Category: Market News

GSK plc (LSE:GSK) said on Friday that the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has issued a favourable opinion recommending that the use of its RSV vaccine, Arexvy, be extended to include all adults aged 18 years and above.

A final regulatory decision from the European Commission is anticipated in February 2026. Should approval be granted, Arexvy would become available for the prevention of RSV disease in the entire adult population aged 18 and over.

Arexvy was previously authorised in Europe as the first RSV vaccine for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus in adults aged 60 and older, as well as in individuals aged 50 to 59 who are considered at higher risk of severe RSV illness.

“Today’s positive CHMP opinion is an important step towards bringing more options to prevent severe RSV disease for adults in Europe,” said Sanjay Gurunathan, GSK Head of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Research and Development.

Respiratory syncytial virus is a widespread and highly contagious virus that affects the lungs and airways, with an estimated 64 million infections worldwide each year. Within the European Union, RSV leads to an average of around 158,000 hospital admissions annually among adults aged 18 and above.

Adults admitted to hospital with RSV are more likely than children to experience serious complications, incur higher treatment costs, and face increased mortality rates. The actual scale of adult RSV infections may be higher than reported, as routine testing is not consistently performed.

Globally, the vaccine has already received approval in more than 65 countries for use in people aged 60 and over. It is also authorised in over 55 countries, including the United States, Japan and European markets, for individuals aged 50 to 59 who have certain underlying health conditions that increase their risk.

GSK said it continues to pursue broader regulatory approvals for Arexvy in additional markets, including the US and Japan.

Filtronic plc (LSE:FTC) said it has made strong strategic progress in the first half of FY2026, highlighted by the award of its largest-ever contract with SpaceX for its E-band gallium nitride (GaN) technology. The agreement represents a major commercial deployment of Filtronic’s products within the space sector.

The company also reported new contract wins across the aerospace and defence markets, expanding both its customer base and order pipeline. Filtronic said its innovation programme continues to advance, with additional product launches planned for 2026 and funding secured to support development of a Ka-band power amplifier. Management added that the group remains financially well positioned, supported by a strong order book and confidence in meeting full-year market expectations.

More about Filtronic plc

Filtronic is a global specialist in advanced microelectronics, designing and manufacturing high-performance communication solutions for mission-critical applications. With more than 45 years of industry experience, the company operates two manufacturing facilities and three engineering centres worldwide, serving customers across space, aerospace, defence, telecoms infrastructure and critical communications markets.

Capita plc (LSE:CPI) said trading over the 11 months to November 2025 delivered mixed results across its business lines. The Public Service division recorded revenue growth of 4%, while the Contact Centre business saw an 18.3% decline, reflecting contract losses and lower volumes, particularly within the telecommunications sector.

Pension Solutions posted modest growth during the period, while Regulated Services revenue fell by 14.3% as the company continues with its planned exit from that sector. Capita said it has made further progress on its transformation strategy, delivering £250 million of annualised cost savings and expanding its use of artificial intelligence. Recent initiatives include the launch of the AI Catalyst Stack and AI Lab. The group added that its contract pipeline has increased to £16.5 billion, underlining longer-term growth opportunities.

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Capita plc is a business services provider supporting clients across the public and private sectors in managing complex operational processes. The group operates in eight countries and employs around 34,000 people, delivering people-led services supported by technology, primarily across the UK and Europe.

ITM Power plc (LSE:ITM) said it has secured two new engineering contracts covering projects in Australia and Canada, with a combined planned capacity of 70MW. The awards include a Basic Design Engineering Package for an Australian project and a Front-End Engineering Design contract in Canada.

Both projects are expected to utilise ITM Power’s NEPTUNE V containerised green hydrogen production plants. The company said the contracts mark an important step in expanding its presence in the Australian and Canadian markets, while reinforcing its position within the global green hydrogen sector.

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ITM Power plc is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of electrolysers using proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology to produce green hydrogen from renewable electricity and water. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Sheffield, the company develops solutions aimed at supporting the transition to net zero energy systems.

Ariana Resources PLC (LSE:AAU) said it has continued to make progress with its exploration drilling programme at the Dokwe gold project in Zimbabwe, with 2,411 metres completed from the planned 4,000-metre campaign. The company said drilling at Dokwe Central has identified encouraging geological features, including silicification, pyritisation and zones of shearing.

Ariana noted that the use of real-time data from portable XRF analysis and magnetic susceptibility measurements is helping to refine geological interpretation and guide adjustments to the drilling programme. The group said it is considering extending the current campaign, with laboratory assay results expected before the end of the year to provide further insight into the project’s mineralisation and resource potential.

More about Ariana Resources PLC

Ariana Resources PLC is a gold-focused exploration, development and production company with assets in Africa and Europe. The group is working to advance and expand its gold portfolio, including the Dokwe gold project in Zimbabwe.

Audioboom Group plc (LSE:BOOM) said November 2025 was the strongest month in its history, with revenue reaching $9.1 million alongside sharp increases in downloads and video views. The company reported a 66% year-on-year rise in audience engagement during the period.

The group said recent strategic initiatives, including the acquisition of Adelicious and continued investment in video podcasting, have expanded its advertising inventory and strengthened its market positioning. Management said these developments support Audioboom’s ambition to further scale its global podcasting platform.

More about Audioboom Group plc

Audioboom is a global podcasting platform with content reaching around 40 million unique listeners and generating approximately 135 million downloads each month. Ranked as the fifth-largest podcast publisher in the US, the company provides commercial, distribution, marketing, and production services for premium podcasts and distributes content across major platforms including Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and others, with operations spanning North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Card Factory plc (LSE:CARD) said recent trading has been impacted by continued pressure on UK consumers, resulting in store sales coming in below expectations during a key trading period. The company said the softer performance reflects ongoing cost-of-living challenges affecting discretionary spending.

Despite the near-term headwinds, management said it remains focused on delivering its ‘Simplify and Scale’ strategy, which is aimed at improving operational efficiency and productivity in a high-inflation environment. The board reiterated its confidence in the group’s longer-term outlook and confirmed plans to continue its share buyback programme alongside the payment of a progressive full-year dividend.

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Card Factory plc is the UK’s leading specialist retailer of greeting cards, gifts, and celebration products. The group serves customers primarily in the UK, with additional operations in the Republic of Ireland and North America.

Cadence Minerals Plc (LSE:KDNC) said it has hosted a technical site visit to the Amapá iron ore project alongside its joint venture partner DEV, welcoming the President of the Economic Development Agency of Amapá, Brazil. The visit focused on outlining the proposed development route for the planned 5.5 million tonnes per annum integrated DR-grade iron ore operation, including required upgrades to rail and port infrastructure.

The company also reported progress across key technical workstreams supporting the environmental licensing of the Azteca processing plant, which represents the first phase of the wider Amapá redevelopment strategy. Cadence said the facility is expected to allow for early-stage production and cash generation, helping to fund subsequent studies and capital investments as the project advances.

More about Cadence Minerals Plc

Cadence Minerals Plc is a mining investment and development company with a focus on advancing mineral resource projects. Its portfolio includes iron ore developments, with the Amapá iron ore project in Brazil forming a central part of its growth strategy.

Harbour Energy (LSE:HBR) said it has agreed to acquire the majority of the subsidiaries of Waldorf Energy Partners Ltd and Waldorf Production Ltd in a transaction valued at $170 million. The acquisition is expected to enhance Harbour’s free cash flow and reinforce its position in the UK North Sea.

The deal will increase Harbour’s interest in the Catcher field and add a new production hub through the Kraken oil field. The company said the transaction is expected to generate operational and financial synergies, including access to approximately $350 million of cash and the ability to utilise Waldorf’s UK tax losses. Completion is targeted for the second quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

More about Harbour Energy

Harbour Energy is an oil and gas exploration and production company with a strong focus on the UK North Sea. The group is pursuing a strategy of disciplined investment aimed at strengthening operational performance and long-term financial resilience.

Petro Matad Limited (LSE:MATD) said it achieved its highest monthly production to date following successful operations at the Heron-1 and Gazelle-1 wells. The company added that re-testing at Heron-2 has been paused for the winter period, with operations expected to resume when conditions allow.

The group said it is in the process of finalising an Oil Sales Agreement with PetroChina and continues to evaluate a potential farm-in arrangement for Block XX. Alongside its oil activities, Petro Matad noted progress at its renewable energy subsidiary, SunSteppe Renewable Energy, which is advancing a number of projects, including a proposed 200MW hybrid renewable development and Mongolia’s first green hydrogen initiative.

More about Petro Matad Limited

Petro Matad Limited is an AIM-listed oil and gas company focused on exploration and production in Mongolia, with its core operations located at Block XX. Through its subsidiary SunSteppe Renewable Energy, the company is also developing renewable energy projects aimed at supporting Mongolia’s transition to a more sustainable energy mix.