ADVFN UK Market News

Category: Top Story

  • Journeo H1 Revenue Rises 53% as Sales Pipeline Reaches £200 Million

    Journeo H1 Revenue Rises 53% as Sales Pipeline Reaches £200 Million

    Journeo plc (LSE:JNEO) reported revenue of £37.6 million for the six months ended 30 June 2026, an increase of 53% year-on-year, reflecting organic growth and contributions from acquisitions.

    Gross profit increased 57% to £14.5 million, while the group recorded a gross margin of 39%.

    Adjusted profit before tax rose 10% to £3.0 million and diluted earnings per share increased 9% to 13.60 pence.

    Information Systems Revenue Increases 40%

    Journeo’s Information Systems division generated revenue of £13.9 million, up 40% from the prior-year period.

    Infrastructure Protection, which joined the group in late 2025, contributed £10.6 million of revenue and recorded what the company described as robust margins.

    Revenue from Integrated Services was broadly unchanged during the period.

    Journeo continued to integrate its acquired businesses during the first half, including consolidating Infrastructure Protection operations into a new regional headquarters and making changes to operational leadership.

    Journeo Sales Opportunity Pipeline Expands to £200 Million

    The group’s sales opportunity pipeline increased to approximately £200 million, compared with £80 million a year earlier.

    The pipeline covers opportunities across Journeo’s transport and critical infrastructure markets and represents potential business rather than contracted revenue.

    Journeo reiterated its medium-term objective of increasing annual revenue to more than £150 million through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions, while maintaining margins and continuing investment in its workforce, systems and intellectual property.

    The £150 million figure remains a management objective rather than financial guidance for a specific reporting period.

    Group Trials Agentic AI Development Tools

    Journeo is also trialling agentic artificial intelligence tools within its software development activities.

    The company said the technology is already accelerating software releases and expects its use to increase engineering productivity. These anticipated productivity benefits remain management expectations.

    Journeo continues to invest in research and development across its hardware, software and software-as-a-service products.

    More about Journeo plc

    Journeo plc is a UK-based provider of technology systems for transport networks and critical national infrastructure.

    The group operates through Information Systems, Infrastructure Protection and Integrated Services. Its products and services include passenger information displays, security and access-control systems, on-vehicle telematics and CCTV.

    Journeo supplies customers including towns, cities, airports and public transport operators and develops integrated hardware, software and SaaS products using IoT and open-standard technologies.

  • Greenland Energy and 80 Mile Agree Indicative Terms for All-Share Merger

    Greenland Energy and 80 Mile Agree Indicative Terms for All-Share Merger

    Greenland Energy (NASDAQ:GLNDW) and 80 Mile (LSE:80M) have agreed indicative terms for a proposed all-share merger under which Greenland Energy would acquire 80 Mile.

    The proposed transaction values 80 Mile at approximately £61.48 million and represents a premium of more than 40% to recent trading levels, according to the terms outlined by the companies.

    Greenland Energy and 80 Mile are existing joint venture partners in the Jameson Land Basin in Greenland. If completed, the transaction would consolidate 100% ownership of the Jameson Land licences within a single Nasdaq-listed company.

    Proposed Transaction Remains Subject to Pre-Conditions

    The companies said the proposed merger remains subject to several pre-conditions, including satisfactory mutual due diligence and approval by the relevant independent directors.

    There is no certainty that these conditions will be satisfied or that Greenland Energy will proceed with a firm offer for 80 Mile.

    Under the proposed all-share structure, 80 Mile shareholders would receive shares in the combined U.S.-listed group, retaining exposure to the assets through their ownership in Greenland Energy.

    The companies said a combination would bring together 80 Mile’s portfolio with Greenland Energy’s cash resources, capital markets access and operating platform. The transaction could also allow overlapping corporate functions to be consolidated, although the potential benefits remain dependent on completion and subsequent implementation.

    Merger Would Consolidate Jameson Land Ownership

    The Jameson Land Basin is currently held through the existing relationship between Greenland Energy and 80 Mile.

    Greenland Energy has rights to earn a 70% working interest across approximately 2.1 million acres by funding initial wells. A completed acquisition of 80 Mile would bring the Jameson Land licence interests under one corporate structure.

    Greenland Energy recently completed a US$70 million offering, providing additional capital for its activities.

    Independent engineering work cited by the company has identified approximately 13 billion barrels of prospective recoverable oil resources at Jameson Land. These figures represent prospective resources rather than established reserves or production.

    More about 80 Mile plc and Greenland Energy

    80 Mile plc is a London-listed exploration and development company with energy, critical minerals and industrial gas projects in Greenland, Finland and Italy.

    Its portfolio includes the Jameson Land Basin gas and liquids project, the Disko-Nuussuaq copper-nickel-cobalt-PGM project, the Dundas Ilmenite mineral sands project and interests in industrial gases and biofuels in Italy.

    Greenland Energy is a Nasdaq-listed energy exploration company focused on the Jameson Land Basin in East Greenland. Its activities centre on the exploration and potential development of the basin’s hydrocarbon resources.

  • STV Group H1 Revenue Falls 27% as Studios Impairment Leads to Operating Loss

    STV Group H1 Revenue Falls 27% as Studios Impairment Leads to Operating Loss

    STV Group (LSE:STVG) reported first-half 2026 revenue of £66.1 million, down 27% from a year earlier, as lower activity at its Studios division offset growth in advertising revenue.

    Total advertising revenue increased 5% to £48.1 million. The company reported adjusted operating profit of £5.9 million, down 12% year-on-year, while adjusted operating margins increased as the revenue mix shifted towards higher-margin advertising and the group implemented cost reductions.

    A £25.4 million non-cash impairment relating to the Studios business contributed to a statutory operating loss of £20.5 million for the period.

    STV is carrying out a restructuring programme that is expected to generate £8 million of annualised cost savings by the end of 2026. The measures include around 60 job reductions.

    The group has also re-phased payments to its defined benefit pension scheme, reducing near-term cash commitments. Leverage stood at 2.4 times and remained within the group’s covenant limits.

    Advertising Platform Scheduled for Q4 Launch

    STV said it plans to launch STV ADapt, its AI-powered advertising platform, during the fourth quarter of 2026. The platform forms part of the company’s efforts to expand advertising across its television, streaming and audio operations.

    The company reported continued audience reach across its media businesses, with STV and STV Player recording the largest commercial share among television and ad-supported streaming platforms in Scotland. STV Radio also recorded its first RAJAR audience figures following its launch.

    STV said Ofcom has approved changes to its public service media licences, allowing modifications to the delivery of its news service intended to make the operation more financially sustainable.

    Studios Targets Breakeven in 2026

    The Studios division continues to face commissioning delays, with STV reviewing its portfolio as it targets breakeven for the business in 2026.

    During the period, Blackhill’s The Witness reached the number-one position globally on Netflix, while Primal Media secured its first commission for Hulu.

    STV said Studios profitability in 2027 will depend on decisions relating to a small number of large commissions, leaving the timing of future production activity dependent on those commissioning outcomes.

    Against this backdrop, the board decided not to declare an interim dividend, citing the need to preserve financial flexibility.

    STV Expects Q3 Advertising Revenue to Decline Around 5%

    For the third quarter, STV expects advertising revenue to decline by approximately 5%, broadly consistent with the trends recorded in earlier quarters.

    The company expects total net debt at the end of 2026 to be between £40 million and £45 million. Alongside its cost-reduction programme, STV continues to review its Studios portfolio while developing its cross-platform advertising operations.

    More about STV Group plc

    STV Group plc is a Scottish media company operating across broadcast television, streaming, content production and audio. Its businesses include STV, STV Player, STV Studios and STV Radio.

    The group generates advertising revenue across television, digital and audio platforms, alongside revenue from television and streaming content production through STV Studios. Its production operations include scripted drama and entertainment programming for U.K. and international customers.

    STV is also developing technology-based advertising products, including STV ADapt, and operates under public service media licences in Scotland. Its Studios portfolio includes Blackhill and Primal Media, which produce content for broadcasters and streaming services.

  • A Smarter Way to Monitor the Market Is Coming to ADVFN

    A Smarter Way to Monitor the Market Is Coming to ADVFN

    The newest version of Monitor is now available on ADVFN, bringing investors new ways to discover opportunities, research companies and stay on top of the markets they follow — all from one workspace.

    Launching next week, the updated Monitor builds on the Watchlists investors already use to follow stocks, options, crypto, forex and commodities, while adding new tools that bring market discovery, company research and investor discussion closer together.

    Virtual Tool Guide – Full Video Available HERE

    At the centre of the release are three major additions: an expandable company research panel, a new Discover section spanning global markets and crypto, and an integrated Screener.

    Screenshot of ADVFN's new monitor
    © ADVFN

    See more all in one place

    The new research panel lets you investigate a company while staying inside your Monitor workspace.

    Select a ticker and the panel opens alongside your list, providing a snapshot of the company with quick access to charts, fundamentals, Level 2, trades, news and investor discussions.

    Market data can show you what is happening. Investor discussion adds another layer of context around what the market is watching. Bringing those elements together means you can move from spotting a stock to researching the company and following the conversation without breaking your workflow.

    Screenshot of ADVFN's new monitor
    © ADVFN

    Discover stocks that are moving quickly

    The new Discover section gives investors another way to find opportunities beyond the securities already on their Watchlists.

    Choose from 14 global markets, as well as crypto, and quickly scan: Top Gainers/Losers by %/$, Most Active/ Trades, and the Smallest/Largest Spreads

    Discover is designed to make broad market activity easier to scan, whether you’re looking for momentum, trading activity or securities beginning to stand out.

    Results can also be viewed as a list, through charts or alongside relevant news, giving investors different ways to assess what is happening before deciding where to look deeper.

    Screenshot of ADVFN's new monitor
    © ADVFN

    Dig deeper into stocks that matter to you

    For the first time, Monitor includes an integrated Screener, allowing investors to search the market using more than 30 filtering criteria.

    Filter companies using market capitalization, valuation metrics, financials, dividend yield, technical indicators and more.

    You can build screens around your own investing strategy or start with pre-built Quick Filters that provide a starting point for different approaches to investing.

    These include Top Dividend Stocks, New Highs, Quality Compounders, Deep Value Stocks, Beaten Down Bargains, High Revenue Growth and more.

    From there, the filters are yours to adjust. Change the exchange. Refine the financial criteria. Add technical parameters. Narrow thousands of securities into a more focused group of companies worth investigating.

    When something stands out, you can move directly into its chart, company information and investor discussion for the next layer of research.

    Screenshot of ADVFN's new monitor
    © ADVFN

    Built around the market you already follow

    At its core, Monitor remains a place to keep the securities and markets that matter to you close at hand.

    Watchlists provide that foundation, while the new tools extend what you can do from there: follow what you know, see what is moving, screen for new ideas and research them without leaving the workspace.

    It turns Monitor from a place primarily used to keep track of the market into a broader starting point for finding and investigating investment ideas.

    The next step in a broader evolution

    The new Monitor is part of a wider expansion of the research and investing tools available across ADVFN.

    And this release is only the beginning.

    Over the coming year, we will introduce a range of new tools and capabilities across our platforms, with a focus on making it easier to discover opportunities, research companies and bring market data and investor insight together.

    Monitor is the first major step in that next phase, with much more to come this year.

  • European Shares Edge Lower as Markets Assess Hormuz Developments and ECB Rate Outlook: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European Shares Edge Lower as Markets Assess Hormuz Developments and ECB Rate Outlook: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European equities edged lower on Monday as investors assessed developments in the Persian Gulf and expectations for an interest-rate increase at the European Central Bank’s policy meeting on Thursday.

    The pan-European STOXX 600 fell 0.1%, remaining near multi-week lows. Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 traded within narrow ranges.

    Among individual stocks, Novartis (TG:NOT) fell 3.4% after a trial of its cholesterol drug failed to meet its main goal.

    Iran plans restricted zone outside Strait of Hormuz

    Iranian authorities said they plan to declare a restricted zone outside the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days.

    The announcement followed U.S. strikes that disabled three Iranian oil tankers over the weekend. Washington said the action was in response to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ballistic missile attack targeting two U.S. Navy warships.

    Oil prices rose by around 1% on Monday following gains of nearly 10% during the previous week, with Brent crude trading above $90 a barrel.

    Approximately 20% of global seaborne oil and gas flows pass through the Strait of Hormuz, putting the waterway in focus as markets assess the potential implications of military activity or transit restrictions for energy supplies.

    Markets price in ECB rate increase

    Investors are also preparing for the European Central Bank’s monetary policy decision on Thursday.

    Money markets were pricing in a 25-basis-point interest-rate increase. Preliminary August data showed headline Eurozone inflation at 3.3%, with energy components rising 14.3%.

    European sovereign bond yields remained elevated ahead of the meeting, with Germany’s 10-year Bund yield trading near multi-year highs.

    Higher borrowing costs are also being monitored for their potential effect on rate-sensitive sectors, including real estate and construction.

    U.S. inflation data in focus ahead of Fed meeting

    Markets will also receive U.S. Consumer Price Index data later this week, ahead of the Federal Reserve’s September 15-16 policy meeting.

    The inflation report follows U.S. employment data released on Friday showing that 162,000 jobs were added in August.

    Investors will use the CPI figures to assess the inflation outlook and expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next interest-rate decision.

  • Admiral Upgraded to Overweight at Morgan Stanley as UK Motor Insurance Pricing Rises

    Admiral Upgraded to Overweight at Morgan Stanley as UK Motor Insurance Pricing Rises

    Admiral Group Plc (LSE:ADM) was upgraded to “Overweight” from “Equal-weight” by Morgan Stanley on Monday, with the bank citing rising UK motor insurance pricing and its expectations for improved margins.

    Morgan Stanley raised its price target on the FTSE 100 insurer to 4,450p from 3,575p. The new target represents approximately 16% upside from Admiral’s previous closing price of 3,816p.

    The bank identified UK motor insurance as an area of firmer pricing within European property and casualty insurance, compared with softer conditions in commercial insurance, reinsurance and continental European retail markets.

    UK motor insurance pricing increases

    Morgan Stanley said UK motor insurance CPI reached 8% year-on-year in July, marking a fifth consecutive month of acceleration.

    Approximately 90% of Admiral’s profits are derived from its UK motor business, according to the research note.

    During the first half of 2026, Admiral implemented rate increases in the high-single-digit percentage range. Morgan Stanley compared this with estimated full-year claims inflation of between 5% and 7%.

    “Admiral is now rebuilding margins, not just maintaining them, with rate increases well ahead of claims inflation,” Morgan Stanley analysts said, adding that the deterioration in written margins in UK motor had passed its lowest point.

    The bank increased its estimates for Admiral’s group pre-tax profit in 2027 and 2028 by approximately 6.5%, reflecting increases of between 7% and 8% in its UK motor profit forecasts.

    Morgan Stanley assesses autonomous vehicle exposure

    Morgan Stanley also addressed the potential effect of autonomous vehicles on the motor insurance sector, saying concerns about near-term disruption had been premature.

    The bank cited commercial deployment obstacles, including regulatory delays affecting robotaxi operators such as Waymo in London and paused Level 3 autonomous vehicle deployments by major automakers.

    Morgan Stanley said these factors indicate that any structural change in vehicle liability would represent a longer-term transition.

    Morgan Stanley raises Admiral price target to 4,450p

    Admiral was trading at approximately 14.5 times Morgan Stanley’s estimated 2027 earnings per share, compared with a 10-year average multiple of 16.5 times.

    The bank expects Admiral’s valuation discount relative to broader European peers to narrow as underwriting profitability improves.

    Morgan Stanley also reiterated “Overweight” ratings on Hiscox Ltd, with a price target of 1,878p, and AXA SA, with a target of €44.64.

    The bank maintained “Underweight” ratings on Legal & General Group PLC, with a 296p price target, and Gjensidige Forsikring ASA, with a target of NKr 282.20.

  • Brent Climbs as U.S.-Iran Conflict Keeps Hormuz Shipping in Focus: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Wall Street Futures

    Brent Climbs as U.S.-Iran Conflict Keeps Hormuz Shipping in Focus: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Wall Street Futures

    Brent crude moved higher on Monday as another round of military exchanges between the United States and Iran kept attention on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Investors were also looking ahead to U.S. inflation figures due later this week.

    U.S. equity markets were scheduled to remain closed for a holiday. The upcoming inflation report is among the economic indicators markets are assessing ahead of the Federal Reserve’s next interest-rate decision.

    Brent futures gained 1.1% to $97.31 a barrel as of 03:02 ET (07:02 GMT), extending a rise of nearly 10% recorded during the previous week.

    Iran has indicated that it plans to declare a restricted zone near the Strait of Hormuz “in the coming days.” The announcement followed U.S. strikes over the weekend that disabled three Iranian oil tankers.

    The United States said the strikes were retaliation for an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ballistic missile attack targeting two U.S. Navy warships.

    Shipping data cited in media reports showed traffic through Hormuz at its lowest since May. Two vessels passed through the strait on Saturday and six on Sunday, while the 10-day moving average fell to 10.

    Around 125 large commodity vessels travelled through Hormuz each day before the Iran conflict began in late February, representing approximately one-fifth of global tanker traffic.

    Iran’s economy faces U.S. pressure

    Restrictions on shipping through Hormuz have kept energy supplies in focus as markets assess the implications of oil prices for inflation and interest rates.

    The six-month conflict remains at a stalemate. Vital Knowledge analysts described the U.S. as either “incapable” or “unwilling” to bring the fighting to an end and said Tehran was “digging its heels.”

    The analysts also said Washington appeared to be “winning the war of Hormuz.”

    Reuters reported that a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and tighter sanctions were restricting Iran’s oil exports and access to foreign currency, citing Iranian insiders and regional sources.

    Whether the measures result in renewed negotiations remains uncertain. Vital Knowledge said U.S. pressure could ultimately amount to a “Pyrrhic victory as Tehran’s economic desperation prompts it to escalate the conflict even further.”

    U.S. envoys hold talks in Ukraine and Russia

    Two envoys of U.S. President Donald Trump visited Kyiv on Sunday as part of efforts to restart discussions concerning the war between Ukraine and Russia.

    Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff also travelled to Moscow over the weekend. The two discussed proposals for ending the conflict with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a White House official cited by the Wall Street Journal.

    Further details are expected in “the coming weeks,” the official said.

    Ukraine and Russia refrained from recent bombing campaigns while the diplomatic visits took place, according to the source.

    Nvidia’s Huang comments on artificial general intelligence

    Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) Chief Executive Jensen Huang said artificial general intelligence had arrived following the launch of OpenAI’s GPT-6 Astra.

    “AGI has arrived,” Huang wrote on X on Sunday while congratulating OpenAI.

    OpenAI has described Astra as its most intelligent and aligned system, citing performance across computer use, software engineering, cybersecurity, science and professional work.

    According to Huang, Astra was trained on more than 100,000 Nvidia Grace Blackwell NVLink72 systems.

    “From ChatGPT to o1 to Astra in 4 years,” Huang wrote, adding that another 400,000 Nvidia GPUs were coming online.

    Amazon Prime Air aircraft crashes at Miami airport

    At least five people were reported killed and another five injured after an Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) Prime Air cargo aircraft operated by 21 Air overran a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday.

    Prime Air Flight 7598 left the airport’s diagonal runway at around 2 p.m. local time before coming to rest at the northwest end of the airport, according to a spokesperson cited by Investing.com. The aircraft struck several vehicles and caught fire.

    The cause of the runway overrun was not immediately known, and the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to investigate the incident.

    A separate accident in February 2019 involved an Amazon-branded Boeing 767 operated by Atlas Air, which crashed near Houston while flying from Miami and killed all three people aboard. The earlier accident involved a different aircraft and operator.

  • Market Open: Standard Life Profit, IQE Growth

    Market Open: Standard Life Profit, IQE Growth

    FTSE 100 opens flat as Gulf tensions support Brent crude, while Standard Life reports higher profit and IQE posts strong revenue growth.

    Market Overview

    The FTSE 100 opened broadly unchanged at 10,830.97, while the Euronext 100 slipped 0.01 per cent to 1,910.43 and Germany’s DAX edged 0.01 per cent lower to 26,043.94. European sentiment remained cautious as the US-Iran confrontation and proposed restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz raised concerns over energy supplies, while investors also assessed the prospect of an ECB rate increase. In the US, the Nasdaq closed lower at 26,506.99 and the S&P 500 fell to 7,718.60.

    Commodity markets reflected the geopolitical uncertainty, with Brent crude and gold higher, while copper and natural gas moved lower. Bitcoin fell against sterling. Currency moves were limited, with the US dollar, Swiss franc and Australian dollar strengthening marginally against the pound, the euro unchanged and the Japanese yen slightly weaker. Oil remained supported by concerns that further US-Iran attacks on shipping could prolong disruption to Middle East supplies.

    Market Numbers

    FTSE 100: Down (0.001%), 10,830.97
    Euronext 100: Down (0.01%), 1,910.43
    DAX: Down (0.01%), 26,043.94
    NASDAQ: Down, 26,506.99
    S&P 500: Down, 7,718.60

    In the Headlines

    Profit rises – Standard Life (LSE:SDLF)
    Standard Life reported a 25% increase in first-half adjusted operating profit to £563 million, alongside higher cash generation and assets under administration. The retirement savings group is also pursuing its proposed £2 billion acquisition of Aegon UK, which would expand its position in the UK pensions and savings market.

    Revenue growth – IQE (LSE:IQE)
    Compound semiconductor materials supplier IQE reported a 43% rise in first-half revenue to £64.6 million, supported by stronger photonics and wireless sales and demand from AI data centres, defence and advanced sensing. The company expects full-year revenue growth of more than 30% and plans to move to the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market by 2027.

    Currencies (vs GBP)

    USD: Up (+0.01%), $1.3517
    CHF: Up (+0.00%), Fr.1.0948
    EUR: Unchanged (0.00%), €1.1639
    JPY: Down (-0.00%), ¥211.145
    AUD: Up (+0.01%), $1.8757
    Bitcoin (BTC/GBP): Down, £58,619.49

    Commodities

    Copper: Down
    Gold: Up
    Brent Crude: Up
    Natural Gas: Down

  • FTSE 100 Edges Lower as U.S.-Iran Tensions Focus Attention on Gulf Shipping

    FTSE 100 Edges Lower as U.S.-Iran Tensions Focus Attention on Gulf Shipping

    The FTSE 100 traded 0.13% lower on Monday as developments in the U.S.-Iran conflict and shipping through the Persian Gulf remained in focus.

    As of 03:25 ET (07:25 GMT), Germany’s DAX was also down 0.13%, while France’s CAC 40 declined 0.07%. Sterling gained against the U.S. dollar, with GBP/USD up 0.077% at 1.3525.

    U.S. Central Command released footage showing the Iranian tanker M/T Kylo, also referred to as the “Noxen,” sinking in the Gulf of Oman following U.S. strikes. The operation also disabled the M/T Downy near Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near Jask, according to the report.

    CENTCOM said the strikes followed Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps missile launches targeting two U.S. Navy vessels. It said the missiles were evaded and there were no U.S. casualties.

    Iran plans to announce a new restricted zone in the Gulf and approve maps for a shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has said it will commit to keeping the waterway open if the United States ends attacks and threats against Iran.

    The developments follow the breakdown of a June ceasefire in the six-month U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, with renewed strikes affecting shipping in the region.

    U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth said, “It’s simple: if Iran shoots at U.S. ships, we will destroy (and sink) their oil tankers.” CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Iran would face “an even higher economic cost” for further attacks. Iran’s Foreign Ministry described the U.S. strikes as a “war crime” and a breach of the UN Charter.

    ING commodities strategists said in a Monday note that “the oil market remains well-supported with little sign of a peace between the US and Iran,” adding that Iran’s proposed restricted zone outside Hormuz “could put additional vessels in the Gulf of Oman at risk.”

    Oil shipments have continued despite the conflict. The U.S. energy secretary cited throughput of “a little more than 9m b/d” through Hormuz under U.S. Navy escort. Speculators increased their net-long position in ICE Brent by 37,837 lots to 261,435 as of last Tuesday.

    Jefferies’ Mohit Kumar said interest rates were higher and risk assets weaker on Friday after U.S. payroll figures exceeded expectations, with the probability of a September Federal Reserve rate increase moving to around 60%.

    Kumar said Jefferies has “stayed away from long end rates since July, as we did not see an easy way out of the US Iran war,” and identified this week’s U.S. consumer price inflation data and Wednesday’s European Central Bank decision as upcoming events for markets, alongside developments in the Gulf.

    Britain’s Energy Secretary Ed Miliband discussed de-escalation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan by telephone, according to the Saudi foreign ministry, which cited efforts to “enhance the security and safety of international waterways.”

    UK housing data also drew attention. Lloyds figures showed British house prices declined 0.4% year-on-year in August, the first annual decrease since November 2023, compared with economists’ expectations for a 0.2% increase. Prices fell 0.2% month-on-month against forecasts for a 0.1% rise.

    Brent crude increased 0.95% to $97.19 a barrel, while WTI rose 0.66% to $92.09. December gold futures declined 0.74% to $4,443.59, and spot gold was down 0.73% at $4,398.04.

    UK company news

    TotalEnergies (LSE:TTE) moved its Papua LNG project closer to a final investment decision after reducing planned capital expenditure to about $14 billion through contract rebidding and design optimisation. The company also finalised an amended gas agreement with Papua New Guinea and established an LNG marketing joint venture with Kumul Petroleum.

    IQE (LSE:IQE) reported a first-half adjusted core profit of £6 million, compared with a loss in the prior period, supported by demand from AI infrastructure, data centre and defence customers. The company said momentum continued into the second half and reiterated its full-year forecast.

    Waterland plans to make an offer for Gamma Communications (LSE:GAMA) above Epiris’ £1.08 billion bid, according to the Sunday Times. Gamma agreed last week to a 1,120 pence-per-share offer from Epiris. Waterland plans to sell two divisions to Giacom if its proposed acquisition succeeds.

    Standard Life (LSE:SDLF) reported first-half profit above expectations, with the results supported by new business growth and demand for pension risk transfer transactions.

  • ADVFN Expands Company Research With New Fundamental Data

    ADVFN Expands Company Research With New Fundamental Data

    ADVFN is expanding the research available to investors with updated Historical Price, Director Deals and Ownership pages, giving users more ways to investigate the companies they follow within the platform.

    The updates are part of a broader expansion of company data and market intelligence across ADVFN — bringing more of the information investors use to assess a business into one research experience.

    Historical Prices: Understand How the Market Got Here

    The updated Historical pages provide a deeper view of past trading activity, including open, high, low and closing prices alongside volume and other historical performance data.

    For long-term investors, that can help show how a company has traded through different market and operating cycles. For more active investors, it can provide context around previous trading ranges, volatility and periods of unusually high volume.

    Historical data can also be useful around major company events.

    Following earnings, an acquisition or an operational milestone, investors can compare the immediate market reaction with the stock’s longer-term behaviour rather than viewing the latest move in isolation.

    In short, it gives today’s price a reference point.

    Try the new Historical Data tab here to explore past share prices, trading volume and market activity over time.

    Director Deals: Put Transactions Into Context

    Director transactions can provide another perspective on activity within a public company.

    ADVFN’s updated Director Deals pages make it easier to examine who is buying or selling, the size and value of transactions and how insider activity relates to key company events.

    These transactions should not be treated as buy or sell signals on their own. Directors and executives may transact shares for many reasons, including compensation, tax planning or personal financial decisions.

    The value comes from looking at patterns and context — not one transaction in isolation.

    Explore Director Deals here to review recent insider transactions, changes in holdings and activity around key company events.

    Ownership: Understand Who Owns the Company

    ADVFN’s Ownership pages provide another view of the shareholder base behind a company, including major and institutional holders where data is available.

    Ownership data can help investors understand how concentrated a company’s shareholder base may be and whether significant investors are building, reducing or maintaining positions.

    That information is most useful when viewed alongside the company’s financial performance, market activity and broader investment story.

    Explore Ownership here to see major shareholders, institutional ownership and how a company’s shareholder base is structured.

    More Research Tools Are Coming

    These updates are part of a wider expansion of company research across ADVFN.

    Coming next are Analyst Ratings & Forecasts and Peer Analysis — adding more context around what professional analysts expect and how a company compares with similar businesses.

    A separate Competitors experience is also planned for a later stage of development.

    The aim is straightforward: give investors more of the information they need to evaluate a company without fragmenting the research process.