Category: Market News

Blackbird PLC (LSE:BIRD) has unveiled a series of new enhancements to its elevate.io platform, following a successful fundraising round. Designed to serve as the “Figma for video,” elevate.io now includes expanded digital asset management capabilities, a new AI-driven Text-to-Speech feature, and upgraded visual effects tools. These updates are aimed at helping content creators streamline their workflows, lower production costs, and accelerate the video creation process.

The rapid rollout of these tools supports Blackbird’s mission to make video storytelling faster, more accessible, and highly collaborative. By investing in innovative functionality, the company continues to strengthen its foothold in the digital content creation and SaaS space.

Despite ongoing challenges with profitability and cash flow, Blackbird maintains a solid equity foundation and is supported by strategic initiatives geared toward long-term growth. Technical indicators show stability, although valuation concerns remain due to current negative earnings. Nonetheless, recent developments suggest promising growth prospects.

About Blackbird PLC

Blackbird PLC is active in the SaaS, media, and content creation industries, offering cutting-edge, cloud-based video technologies. Its key products include the Blackbird cloud video editing platform and elevate.io, a browser-based collaborative tool designed for both professional teams and the growing Creator Economy. The company also licenses its core video infrastructure through its ‘Powered by Blackbird’ model, serving clients across broadcasting, sports, news, and digital media sectors.

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.

Everest Global plc (LSE:EVST) has posted a profitable performance for the six-month period ending April 2025, marking a notable recovery from previous losses. Revenues surged to £270,251—more than double the figure from the same period last year—thanks to the successful opening of a new store in London and targeted operational improvements. Enhanced gross profit margins and increased efficiency also contributed to the positive results.

Looking ahead, the company intends to build on this momentum by pursuing acquisitions and making strategic investments in the food and beverage distribution industry. While Everest Global remains mindful of challenges such as access to capital and changing market conditions, it remains committed to scaling its operations and strengthening its market position.

About Everest Global plc

Everest Global plc operates within the alcohol retail and distribution industry, with a primary focus on expanding its footprint in the London area. The company is actively growing its retail network through new store launches and aims to establish a leading presence in the alcoholic beverage market.

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.

Hydrogen Utopia International PLC (LSE:HUI) has entered into a binding framework agreement with U.S.-based InEnTec Inc., aiming to secure exclusive licensing rights for InEnTec’s advanced TRL9 waste-to-hydrogen technology across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This development marks a significant step for HUI as it seeks to establish itself as a leader in the emerging low-carbon hydrogen sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. By leveraging InEnTec’s commercialized and high-performance technology, HUI is positioned to address the growing regional demand for affordable, low-emission hydrogen.

The agreement grants Hydrogen Utopia a 180-day window for exclusive negotiations and includes a right of first refusal on the licensing terms. To formalize this opportunity, HUI has made a non-refundable payment. The partnership is expected to support the MENA region’s push toward sustainable energy and improved waste management, offering a viable, scalable path to cleaner hydrogen production. This collaboration reflects shared strategic interests, regulatory tailwinds, and could bring long-term value both environmentally and financially.

About Hydrogen Utopia International PLC

Hydrogen Utopia International PLC specializes in transforming unrecyclable mixed plastic waste into hydrogen, clean fuels, valuable industrial materials, and renewable heat. With a vision to lead the European market in this space, HUI targets regions that benefit from private investment and access to EU or governmental funding opportunities. The company’s revenue model includes the sale of syngas, hydrogen, and associated by-products, in addition to electricity, heat generation, and waste processing fees.

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 showed a mixed picture on Thursday, with optimism about a potential U.S.-EU trade agreement helping keep hopes for fresh record highs alive, while investors digested earnings reports from tech heavyweights Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA).

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.4%, weighed down by a post-earnings decline in IBM (NYSE:IBM), as the Dow came close to achieving its first record closing high of the year. Conversely, Nasdaq 100 futures edged up around 0.3%, and S&P 500 futures remained mostly flat following another record closing on the index.

Alphabet exceeded Wall Street’s second-quarter profit expectations and reaffirmed its aggressive investment in artificial intelligence. Shares of the Google parent rose during premarket trading, along with other AI-related stocks such as Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), lending support to tech-heavy indexes. Meanwhile, Tesla shares dropped after the electric vehicle maker missed earnings estimates, faced continued sluggish sales in Europe, and saw CEO Elon Musk warn of “rough quarters” ahead due to the loss of tax credits under President Trump’s budget legislation.

Earnings reports from Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) and American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL) are set to be released later Thursday, continuing the earnings season momentum.

Positive sentiment around trade deals remained strong, fueled by the recent U.S.-Japan agreement that helped push the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite to new record highs on Wednesday.

Reports indicate the EU and U.S. are nearing a deal that would set tariffs on most European imports at 15%, down from the previously threatened 30%. According to media sources, this rate could become the new baseline for reciprocal tariffs scheduled to begin on August 1, following President Trump’s remarks on Wednesday. Earlier, Trump had imposed a 10% baseline tariff rate on several countries as part of his broad April tariff actions.

“We’ll have a straight, simple tariff of anywhere between 15% and 50%,” he said during an AI summit. “A couple of — we have 50 because we haven’t been getting along with those countries too well.”

On the economic calendar, investors will be closely watching a slew of data releases—including weekly initial jobless claims, July’s U.S. manufacturing and services activity, and new home sales—to better gauge interest rate expectations ahead of the Federal Reserve’s July meeting.

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.

British stocks rose on Thursday, driven by better-than-expected earnings from U.K. companies and positive developments in EU-U.S. trade talks. By 11:29 GMT, the FTSE 100 index climbed about 1% to 9,147.90, while the British pound dipped 0.2% to $1.35.

European Markets and Trade Developments

Germany’s DAX gained 0.6%, whereas France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.1%. Meanwhile, reports indicate the EU and U.S. are nearing a trade agreement to set tariffs on European imports at 15%, with exemptions on aircraft, spirits, and medical devices. The European Commission emphasized its priority to finalize the deal and prevent the scheduled 30% U.S. tariffs in August.

During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, Britain and India signed a free trade agreement aimed at reducing tariffs on textiles, whisky, and cars, boosting business opportunities. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted the importance of building deeper global partnerships in this new era.

Corporate Earnings Boost Market

• Reckitt Benckiser (LSE:RKT) shares soared nearly 10% after raising its full-year revenue outlook, fueled by 1.9% like-for-like sales growth, beating forecasts despite weaker demand in North America and Europe.
• Vodafone Group (LSE:VOD) shares rose over 3% following a 3.9% revenue increase to €9.4 billion, supported by the Three U.K. consolidation and growth in Africa.
• ITV PLC (LSE:ITV) climbed more than 8% after reporting stronger-than-expected advertising revenue and solid studio division growth.
• Lloyds Banking Group (LSE:LLOY) shares gained on a 16% beat in second-quarter pre-tax profit, aided by impairment releases and lower remediation costs.
• BT Group (LSE:BT.A) shares increased 5%, with first-quarter operating profit meeting expectations and naming Virgin Media O2’s CFO as finance chief.
• Centrica (LSE:CNA) shares rose after better-than-expected EBIT and a 22% interim dividend increase.
• Relx PLC (LSE:REL) reported 7% revenue growth and 10% earnings per share growth, lifting shares over 1%.
• Howden Joinery (LSE:HWDN) shares surged 9.9% after stronger-than-expected half-year sales growth.

Mixed Results

• Wizz Air (LSE:WIZZ) shares fell following weaker-than-expected first-quarter results and cautious revenue outlook, with €1.43 billion revenue slightly below estimates.
• Discoverie Group (LSE:DSCV) shares declined 2.9% after reporting 3% first-quarter sales growth in line with expectations but maintaining cautious full-year earnings guidance.

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 Reckitt (LSE:RKT) climbed nearly 10% on Thursday after the U.K.-based consumer goods firm boosted its full-year revenue guidance, following a second-quarter sales performance that surpassed expectations. The company’s solid growth in emerging markets helped counterbalance softer demand in North America and Europe.

The producer of well-known brands like Lysol and Dettol reported a 1.9% increase in like-for-like net revenue for the quarter, slightly above analysts’ forecast of 1.7%.

Robust sales in China, India, and Latin America offset weaker trends in developed economies. North America and Europe saw slower performance, impacted by cautious consumer sentiment and a planned shelf reset for its Mucinex cold and flu product due to reformulation.

“We delivered excellent growth in emerging markets and navigated a challenging consumer environment in our developed markets,” said CEO Kris Licht.

At 07:55 GMT, Reckitt’s shares were trading up 9.7% at 5,528p, reaching their highest point since early 2024, and were on track for their largest single-day increase in over 20 years.

Operating profit for the first half of 2025 hit £1.71 billion ($2.32 billion), exceeding the consensus estimate of £1.66 billion.

Looking ahead, Reckitt raised its core like-for-like revenue growth forecast for 2025 to above 4%, up from the previous range of 3% to 4%. For the entire group, it now expects like-for-like revenue growth between 3% and 4%, tightening its earlier guidance of 2% to 4%.

Jefferies analyst David Hayes commented, “This is a quality print we think. The group beat on organic sales in Q2 is led by the Core operation (which is the focus). Emerging market momentum is now well established, with good growth even in tougher markets for many peers (China and LatAm).”

The company’s board also announced an interim dividend of 84.4 pence per share, up from 80.4 pence a year ago, along with a £1 billion share buyback plan scheduled over the next 12 months.

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.

CVS Group Plc (LSE:CVSG) revealed on Thursday that its revenue for continuing operations grew by approximately 5.4% to £673.2 million in the fiscal year 2025 trading update.

The veterinary services provider reported a like-for-like sales increase of around 0.2%, with stronger performance noted in the fourth quarter. The company anticipates its adjusted EBITDA margin will rise to roughly 20%, with adjusted EBITDA reaching about £134 million.

CVS Group also announced a delay in its preliminary full-year results publication, now scheduled for October 7, pushed back from the original September 25 date. This postponement allows more clarity on the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) provisional ruling, expected in September 2025.

During the fiscal year, CVS Group expanded its footprint in Australia, completing seven acquisitions that added 15 sites for a total spend of £29.2 million. Following the period end, two further deals were closed, growing the Australian portfolio to 30 practices across 45 locations. The company intends to continue making acquisitions in Australia throughout fiscal year 2026.

In contrast, merger and acquisition activity in the UK remains on hold pending the CMA’s market investigation outcome.

Earlier, in April 2025, CVS Group divested its Crematoria business for an initial cash consideration of £42 million, equating to 10 times adjusted EBITDA.

The company expects its leverage ratio to drop to approximately 1.2 times by June 30, down from 1.66 times a year earlier, with committed but undrawn bank facilities exceeding £200 million.

CVS Group has reaffirmed its commitment to invest between £30 million and £50 million annually—£33 million was invested in FY25 compared to £42 million in FY24—and to pursue over £50 million in overseas acquisitions, aiming to maintain leverage below 2.0 times.

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.

Relx PLC (LSE:REL), the international leader in information analytics and decision-making solutions, announced on Thursday robust financial results for the first half of 2025, recording an underlying revenue increase of 7% to £4,741 million.

The adjusted operating profit grew by 9% on an underlying basis, reaching £1,652 million, while adjusted earnings per share rose 10% at constant currency to 63.5p.

RELX declared an interim dividend of 19.5p, up 7% from last year’s 18.2p, scheduled for payment on September 11, with an ex-dividend date of August 7.

The company reported maintaining a strong balance sheet, with a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 2.2x, and achieved full (100%) adjusted cash flow conversion throughout the period.

In the first half, RELX completed three acquisitions totaling £262 million and has repurchased £1,000 million of its announced £1,500 million share buyback plan. Since July 1, an additional £75 million has been bought back, with £425 million remaining to be deployed by year-end.

CEO Erik Engstrom highlighted the performance: “RELX delivered strong revenue and profit growth in the first half of 2025, in line with full year 2024 but with a higher quality growth profile: Risk with continued strong growth, Scientific, Technical & Medical with continued good growth and developing momentum, Legal with a further step up in growth, and Exhibitions now established at strong ongoing growth.”

The company confirmed its full-year guidance, anticipating “another year of strong underlying growth in revenue and adjusted operating profit, as well as strong growth in adjusted earnings per share on a constant currency basis.”

RELX’s operating margin improved to 34.8% from 34.1% a year ago, a result the company attributes to its focus on continuous process innovation that keeps cost increases below revenue gains.

Reported operating profit was £1,490 million, slightly higher than £1,431 million from the first half of 2024. Reported earnings per share were 52.9p, compared to 52.6p in the previous year.

The company pointed out that its “improving long-term growth trajectory continues to be driven across the group by the ongoing shift in business mix towards higher growth analytics and decision tools that deliver enhanced value to our customers.”

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.

European stock markets gained momentum Thursday amid rising optimism over a potential trade agreement between the U.S. and the European Union. Investors also digested fresh corporate earnings reports ahead of a key European Central Bank policy meeting.

By 08:30 GMT, Germany’s DAX index had advanced 1.1%, France’s CAC 40 rose 0.4%, and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 increased 0.8%.

Trade deal optimism fuels markets

Global market sentiment received a lift earlier this week following the U.S.-Japan trade deal announcement, raising expectations that Washington may soon finalize a similar pact with the EU, a significant trading partner.

According to the Financial Times on Wednesday, the EU and U.S. are close to an agreement that would set tariffs on European imports at 15%, with both sides exempting certain products such as aircraft, spirits, and medical devices from tariffs.

The EU is simultaneously preparing a retaliatory tariff package potentially worth €93 billion ($109 billion), with rates up to 30%, should no deal be reached by August 1, the report stated.

The European Commission emphasized on Wednesday its priority remains to secure a negotiated settlement with the U.S. to avoid the 30% tariffs expected to take effect in early August.

Corporate earnings highlight regional challenges

Back in Europe, quarterly earnings continued to command attention, revealing mixed performances among major firms.

Deutsche Bank (TG:DBK) reaffirmed its full-year outlook after posting better-than-expected Q2 profits, supported by steady revenue growth across client businesses despite a volatile market environment.

French energy giant TotalEnergies (EU:TTE) reported a 23% drop in Q2 earnings, marking its weakest quarter in four years, as increased upstream output failed to compensate for lower returns from oil, gas, and refined products.

Mining heavyweight Anglo American (LSE:AAL) disclosed a 13% decline in copper output and a 26% drop in rough diamond production for the first half of the year amid subdued demand.

STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM) posted a $97 million net loss for Q2 2025, citing heavy restructuring expenses as a significant drag.

Italian luxury brand Moncler (BIT:MONC) saw a slight decline in Q2 sales, affected by reduced tourist activity despite strong domestic demand in key U.S. and Chinese markets.

French bank BNP Paribas (EU:BNP) confirmed its outlook after a revenue increase in Q2, expecting growth acceleration in H2 driven by its Commercial and Personal Banking division.

Nestlé (TG:NESR) reported better-than-expected first-half organic sales growth and announced a strategic review of its vitamins segment, potentially leading to divestments.

Across the Atlantic, Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Google’s parent company, delivered strong earnings after Wednesday’s market close, while Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk warned of “a few rough quarters” after the electric vehicle maker reported a disappointing Q2.

German consumer confidence dips

On the economic front, German consumer sentiment is projected to weaken further in August, marking a second straight monthly decline. The GfK consumer confidence index unexpectedly dropped to -21.5 from -20.3 in July.

Additionally, new car sales across Europe fell more than 5% in June, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association on Thursday.

These indicators set the stage for the European Central Bank’s meeting later in the day, where policymakers are widely expected to hold the deposit rate steady at 2%, following a 25 basis point cut last month — the eighth reduction in 12 months.

Oil prices gain on U.S. inventory drop

Oil prices climbed on Wednesday after data revealed a steep decline in U.S. crude inventories, while investors awaited further updates on trade negotiations to gauge their impact on the global economy.

At 04:30 ET, Brent crude futures rose 0.6% to $68.94 per barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures increased 0.8% to $65.77 per barrel.

Both benchmarks had fallen over the previous four sessions amid concerns that escalating trade tensions could hurt energy demand.

The Energy Information Administration reported a 3.17 million-barrel drawdown in U.S. crude stockpiles last week, significantly exceeding forecasts of a 1.6 million-barrel decline.

With commercial crude stocks approximately 9% below the five-year seasonal average at around 419 million barrels, this sharp decrease signals a tightening supply landscape.

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.