. inventory figures from the American Petroleum Institute (API) later in the day for additional signals. A preliminary Reuters poll indicated that U.S. crude stockpiles likely rose last week.