Category: Market News

Sage Group plc (LSE:SGE) has notified holders of its EUR500 million 3.820% notes due February 2028 that it will exercise its issuer call option to redeem all outstanding notes.

The redemption is scheduled for 28 September 2026 and will be made at the make-whole optional redemption amount, together with accrued interest.

A determination agent will calculate the final redemption amount on 23 September, with Sage expected to issue a further notice providing the amount payable.

Following redemption, the company intends to apply for cancellation of the notes from the FCA’s official list and their admission to trading on the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market.

Repayment will be processed through the applicable clearing systems.

More about Sage Group plc

Sage Group plc is a provider of finance, human resources and payroll software for small and mid-sized businesses.

The company’s technology connects financial and workforce management functions and is used by businesses, accountants and other partners to manage areas including finance, payroll and related business processes.

Tharisa (LSE:THS) has priced a US$300 million five-year senior secured Nordic bond through its wholly owned subsidiary Arxo Finance plc, with proceeds primarily intended to fund completion of the Karo Platinum Project in Zimbabwe.

The bond was priced at 98% of principal and carries an 11% coupon payable semi-annually. Tharisa said the offering was oversubscribed, with participation from international institutional investors.

Proceeds will initially be held in escrow and released once specified conditions have been satisfied. The majority of the funds are earmarked for completing Karo, while any remaining proceeds will be available for general corporate purposes.

Tharisa expects the Karo project to more than double the group’s platinum group metals production and provide it with a second operating asset alongside the Tharisa Mine in South Africa.

Settlement of the bond is targeted for 24 September 2026. The company intends to apply for admission of the bonds to ABM Fast Entry within 60 days of issuance and subsequently to Euronext Oslo Børs, or another regulated exchange, within 12 months.

DNB Carnegie and HSBC acted as joint bookrunners for the transaction.

Management indicated that funding costs could potentially be reduced as Karo moves through commissioning and its development progresses. This remains dependent on future developments.

More about Tharisa

Tharisa plc is an integrated mining and metals group focused on platinum group metals and chrome concentrates.

Its operations cover exploration, mining, processing, beneficiation, marketing, sales and logistics. The group operates the Tharisa Mine in South Africa and is developing the Karo Platinum Project in Zimbabwe.

Tharisa also has activities in downstream alloy production and long-duration energy storage technology.

Cobra Resources (LSE:COBR) reported progress on drilling, metallurgical and resource-definition programmes at its Wudinna rare earths and Manna Hill copper projects in South Australia during the first half of 2026.

The company also made changes to its board during the period, with founding chair Greg Hancock retiring and Andrew Michelmore appointed as non-executive chairman.

At the Manna Hill Copper Project, reverse circulation drilling at the Blue Rose discovery returned shallow copper-gold sulphide intersections. Cobra subsequently began diamond drilling to investigate potential extensions at depth and the broader porphyry system and formally exercised its option to acquire the project.

The company said diamond drilling completed after the reporting period extended sulphide mineralisation and identified geological characteristics it considers indicative of a potentially fertile porphyry system. Assay results from the drilling remain pending.

At Wudinna, Cobra completed the acquisition of additional exploration licences, increasing its landholding to more than 3,200 square kilometres and expanding the area covered by its ionic rare earths exploration interests.

Sonic core drilling at the Boland and Head prospects generated additional geological data for a planned maiden mineral resource estimate. The company also continued metallurgical and permeability testing as it assesses the potential use of controlled-aquifer in situ recovery, or ISR, at the project.

Cobra has appointed ERM to prepare the maiden mineral resource estimate for Wudinna. Permitting and engineering work is also under way for a small-scale ISR production demonstration that the company is targeting for 2027.

Additional metallurgical programmes are being conducted with ANSTO, while Cobra has made senior appointments across its finance, technical and exploration functions.

More about Cobra Resources Plc

Cobra Resources plc is a South Australian mineral exploration and development company focused primarily on the Wudinna ionic rare earths project and the Manna Hill Copper Project.

At Wudinna, the company is evaluating the potential development of an in situ recovery operation targeting rare earths contained within palaeochannel sediments. At Manna Hill, Cobra is exploring shallow skarn and deeper porphyry-style copper-gold mineralisation in the Nackara Arc.

The company also retains exposure to gold through a shareholding in Barton Gold.

Fiinu (LSE:BANK) reported an unaudited loss after tax of £2.15 million for the six months ended 30 June 2026, with cash of £2.70 million at the end of the period.

The group continued implementation of its white-labelled Plugin Overdraft® with Conister Bank and moved the platform into a production environment. Fiinu is targeting a launch around the end of 2026 and has continued developing the technology for use across UK and European Economic Area open banking systems.

After the reporting period, Fiinu agreed an updated implementation timetable and long-term commercial framework with Conister Bank. The initial deployment is intended to serve approximately 1.5 million customers of Payment Assist Limited before a potential broader rollout.

The company also reduced group overheads and continued restructuring subsidiary Everfex towards what it described as a leaner, self-funded operating model. Legacy creditor matters remain outstanding at Everfex.

Fiinu said it sees a potential European market encompassing approximately 5,000 banking institutions and an estimated 120 million consumers experiencing short-term liquidity constraints. These figures represent the company’s assessment of the addressable opportunity for its Plugin Overdraft® platform.

The directors also identified material uncertainty regarding the group’s ability to continue as a going concern. The uncertainty relates to the unpredictability of future revenue, the timing of commercial deployments and Fiinu’s future cash requirements.

More about Fiinu Plc

Fiinu Plc is an AIM-quoted financial technology group focused on developing and licensing its Plugin Overdraft® platform.

The white-label credit platform is designed to integrate with banks’ existing infrastructure and open banking systems in the UK and Europe, allowing partner banks to provide overdraft and other credit products without requiring customers to move their primary banking relationships.

Gateley (Holdings) Plc (LSE:GTLY) has published its Annual Report for the year ended 30 April 2026 and issued the notice for its 2026 Annual General Meeting.

The documents are available through the company’s investor website. Gateley said hard copies will also be sent to shareholders who have elected to receive physical communications.

The AGM is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, at Gateley’s London office at 1 Paternoster Square, EC4M 7DX.

Shareholders will have the opportunity to consider the matters set out in the AGM notice at the meeting.

More about Gateley (Holdings)

Gateley (Holdings) Plc is a UK-listed professional services group whose shares trade on AIM under the ticker GTLY.

The group provides legal and related advisory services to corporate and institutional clients.

CT Automotive Group plc (LSE:CTA) said it will publish its interim financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2026 on 16 September 2026.

The publication date is later than the company’s previously indicated early-September timetable.

Chief Executive Officer Simon Phillips and Non-Executive Chair Ray Bench will host a live online presentation for existing and potential shareholders through the Investor Meet Company platform on the same day.

Investors will be able to submit questions ahead of the presentation and during the live event.

More about CT Automotive Group Plc

CT Automotive Group plc is a UK-headquartered designer, developer and manufacturer of bespoke automotive interior finishes and kinematic assemblies.

The company operates manufacturing facilities in China, Mexico and Türkiye, with design and administrative functions in India and distribution and assembly operations across Europe, Asia and the U.S.

Its customer base includes Nissan, Ford, GM, Volkswagen Audi Group, Bentley, Lamborghini and Rivian, as well as a major U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer. CT Automotive supplies components for more than 64 vehicle models across 21 OEMs.

Atlantic Lithium (LSE:ALL) released its audited financial results for the year ended 30 June 2026 alongside an update on the proposed all-cash takeover by Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt.

The company’s board has unanimously recommended that shareholders support the proposed scheme, under which Huayou would acquire all Atlantic Lithium shares. Shareholder votes are expected in November, with implementation targeted for December, subject to regulatory and court approvals.

During the financial year, Ghana’s parliament ratified the mining lease for the Ewoyaa Lithium Project, approving development of the proposed mine and processing plant. The updated terms include royalties aligned with new national regulations.

Atlantic Lithium also secured access to multiple funding lines during the period and continued exploration activities in Côte d’Ivoire.

The company appointed Andrew Watt as an alternate director during the year.

More about Atlantic Lithium

Atlantic Lithium Limited is an Africa-focused lithium exploration and development company listed on AIM, ASX and the Ghana Stock Exchange.

The company’s principal asset is the Ewoyaa Lithium Project in Ghana, where it plans to develop a lithium mine and processing plant.

Integrated Diagnostics Holdings (LSE:IDHC) reported revenue of EGP 4.9 billion for the first half of 2026, an increase of 37% from the prior-year period, as test volumes rose 20% and revenue per test increased 14%.

Gross profit increased 41%, while EBITDA rose 38% and net profit was 47% higher. The company attributed the performance to higher operating leverage, procurement efficiencies and cost management, alongside continued investment in new branches and specialised services.

Second-quarter revenue increased 42% year on year, while EBITDA rose 50%. The company said the quarterly performance reflected demand across its core markets and higher utilisation in both contract and walk-in patient segments.

IDH expanded its network to 839 branches during the period. The group opted not to pay an additional dividend, saying it had decided to retain cash because of geopolitical uncertainty and planned expansion projects.

Founding shareholder vehicle Hena Holdings increased its ownership of IDH to 56.67%, leaving 43.33% of the company’s shares in public hands.

The company ended the first half with a positive net cash position. IDH said operating cash generation and working capital management supported its liquidity while capital expenditure requirements increased.

The group is retaining balance-sheet flexibility and US dollar liquidity as it continues investment across its diagnostics and radiology operations.

More about Integrated Diagnostics Holdings

Integrated Diagnostics Holdings is a London-listed medical diagnostics provider operating across Egypt, Jordan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Sudan. The group provides laboratory testing and radiology services to contract and walk-in patients through its branch network.

IDH has been expanding its branch presence, including in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, while investing in specialised services including radiology and Biolab KSA.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries reduced its estimate for global oil demand growth in 2026 to 380,000 barrels per day in its latest monthly report.

The change represents OPEC’s fifth consecutive monthly reduction to its 2026 demand growth projection.

OPEC continues to forecast higher oil consumption than the International Energy Agency. The IEA expects global oil demand to decline in 2026, citing a greater impact from the Iran war on consumption patterns.

OPEC’s report also raised the producer group’s forecast for global oil demand growth in 2027.

The European Central Bank raised its deposit rate by 25 basis points to 2.50% on Thursday, as higher energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict continued to affect the inflation outlook.

Brent crude moved back above $100 a barrel this week following renewed attacks between the United States and Iran. The conflict, now in its seventh month, has restricted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which handled roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows before the war began in late February.

The Eurozone is a major energy importer, and regional gas prices have recently reached their highest levels since 2023.

The ECB had previously raised rates in June before leaving them unchanged in July.

In its latest statement, the ECB said the Middle East conflict “continues to generate inflation pressures,” adding that inflation is expected to remain above its 2% target “for an extended period.”

Capital Economics analysts, including Andrew Kenningham, described the statement as “somewhat hawkish” and said they now “think one more hike is likely” in 2026. Markets were also pricing in another rate increase by this time next year and a 40% probability of an additional increase.

ECB Raises 2027 and 2028 Inflation Forecasts

Updated ECB staff projections showed headline inflation averaging 3.0% this year. The central bank raised its forecasts for 2027 and 2028 to 2.5% and 2.1%, respectively.

Speaking at a press conference following the decision, ECB President Christine Lagarde said the “energy shock” resulting from the Iran war could intensify further and that secondary effects on other prices and wages could be greater than previously anticipated.

Lagarde nevertheless described the Eurozone economy as “resilient,” pointing to the labour market and a recovery in the services sector. She said the economy’s resilience was expected to continue into the third quarter.

Following the decision, Germany’s benchmark 10-year government bond yield traded around its highest level since the Eurozone economic crisis in 2011, while France’s 10-year yield remained around its highest level since 2008.