Mercantile Ports & Logistics Limited (LSE:MPL) has provided an update on the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process concerning Karanja Terminal & Logistics Private Limited before the National Company Law Tribunal in Mumbai.

The proceedings concern the treatment of a sanctioned One Time Settlement relating to KTLPL’s debt and the role of Prudent ARC Limited in the events surrounding the settlement.

Hearing Scheduled to Continue on 4 September

At a hearing on 27 August, legal counsel representing the lenders and the Committee of Creditors continued presenting their case in response to submissions previously completed by MPL.

Those arguments are scheduled to resume on 4 September. Following the completion of the lenders’ and Committee of Creditors’ submissions, MPL is expected to deliver a rejoinder.

The company said it intends to pay the debt, safeguard the Karanja asset and protect shareholder interests while the Tribunal considers the evidence presented in the proceedings.

More About Mercantile Ports & Logistics

Mercantile Ports & Logistics Limited operates port and logistics infrastructure, with Karanja Terminal & Logistics Private Limited representing a key asset in India.

The company is involved in maritime logistics operations, including cargo handling and related port services.

Gooch & Housego PLC (LSE:GHH) has confirmed that the applicable waiting period under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Act has expired in connection with its proposed acquisition by Greenlight Bidco Limited.

Greenlight Bidco is a newly formed company indirectly owned by Arlington Capital Partners VII, L.P. The recommended cash acquisition is being implemented through a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under U.K. company law.

Transaction Remains Subject to Further Approvals

The expiry of the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period satisfies the applicable U.S. antitrust condition for the transaction.

Completion remains subject to other conditions, including regulatory clearance under the U.K. National Security and Investment Act 2021.

Subject to the remaining conditions being satisfied or waived, the scheme is expected to become effective during the fourth quarter of 2026. Upon completion, Gooch & Housego would become privately owned under the control of Arlington Capital Partners.

More About Gooch & Housego

Gooch & Housego PLC operates in the photonics and optical components industry, supplying precision optical systems and related technologies.

Its products are used in applications across aerospace, defense, industrial manufacturing and scientific research.

VH Global Energy Infrastructure (LSE:ENRG) has agreed to sell six operational solar photovoltaic assets in Rio de Janeiro to Energea Portfolio 2 LP as part of its asset realisation strategy.

The six assets have a combined capacity of 11.7 MWp. The transaction values them at a minimum of R$38 million, equivalent to approximately £5.4 million.

The consideration comprises upfront and deferred payments, as well as a potential earn-out of up to R$12 million linked to performance above revenue expectations.

Disposal Priced at 92% of March 2026 NAV

The agreed consideration represents 92% of the assets’ March 2026 net asset value.

The transaction is the second major disposal under VH Global Energy Infrastructure’s shareholder-approved asset realisation strategy, following the sale of two liquid storage terminals in the United States.

The company plans to return the net proceeds from the Brazilian solar transaction to shareholders through a bonus issue of redeemable B shares.

Sale Process Continues for Remaining Brazilian Solar Assets

VH Global Energy Infrastructure said it is also progressing an advanced sale process covering its remaining seven Brazilian solar assets contracted with Telefônica.

The company continues to pursue its asset realisation strategy, under which it is seeking to dispose of portfolio investments and return capital to shareholders.

More About VH Global Energy Infrastructure

VH Global Energy Infrastructure plc is an investment company focused on energy infrastructure assets. Its portfolio has included conventional and renewable energy infrastructure, including solar photovoltaic projects and liquid storage terminals.

The company invests internationally and has focused on energy transition-related assets through specialist operating partners and sustainability frameworks including the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran didn’t last: the two sides exchanged strikes again overnight Monday, cutting transit through the strait to just five vessels a day. Actual volumes could be higher due to disabled identification systems, but Brent crude still climbed back above $91 a barrel, while gold prices fell, although mildly.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict isn’t getting any better either, with Russia’s Defense Ministry saying it is preparing large-scale strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in response to Kyiv’s attacks. Meanwhile, the two sides are also attacking each other in the Black Sea, disrupting grain supplies to global markets. 

And to top it all off, trade wars are back in focus, with China warning against the additional 7.5% U.S. tariff on Chinese goods, calling it protectionism and the politicization of trade, and threatening to retaliate. 

Meanwhile, the Canadian government said last week it will impose tariffs of 15%, 25% and 50% on about $20 billion worth of U.S. goods starting September 8, 2026, in response to U.S. plans to raise tariffs on Canadian cars, auto parts, and steel to 50% from January 1, 2027. 

For the economy, the main risk from all of this is another inflation spike.

By the way, the U.S. will suffer too, with the Fed’s preferred PCE inflation gauge rising 0.2% in July from the previous month and 3.7% year over year, versus expectations of 0.1% and 3.6%. 

Central banks could respond by tightening policy, pushing government bond yields higher across the U.S., Europe, and Japan, potentially weighing on riskier assets. 

The hope is that, as the U.S. midterm elections approach, the White House will make some concessions to at least bring fuel prices down and regain voters’ support. 

U.S. equity index futures traded lower on Tuesday as investors assessed another increase in crude oil prices, higher Treasury yields and renewed military tensions in the Middle East.

The indicated decline follows two consecutive sessions of losses for U.S. equities. Crude oil futures rose 2.5% on Tuesday after gaining almost 3% during the previous session, increasing market attention on the potential implications of energy prices for inflation and monetary policy.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield also extended its advance, reaching its highest level since January 2025.

“Long-term US yields are still historically high having risen last week despite Treasury’s expanded buyback programme, suggesting the pressure extends beyond expectations for Fed policy,” Daniela Hathorn, Senior Market Analyst at Capital.com.

She added, “Heavy government borrowing, elevated term premium and growing competition for capital continue to underpin yields, creating a less comfortable environment for highly valued equities.”

Markets assess possibility of another Fed rate increase

Market expectations for Federal Reserve policy have shifted following comments from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh last Friday.

CME Group’s FedWatch Tool indicated a 63.9% market-implied probability of a 25-basis-point interest-rate increase at the central bank’s next meeting.

The probability represents current market pricing and can change as investors receive additional economic data. It does not indicate what decision the Federal Reserve will ultimately make.

Attention this week will include several U.S. economic releases, with the monthly employment report scheduled for Friday.

Major U.S. indices extend recent losses

Wall Street finished lower on Monday after also declining during Friday’s session. The major averages recovered some ground later in the day but remained in negative territory at the close.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 374.09 points, or 0.7%, to 53,185.90. The S&P 500 dropped 25.62 points, or 0.3%, to 7,686.14, while the Nasdaq Composite edged 31.53 points, or 0.1%, lower to 26,370.89.

The market moves came as tensions between the U.S. and Iran increased following their first exchange of strikes in more than a month.

The U.S. attacked two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island over the weekend. Iran subsequently launched an attack against two U.S. bases in Jordan.

Crude oil futures gained almost 3% during Monday’s session following those developments.

Airline shares fall while energy stocks advance

The increase in crude oil prices coincided with declines among airline stocks. The NYSE Arca Airline Index dropped 3.2% on Monday, reaching its lowest closing level in more than three months.

Rate-sensitive areas of the equity market also moved lower as Treasury yields increased. The Philadelphia Housing Sector Index fell 1.9%, while the Dow Jones Utility Average declined 1.4%.

Gold and retail shares also traded lower, while energy stocks advanced alongside crude oil prices.

Investors entering Tuesday’s session are assessing the interaction between higher energy prices, Treasury yields and inflation expectations while awaiting U.S. economic data that could provide additional information ahead of the Federal Reserve’s next policy meeting.

European natural gas prices climbed to their highest levels since March on Tuesday as renewed military exchanges between the United States and Iran increased concerns over LNG shipments through the Persian Gulf.

The benchmark Dutch front-month gas contract rose 1.3% to €71.30 per megawatt-hour (MWh), extending a gain of almost 5% in the previous session and remaining above €70.

In Britain, wholesale gas prices recorded a larger move as traders returned following Monday’s public holiday. The NBP contract increased 6.4% to 175.40 pence per therm.

The increases came as energy markets assessed the potential impact of further disruption to commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a major transit route for global LNG supplies.

Strait of Hormuz remains in focus after U.S.-Iran strikes

U.S. forces carried out air strikes against Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island, followed by Iranian missile attacks on two U.S. military air bases in Jordan.

U.S. President Donald Trump has raised the possibility of additional strikes against Iranian infrastructure, adding uncertainty over the duration of the conflict and its potential effect on commercial shipping.

Approximately one-fifth of global LNG supplies transit the Strait of Hormuz, with Qatar accounting for a significant proportion of those volumes.

Any extended disruption to the waterway could affect the availability of LNG cargoes for international buyers. European utilities, which have reduced access to pipeline imports compared with previous years, also compete with Asian buyers for spot LNG supplies.

European gas storage levels remain below seasonal average

The latest price increase comes as European gas storage levels remain below their recent seasonal norms ahead of the 2026/27 winter heating season.

According to Gas Infrastructure Europe data cited in the supplied information, regional storage facilities are approximately 62% full, around 17 percentage points below the five-year seasonal average.

Higher summer electricity demand during periods of elevated temperatures in Southern Europe, together with scheduled maintenance affecting Norwegian offshore pipeline supplies, reduced the pace of storage injections during August.

These conditions leave European gas markets more exposed to changes in LNG availability as the winter season approaches, although actual winter supply conditions will depend on factors including weather, demand and future import flows.

Higher energy prices add to inflation considerations

European natural gas prices have risen alongside crude oil, with Brent holding above $91 a barrel.

Higher wholesale energy prices could feed into European inflation if sustained, although the extent and timing of any effect on consumer prices remains uncertain.

Preliminary data released Tuesday showed Eurozone headline inflation accelerating to 3.3% year over year in August, with energy costs contributing to the increase.

The figures come ahead of the European Central Bank’s September 10 monetary policy meeting. Market participants have increased expectations for another 25-basis-point interest-rate increase, although the ECB has not yet made its policy decision and the outcome remains uncertain.

European gas markets therefore remain focused on developments in the Persian Gulf, LNG shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the pace of storage accumulation ahead of the winter heating season.

MedPal AI plc (LSE:MPAL) noted Eli Lilly’s announcement that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Mounjaro (tirzepatide) to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk of such events.

The approval, announced on August 28, 2026, covers cardiovascular death, heart attack and stroke. MedPal said the expanded indication increases the potential patient population for GLP-1 medicines beyond their existing use in diabetes and weight management.

The company operates New Health, its dedicated GLP-1 weight management clinic, which already dispenses Mounjaro in the UK under the medicine’s existing UK authorisation.

MedPal estimates potential UK population of around 1.4 million

Eli Lilly estimates that as many as one in three U.S. adults with type 2 diabetes has undetected cardiovascular disease, according to MedPal.

In the UK, more than 4.7 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes, approximately 90% of whom have type 2 diabetes, based on Diabetes UK figures for 2024/25.

Applying the same one-in-three assumption, MedPal’s board estimates that approximately 1.4 million UK adults could fall within the population addressed by the new U.S. indication. The FDA decision does not alter Mounjaro’s current UK prescribing authorisation.

The European Medicines Agency added cardiovascular outcome data to Mounjaro’s EU product information in June 2026. Eli Lilly has also said regulatory submissions based on the data are under review in other markets. MedPal noted that no equivalent UK label change has been announced and that there is no certainty over whether or when one will occur.

SURPASS-CVOT included more than 13,000 patients

The FDA decision followed cardiovascular data from the SURPASS-CVOT study, which tracked 13,299 patients for approximately five years.

According to Eli Lilly, the study showed an 8% lower rate of cardiovascular death, heart attack or stroke for Mounjaro compared with Trulicity (dulaglutide), another GLP-1 treatment with an established cardiovascular benefit.

MedPal said the results add cardiovascular risk reduction to the range of applications being considered for GLP-1 medicines.

Morgan Stanley Research has forecast that the global GLP-1 market could reach approximately £140 billion by 2035, while Grand View Research projects the UK prescription weight-loss medication market will increase from approximately £313 million in 2025 to around £1.85 billion by 2033.

MedPal previously stated that Mounjaro accounted for approximately 79% of the UK GLP-1 market as of its January 28, 2026 announcement.

Foundayo available through New Health

MedPal also said Foundayo (orforglipron), Eli Lilly’s once-daily oral GLP-1 weight-loss medicine, is now available through New Health.

The medicine was authorised by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on August 10, 2026, making the UK the first European country to grant approval, according to the company. New Health began offering Foundayo during the first days of UK commercial supply.

MedPal reported on August 4 that New Health generated more than £180,000 in private prescription revenue during July following three weeks of marketing. The company said this represented an annualised run rate of more than £2.2 million, compared with an annualised recurring revenue run rate of approximately £8.6 million for the wider group.

New Health has direct arrangements as an authorised purchaser of Eli Lilly products and already dispenses Mounjaro under its existing UK authorisation.

MedPal assesses potential expansion of GLP-1 applications

MedPal’s board said it believes cardiovascular data could contribute to increased adoption of GLP-1 medicines and that a future UK label expansion, if approved, could increase the population for whom the treatment is clinically relevant.

The company stressed that the new U.S. indication does not itself change how Mounjaro can currently be prescribed in the UK.

Jason Drummond, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MedPal, commented:

“GLP-1s began as diabetes treatments and became the biggest story in weight loss. Now the FDA has approved Mounjaro to cut the risk of heart attack and stroke. Every time the science widens, the market follows suit and this is the biggest expansion yet.

“New Health was built for exactly this: direct supply from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, clinician-led prescribing, robotic dispensing, and Foundayo already live on new.co.uk within days of first UK supply. The GLP-1 and peptide opportunity keeps compounding and New Health sits in the middle of it. We are just getting started.”

MedPal operates digital health and pharmacy services

MedPal AI operates a vertically integrated digital health and pharmacy business. Its operations include NHS Distance Selling Pharmacy hubs at Sarus Court in Runcorn and Swaffham, the New Health GLP-1 weight management clinic, a B2B care home pharmacy supply operation and eMARx, its electronic medication administration record software for care homes.

The group also operates Juno, an AI health companion built on Anthropic’s Claude. MedPal is seeking to develop a platform connecting prescribing, dispensing, delivery, medication administration and AI-supported patient services.

Eurozone manufacturing activity expanded at its fastest pace in more than four years in August, according to the latest S&P Global PMI survey.

The S&P Global Eurozone Manufacturing PMI increased to 52.7 from 51.9 in July, reaching its highest level since May 2022. The survey data were collected between August 10 and August 21, 2026.

Factory production increased for a third consecutive month, with the Output Index rising to 53.3 from 52.9 in July, its highest reading in four-and-a-half years. Intermediate goods provided the largest contribution to the increase in production.

New orders record strongest increase since early 2022

New factory orders increased at their fastest rate since early 2022, while export business expanded for only the second time in four-and-a-half years.

Austria, Germany and the Netherlands recorded particularly high rates of growth in overseas sales.

Germany, the eurozone’s largest economy, reported its strongest month of manufacturing growth in more than four years, while France also contributed to the overall expansion.

Conditions varied elsewhere in the region. Italy recorded its first contraction since January, while Spain remained in contraction territory.

Purchasing activity increases as supply delays continue

Eurozone manufacturers increased purchasing activity during August following modest reductions in June and July.

Despite the increase in purchases, inventories of inputs continued to decline and did so at a faster rate. Supply-chain pressures also remained evident, with supplier delivery times lengthening sharply during the month.

Manufacturing employment was broadly unchanged, an improvement compared with more than three years of continuous declines. Outstanding orders were also unchanged from July.

Cost inflation eases as business confidence improves

Input costs continued to increase in August, but the rate of inflation slowed to its lowest level in six months.

Price increases for both manufacturing inputs and finished goods nevertheless remained above levels recorded before the start of the Middle East conflict.

Business confidence improved for a fourth consecutive month. Manufacturers’ expectations for output growth over the next 12 months also moved above their long-term average.