Category: Market News

Harworth Group plc (LSE:HWG) has reported strong operational momentum in the first half of 2025, successfully advancing its strategic priorities even as the residential property market faces broader economic pressures. The company reached several key milestones, including value-accretive acquisitions and a healthy pipeline of residential land sales.

Staying aligned with its long-term goals, Harworth remains on track to achieve £1 billion in EPRA NDV by 2027 and build a £0.9 billion Industrial & Logistics (I&L) Investment Portfolio by 2029. Notable recent actions include the full acquisition of the Gateway 45 logistics site in Leeds and the submission of major planning applications to support its future pipeline. In addition, the group has entered a new joint venture for a mixed-use development project in West Yorkshire and continues to progress infrastructure and enabling works across several sites.

While the company faces macroeconomic and valuation-related challenges, its operational resilience and proactive strategy place it in a strong position for future growth. Strategic efforts to enhance employee engagement, coupled with a robust development pipeline, further support its long-term vision.

About Harworth Group plc

Harworth Group is one of the UK’s leading land and property regeneration specialists, focused on sustainable development across the North of England and the Midlands. Managing a portfolio spanning over 15,000 acres across more than 100 sites, the company is dedicated to transforming underutilized land—particularly former industrial areas—into vibrant communities and modern commercial hubs.

Its developments prioritize industrial and logistics spaces alongside serviced residential land, aiming to drive economic growth, create employment opportunities, and support housing delivery in key regions.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Naked Wines plc (LSE:WINE) has released its financial results for the year ending FY25, reporting figures consistent with prior guidance while emphasizing a renewed focus on profitability and robust cash flow generation. The company made notable headway in reducing surplus inventory, which contributed to a solid cash performance and paved the way for the initiation of shareholder distributions.

The business also reinforced its executive team with key leadership appointments and rolled out a series of strategic measures aimed at boosting customer engagement and streamlining operations. These efforts are part of a broader transformation plan designed to support long-term, sustainable growth and increased returns to shareholders.

Despite these positive developments, Naked Wines faces ongoing challenges related to profitability and market valuation, particularly due to a negative price-to-earnings ratio. While technical indicators point to positive momentum and improving cash flow is a bright spot, financial pressures continue to weigh on the overall outlook. Nevertheless, recent strategic actions and leadership changes offer potential for a longer-term recovery.

About Naked Wines plc

Established in 2008, Naked Wines is a disruptive online wine retailer committed to changing the way people discover and purchase wine. The company champions independent winemakers by connecting them directly with consumers through its wine subscription platform.

At the heart of its business model is a passionate community of members, known as “Angels,” who fund the production of exclusive, high-quality wines. By cutting out traditional supply chains, Naked Wines delivers better value and greater transparency to wine lovers across its markets.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Abingdon Health PLC (LSE:ABDX) has issued a trading update for the financial year ending June 2025, revealing anticipated revenues of £8.6 million—aligning with current market forecasts. The company’s performance has been bolstered by several high-value agreements, including a $2 million deal for sexually transmitted infection diagnostics and an £800,000 grant supporting malaria test development.

The business has also strengthened its portfolio through strategic partnerships and acquisitions, notably the purchase of Compliance Solutions and the launch of its new division, Abingdon Analytical Ltd. These moves have enhanced its service capabilities across the diagnostics space. Looking ahead, management expects momentum to continue into FY26, underpinned by recent contract wins and ongoing investment initiatives, with a goal of reaching a cash-flow positive position by 2026.

While Abingdon Health’s future appears promising thanks to active business development and revenue expansion, the company continues to face headwinds in terms of profitability and market valuation. Technical analysis points to a neutral trend, but recent operational developments may lay the groundwork for long-term upside.

Company Overview: Abingdon Health PLC

Based in York, England, Abingdon Health PLC is a prominent contract services provider in the med-tech industry. The firm specializes in the design, development, regulatory clearance, and manufacturing of lateral flow diagnostics. Serving a global client base, it supports projects across infectious disease, clinical and companion diagnostics, animal health, and environmental testing.

Through its subsidiaries, Compliance Solutions (Life Sciences) and IVDeology, Abingdon Health also delivers regulatory and compliance expertise, helping clients navigate complex approval pathways in the UK, EU, and US markets.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

U.S. stocks surged Monday, reversing Friday’s losses, as optimism grew around the possibility of an earlier-than-expected interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve. Strong earnings from major tech companies also helped lift investor sentiment.

By the close of trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had added 575 points (up 1.3%), the S&P 500 climbed 1.5%, and the NASDAQ Composite advanced by 2%.

Friday’s sharp drop in the markets came after President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing steep tariffs on imports from nearly 70 countries — a move that rattled investors and sent the S&P 500 to its worst daily performance in over two months.

Adding to the pressure was a disappointing jobs report that revealed significant downward revisions to previous data. Tensions escalated further when Trump dismissed the head of the U.S. statistics agency, alleging — without proof — that the labor figures were manipulated. Analysts warned the firing could cast doubt on the credibility of official U.S. economic reports.

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Weak Employment Data Fuels Rate Cut Hopes

Monday’s focus turned to U.S. factory orders for June, as investors continued to digest Friday’s lackluster nonfarm payrolls report. The Labor Department revealed that only 73,000 jobs were added in July — well below the forecast of 110,000. In addition, the job totals for May and June were revised downward by a combined 258,000 positions.

This slowdown in job creation strengthened the case for monetary easing, with market pricing now assigning over an 80% chance of a Fed rate cut in September.

Despite the recent volatility, Morgan Stanley strategist Mike Wilson reiterated his bullish stance on U.S. equities in a client note. He encouraged investors to take advantage of any market dips, citing continued strength in corporate earnings revisions as a reason for optimism.

Wilson pointed to April’s rebound as a turning point, calling it both a “Capitulation Day” and “Liberation Day” that marked the end of the 2024 bear market and the beginning of a new bull run — now four months in.

While the weak jobs data and the Fed’s cautious stance could lead to short-term consolidation, Wilson remains upbeat: “We’re buyers on dips and positive on the 12-month outlook.”

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AI Momentum Keeps Tech Stocks in the Lead

Tech continued to outperform, buoyed by enthusiasm around artificial intelligence. NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) were among the top gainers, with Microsoft and Meta extending their rally after blockbuster earnings last week.

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Eyes on Corporate Earnings: Big Week Ahead

Investors are gearing up for a busy earnings week, with more than 150 companies across sectors expected to report. The solid start to the earnings season has helped reinforce the long-term bullish narrative tied to AI advancements.

On Tuesday, all eyes will be on Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Caterpillar, as their results may offer insight into semiconductor demand and global industrial health. Wednesday brings earnings from Disney, McDonald’s, and Uber.

Meanwhile, shares of Berkshire Hathaway slipped after the firm reported a $3.76 billion write-down tied to its stake in Kraft Heinz.

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) shares rose, following news that the board had approved a 96 million share restricted stock grant for CEO Elon Musk, based on a recommendation from a special committee of independent directors.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

The Federal Reserve held interest rates at 4.25-4.5% at Wednesday’s meeting, as expected. However, for the first time in many years, two of the Fed’s twelve governors — Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman — voted against the decision, advocating instead for a 25-basis-point cut to Donald Trump’s happiness.

The reasoning hasn’t changed much: the U.S. economy is doing okay overall, whereas inflation risks are still a concern, especially with trade tensions heating up. For instance, the June Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) report showed that tariffs are starting to have a bigger impact on consumer prices.

To be more precise, headline inflation increased by 0.3% Month over Month and sped up to 2.6% year over year. Core inflation bounced back, too, hitting 0.3% Month over Month and 2.8% year over year. No wonder doubts emerged about whether the Fed might cut rates in September and wait until October.

By Friday, however, the picture had changed completely following new labor market data: unexpectedly, 258,000 jobs disappeared in May and June, mainly due to uncertainty around tariffs. Markets subsequently reacted, with the dollar index, Treasury yields, and S&P 500 falling and gold prices rising.

So, we have the following picture: inflationary pressures remain due to Trump’s high tariffs, but the labor market seems to be struggling. Against this backdrop, markets are betting on a rate cut in September, but whether that happens will largely depend on upcoming data, especially from the labor market.

In this context, this week’s key events for US markets include the weekly jobless claims report. It is also worth keeping an eye on what Fed officials say — Daly will speak on Wednesday, and Bostic and Musalem will speak on Friday. A shift toward dovish rhetoric will subsequently turn into increased market volatility.

European equities saw a solid rebound on Monday after steep losses in the previous session driven by fears over increased U.S. tariffs. Investors appeared unfazed by a decline in Eurozone investor confidence reported for August.

The Sentix Investor Confidence Index for the Eurozone dropped to -3.7 in August from 4.5 in July, marking its first negative reading in four months.

Germany’s DAX gained 1.4%, France’s CAC 40 rose 0.9%, and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 edged up 0.5%.

Budget airline Wizz Air Holdings (LSE:WIZZ) advanced after releasing passenger figures for July 2025.

Dutch postal company PostNL NV (EU:PNL) climbed following the confirmation of its full-year forecast.

Lloyds Banking Group (LSE:LLOY) also rallied as it reviews the effects of a U.K. court decision concerning motor finance.

In contrast, shares of Swiss banking powerhouse UBS (NYSE:UBS) slipped after the firm announced a $300 million settlement to close a U.S. case involving mis-selling of mortgage-linked investments.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

U.S. stock futures are signaling a higher open on Monday, as investors look to recover from sharp declines over the last two sessions.

Following a pronounced sell-off that pulled the Nasdaq and S&P 500 sharply down from their record highs, traders appear ready to take advantage of lower prices to buy stocks.

Friday’s steep drop came amid growing worries about the economic fallout from President Donald Trump’s newly imposed tariffs, weaker-than-expected job figures, and a significant tumble in Amazon’s (NASDAQ:AMZN) shares.

Some optimism that the disappointing jobs report might prompt the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates next month is also encouraging buying interest.

CME Group’s FedWatch Tool shows the likelihood of a quarter-point rate cut in September rising sharply to 85.4% from 63.1% just one week ago.

Stocks tumbled more significantly on Friday following Thursday’s decline. All major indexes moved sharply lower, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 retreating well off Thursday’s intraday record highs.

Although the indexes recovered somewhat by the close, they remained firmly in negative territory. The Nasdaq fell 472.32 points, or 2.2%, to 47,231.61. The S&P 500 dropped 101.38 points, or 1.6%, to 6,238.01, and the Dow lost 542.40 points, or 1.2%, closing at 43,588.58.

For the week, the Dow fell 2.9%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq declined 2.4% and 2.2%, respectively.

Wall Street’s decline was largely driven by concerns over the economic impact of President Trump’s tariff announcements, which imposed new duties ranging from 10% to 41% on goods from dozens of countries. The administration also said a 40% tariff will apply to products that are transshipped to avoid existing tariffs.

“Investors have been caught off guard, having previously hoped Trump would kick the new tariff levels down the road pending further negotiations with foreign trade partners,” said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell. He added, “Instead, we’ve got new rates galore and that means investors need to spend time understanding what that means for companies in their portfolio.”

Adding to market worries was a Labor Department report showing weaker-than-expected job growth in July. Non-farm payrolls increased by just 73,000, falling short of the 110,000 jobs economists anticipated. The report also revealed significant downward revisions for May and June, reducing job growth for those months by a combined 258,000.

With revisions, May’s employment rose by 19,000 jobs and June’s by 14,000. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2% in July from 4.1% in June, in line with expectations.

Amazon shares plunged 8.3% after the online retail giant posted better-than-expected Q2 results but issued weaker-than-anticipated guidance for operating income in the current quarter, weighing heavily on the market.

Airline stocks experienced some of the steepest losses, with the NYSE Arca Airline Index falling 4.3%. Oil service stocks also showed significant weakness as crude prices dropped sharply, reflected in a 3.5% decline in the Philadelphia Oil Service Index.

Computer hardware, retail, and banking sectors saw notable declines, while pharmaceutical and housing stocks bucked the broader downtrend.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Gold prices steadied on Monday, consolidating gains from the previous session, as markets bet on interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve following unexpectedly weak U.S. employment data.

By 05:00 ET (09:00 GMT), spot gold dipped slightly by 0.1% to $3,358.72 an ounce, while December gold futures climbed 0.4% to $3,412.55 per ounce.

Gold boosted by weaker labor figures

The yellow metal soared over 2% on Friday, snapping a two-week losing streak and finishing the week in positive territory. The rally was triggered by U.S. nonfarm payroll data showing a mere 73,000 jobs added in July—far below analysts’ expectations—and downward revisions to job gains in May and June.

The unemployment rate edged higher to 4.2%, stoking concerns about a cooling labor market and reinforcing investor expectations for monetary easing.

Markets now see a nearly 90% chance of the Fed cutting interest rates in September. Rate cuts typically enhance gold’s appeal by lowering the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding asset.

Geopolitical tension underpins gold’s safe-haven status

Gold also found support from rising global uncertainty after President Trump implemented new tariffs on imports from several countries, including Canada, Brazil, India, and Taiwan.

These broad trade measures have fueled inflation worries and increased the risk of supply chain disruptions—factors that often drive investors toward safe-haven assets like gold.

Gold remains favored in an environment defined by low yields and policy ambiguity.

Mixed performance in other metals markets

In other precious metals, platinum futures rose 1% to $1,329.50 an ounce, and silver futures climbed 1.3% to $37.417 per ounce.

Copper prices saw modest gains on Monday, with London Metal Exchange benchmark contracts rising 0.9% to $9,726.10 per ton. U.S. copper futures were up 0.8% to $4.4695 per pound.

However, the U.S. copper market remains under pressure following a steep 20% plunge last week. The decline followed President Trump’s decision to exclude refined copper from a planned 50% import tariff.

“The collapse of an arbitrage trade has left the U.S. with a huge buildup of copper stockpiles,” ING analysts said in a note. “Copper inventories at Comex warehouses are at their highest in 21 years. That stockpile might now be re-exported.”

“This will be bearish for LME prices with more copper showing up in LME warehouses,” they added.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Shares of Lloyds Banking Group (LSE:LLOY), Close Brothers (LSE:CBG) Group plc, and other UK lenders saw gains after the Supreme Court issued a ruling impacting car finance charges, while the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) prepares to consult on potential compensation plans.

By 10:45 a.m., shares in Lloyds, Close Brothers, Secure Trust Bank, Barclays (LSE:BARC), S&U PLC, CBRO, STBS, and SUS had risen between 2% and 19%.

The Supreme Court’s decision, delivered last Friday, overturned important parts of a prior Court of Appeal ruling in the cases of Wrench, Johnson, and Hopcraft. The court determined that car dealerships acting as credit brokers do not owe fiduciary duties to customers, and commissions paid in such transactions are not considered bribes.

However, the court ruled in Johnson that an unfair relationship existed between lender and borrower under the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

The judgment highlighted that whether an arrangement is unfair depends heavily on the details of each case. In this instance, the court ordered repayment of the commission along with commercial interest to the claimant.

Lloyds stated its existing motor finance provisions already accounted for various possible outcomes, including the Supreme Court’s ruling. Although the judgment clarifies issues around fiduciary duty and bribery, Lloyds cautioned that regulatory uncertainty remains, especially considering the FCA’s forthcoming actions.

On Saturday, the FCA announced plans to launch a consultation by early October on a potential industry-wide compensation scheme related to discretionary commission agreements. The regulator may also consider broadening the scheme’s scope to include other commission models.

Lloyds noted that, based on a preliminary review and pending the FCA consultation, any changes to its provisions are unlikely to be significant. The bank will continue to monitor the situation and keep the market informed.

Close Brothers Group plc and Close Brothers Finance plc, following up on their August 2 announcement, confirmed their awareness of the FCA’s planned consultation on an industry-wide compensation plan.

The group welcomed the consultation process and indicated it intends to actively participate in discussions with the regulator moving forward.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Shares of BP (LSE:BP.) climbed on Monday after the energy major announced a significant oil and gas discovery off the coast of Brazil, marking its largest find in a quarter-century. The discovery took place in the Santos basin, a deepwater pre-salt area known for its rich hydrocarbon potential.

This is BP’s tenth discovery this year, adding to previous successes in Trinidad, Egypt, and other regions. The company aims to increase its oil and gas production to between 2.3 million and 2.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2030.

Production hit 2.4 million barrels per day in 2024, though BP expects output to decline next year.

As of 09:47 GMT, BP shares were trading up 1.6% in London.

Initial tests from the drilling site revealed elevated carbon dioxide levels, with further lab work planned to evaluate the block’s full potential. BP intends to build a major production hub in the area, reinforcing its commitment to fossil fuels.

The announcement comes ahead of BP’s second-quarter earnings report, due Tuesday.

In related news, the Financial Times reported Monday that BP is set to provide updates on its $5 billion cost-cutting plan during the earnings call, amid pressure from activist investor Elliott Management to deepen expense reductions.

Elliott is pushing CEO Murray Auchincloss to boost efficiency efforts by adding another $5 billion in savings on top of the current $4 billion–$5 billion target set for 2027, according to the FT. These savings targets are based on 2023 spending levels.

The hedge fund has “identified tens of thousands of BP support staff globally” as part of the company’s cost structure, the report noted.

BP has already achieved $750 million in cuts this year and aims to meet the full target through workforce reductions, asset disposals, and simplifying supply chains, the FT added.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.