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  • Altona Highlights Heavy Rare Earth Upside at Monte Muambe Project

    Altona Highlights Heavy Rare Earth Upside at Monte Muambe Project

    Altona Rare Earths (LSE:REE) has identified a notable concentration of heavy rare earth elements within fluorspar and gallium mineralisation at its flagship Monte Muambe project in Mozambique. The company reported a heavy-to-total rare earths ratio of around 40%, significantly higher than that found in its existing light rare earth deposit, pointing to the potential for a valuable additional revenue stream.

    Management believes this enrichment could enable the development of a high-value heavy rare earth by-product alongside planned gallium production. To assess this opportunity, Altona has initiated further mineralogical and metallurgical studies, as well as expanded assay programmes, with the aim of evaluating recoverability without delaying the current resource estimates for fluorspar and gallium.

    The discovery positions Monte Muambe within a competitive range of heavy rare earth grades compared with established projects, including those in Namibia supported by Japanese investment. This adds strategic significance to the asset, particularly given the current dominance of China in global rare earth supply. Altona noted that successfully incorporating heavy rare earth recovery into its processing flowsheet could enhance overall project economics and strengthen its position in ongoing collaboration with U.S. agencies and participants in the North American supply chain.

    The Monte Muambe project remains central to the company’s strategy, supported by a long-term mining licence and a focus on accelerating acid-grade fluorspar production while exploring gallium recovery opportunities. The group also retains additional exploration upside through its Sesana copper-silver project in Botswana.

    From an investment perspective, the company continues to face financial challenges, including a lack of revenue, ongoing losses, sustained cash outflows, and increasing leverage. However, these concerns are partly offset by strong technical momentum in the share price, which is trading above key moving averages with positive trend indicators. Valuation remains less supportive due to negative earnings and the absence of dividend visibility.

    More about Altona Rare Earths

    Altona Rare Earths is a London-listed exploration and development company focused on critical raw materials across Africa. Its portfolio includes rare earths, fluorspar, gallium, and base metals, with the Monte Muambe project in Mozambique as its core asset, supported by a long-term mining licence and external development funding. The company is also advancing the Sesana copper-silver project in Botswana, providing additional growth potential within its broader strategy to supply materials essential to clean energy, technology, and defence sectors.

  • Mkango Secures UK Funding to Advance Circular Rare Earth Magnet Supply Chain

    Mkango Secures UK Funding to Advance Circular Rare Earth Magnet Supply Chain

    Mkango (LSE:MKA) has secured UK government backing through the £4 billion DRIVE35 programme, with its subsidiaries HyProMag and Mkango Rare Earths UK awarded £2.6 million in grant funding. The support forms part of the £6.5 million, three-year REACT UK consortium, which aims to establish a fully circular domestic supply chain for recycled neodymium-iron-boron magnets used in automotive applications.

    The initiative is being led by HyProMag in collaboration with key partners including Jaguar Land Rover, EMR, Less Common Metals, and the University of Birmingham. The project will integrate advanced recycling technologies with hydrogen-based processing methods to extract magnets from end-of-life electric and hybrid vehicles, before converting them into high-performance drive motor magnets. This approach is expected to strengthen domestic supply chain resilience while reinforcing Mkango’s early leadership in rare earth magnet recycling.

    In addition, a separate grant facilitated by the Advanced Propulsion Centre will support a feasibility study focused on expanding magnet manufacturing capacity at the Tyseley site. This further aligns with Mkango’s strategy to build a scalable industrial base in the UK for zero-emission vehicle technologies.

    Collectively, these developments enhance Mkango’s position across the value chain—from upstream recycling and materials processing to downstream magnet production—placing the company at the forefront of efforts to secure sustainable rare earth supplies for electric vehicles and broader clean energy applications.

    More about Mkango Resources

    Mkango Resources is a rare earths company listed on both AIM and TSX-V, focused on becoming a leader in recycled rare earth magnets, alloys, and oxides through its majority-owned Maginito platform. The group operates HyProMag in the UK and Germany for short-loop recycling and Mkango Rare Earths UK for long-loop chemical recycling. It also owns the Songwe Hill rare earth project in Malawi and the Puławy separation facility in Poland, both recognised as EU Strategic Projects.

  • European stocks edge lower as Hormuz tensions rise after failed talks: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European stocks edge lower as Hormuz tensions rise after failed talks: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European equity markets traded broadly weaker on Monday, following the breakdown of weekend negotiations in Islamabad and a U.S. naval move to restrict shipping linked to Iran through the Strait of Hormuz.

    Escalating geopolitical tensions lifted Brent crude above $102 per barrel, renewing concerns around inflation and the outlook for interest rates.

    Germany’s DAX fell 1.2%, France’s CAC 40 declined 0.9%, while the U.K.’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.5%.

    Vistry Group (LSE:VTY) was among the biggest fallers after naming internal candidate Adam Daniels as its new chief executive.

    National Grid (LSE:NG.) also traded lower after issuing a pre-close update ahead of its full-year results.

    In contrast, Halma (LSE:HLMA) advanced in London after the group announced the $90 million acquisition of California-based Surgistar, a specialist in ophthalmic surgical tools and devices.

  • European equities slip as Hormuz blockade threat and failed Iran talks unsettle markets: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European equities slip as Hormuz blockade threat and failed Iran talks unsettle markets: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European stock markets started the week on a weaker footing, as investors reacted to the collapse of weekend negotiations between the U.S. and Iran and renewed tensions following President Donald Trump’s warning of an “immediate” blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

    By 07:13 GMT, the pan-European Stoxx 600 index was down 0.8%. Germany’s DAX had fallen 1.2%, France’s CAC 40 declined 1.0%, and the UK’s FTSE 100 dropped 0.6%.

    Trump said on Sunday that the U.S. would move to restrict vessels entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route that has become a focal point in the Middle East conflict. He cautioned that any ship paying a toll imposed by Tehran would not be guaranteed “safe passage on the high seas.”

    Later, the Pentagon clarified that the restrictions would apply specifically to ships “entering or departing Iranian ports or coastal areas,” while other vessels would still be able to pass through the Strait. Around 20% of global oil supply flows through this narrow passage off Iran’s southern coast.

    “[T]he language seemed to soften what the president posted,” analysts at Vital Knowledge said in a note to clients. “What initially looked like a complete halt to all traffic now looks like it is focused only on Iranian vessels.”

    At the same time, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is considering limited military strikes against Iran, which analysts suggested may indicate that the administration could be “pivoting away aggressively from a resumption” of the broader bombing campaign that had been ongoing since late February.

    These developments follow 21 hours of talks between U.S. and Iranian officials in Pakistan, which ended without securing a longer-term ceasefire beyond the current two-week pause in hostilities.

    Market participants are now turning their attention to upcoming Eurozone inflation data later this week, which may shed light on how the conflict is influencing price pressures. Europe relies heavily on energy imports from the Persian Gulf, including natural gas from Qatar, where infrastructure has been affected by the expanding conflict.

    The European Central Bank has indicated it is closely monitoring inflation risks linked to the situation. Interest rate futures currently suggest expectations of around three 25-basis-point rate increases by the ECB through the end of 2026, according to LSEG data cited by Reuters.

    Oil markets reacted strongly, with Brent crude climbing back above $100 per barrel after briefly falling below that level last week following the announcement of a temporary ceasefire.

    In corporate news, shares of Kering SA (EU:KER) resumed trading after being briefly halted following a drop of more than 3% in early dealings. Morgan Stanley downgraded the stock to “equal weight” from “overweight,” noting that much of the expected turnaround appears already reflected in the share price.

    Elsewhere, travel and leisure stocks across Europe were under pressure, while Italian energy company Eni (BIT:ENI) and defence group Leonardo (BIT:LDO) both posted gains.

  • National Grid expects modest EPS impact from regulatory and storm costs

    National Grid expects modest EPS impact from regulatory and storm costs

    National Grid plc (LSE:NG.) said trading remains in line with expectations and consistent with guidance provided at its interim results, though it now anticipates a small reduction to earnings.

    The company expects an approximately 1p per share impact on underlying earnings, driven by customer refund charges related to the 19 March ruling by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) concerning its New England Transmission operations. Additional pressure has come from higher-than-expected storm-related costs in its US business.

    These factors are partly offset by slightly lower finance costs, helping to limit the overall effect on earnings.

    National Grid is scheduled to report its full-year results on 14 May. Shares were down around 0.7% in early trading following the update.

    More about National Grid

    National Grid plc is a FTSE 100-listed utility company focused on the transmission and distribution of electricity and gas across the UK and the United States. It operates critical energy infrastructure, connecting generation sources to homes and businesses while supporting the transition to cleaner energy systems.

  • Empire Metals strengthens incentives with EBT share issue and option extension

    Empire Metals strengthens incentives with EBT share issue and option extension

    Empire Metals Limited (LSE:EEE) has taken steps to enhance its employee incentive framework by issuing new shares to its Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) and extending existing management options.

    The company has allotted 20 million new ordinary shares to the EBT, representing approximately 2.73% of its enlarged share capital. These shares are intended to support future awards under a long-term incentive plan, which is still subject to formal board approval. The initiative is designed to help attract and retain key personnel as the business advances its flagship Pitfield Titanium Project toward development.

    In addition, Empire has extended the exercise period for 7.5 million share options held by Managing Director Shaun Bunn from April 2026 to January 2028. This related-party transaction was reviewed by independent directors, who deemed it fair and reasonable following consultation with the company’s nominated adviser.

    The new shares are expected to be admitted to trading on AIM on 14 April 2026. While the issuance introduces a modest level of shareholder dilution, it is intended to better align management incentives with the long-term progression of the project.

    From an outlook perspective, the company continues to face challenges typical of early-stage resource developers, including the absence of revenue, ongoing losses, and sustained cash outflows, which increase reliance on external funding. Technical indicators also point to a weak trend, with the share price below key moving averages. A relatively low-debt balance sheet offers some stability, though this has yet to translate into profitability.

    More about Empire Metals

    Empire Metals Limited is a natural resources exploration and development company listed on AIM and OTCQX. Its primary focus is the Pitfield Titanium Project in Western Australia, which hosts a large-scale mineral resource estimated at 2.2 billion tonnes at a grade of 5.1% TiO₂. The project benefits from near-surface mineralisation, consistent grade distribution, and proximity to established infrastructure, positioning it to meet growing global demand for titanium.

  • GEO Exploration outlines next drilling phase at Western Australia gold assets

    GEO Exploration outlines next drilling phase at Western Australia gold assets

    GEO Exploration Limited (LSE:GEO) has detailed plans for an expanded exploration programme across its gold projects in Western Australia, targeting the next phase of drilling activity.

    At the Gorge project, the company intends to carry out a broad range of preparatory work, including airborne geophysical surveys, detailed field mapping, and an auger soil geochemistry campaign covering a five-kilometre mineralised corridor. These efforts are aimed at refining priority targets ahead of an initial reverse circulation and air core drilling campaign, which will commence once the necessary heritage and regulatory approvals are secured.

    Meanwhile, at the Juno project, GEO is progressing technical evaluations following its 2025 drilling campaign, which intersected multiple metals including gold, copper, silver, and zinc. Current work includes 3D geological modelling and multi-element geochemical analysis to better understand the mineral system. A follow-up diamond drill hole is scheduled for the third quarter of 2026, targeting a high-priority gravity anomaly that could point to a larger-scale mineralised structure and further expand the company’s presence within the Capricorn Orogen.

    More about GEO Exploration Limited

    GEO Exploration Limited is an AIM-listed exploration company focused on gold and base metals in Western Australia. Its portfolio is centred on the Proterozoic Capricorn Orogen, with key assets including the Gorge Project—prospective for large orogenic and Carlin-style gold systems—and the Juno Project, which targets intrusion-related gold and sediment-hosted polymetallic deposits.

  • Journeo secures £1.7m sustainable transport display deal in southern England

    Journeo secures £1.7m sustainable transport display deal in southern England

    Journeo plc (LSE:JNEO), a provider of intelligent transport and infrastructure protection solutions, has been awarded a £1.7 million contract to deliver eco-conscious passenger display systems for a major local authority in southern England.

    The agreement covers the supply, installation, and ongoing maintenance of passenger information displays, along with supporting bus stop infrastructure such as environmentally friendly shelters. A key feature of the project is the deployment of ultra-low-energy, off-grid display units powered by solar panels and battery systems. These solutions are designed to support the authority’s net-zero ambitions while enabling faster rollout and reducing installation costs across routes connecting rural areas to urban centres.

    From a financial perspective, the company continues to show improving fundamentals, including revenue growth, stronger profitability, reduced leverage, and healthier cash generation. However, this progress is currently overshadowed by weak technical signals, with the share price trading below key moving averages and momentum indicators pointing to a bearish trend. Although the stock appears attractively valued on a price-to-earnings basis, this has yet to counterbalance the prevailing downward momentum.

    More about Journeo

    Journeo plc is a UK-based technology group specialising in intelligent transport systems and critical infrastructure protection. Its solutions are used across cities, towns, airports, and public transport networks, helping operators enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Operating through six subsidiaries, the company provides integrated services spanning on-board vehicle systems, passenger information for bus and rail, and advanced security solutions for sectors such as utilities, defence, and high-security industries. Over the past four years, Journeo has invested more than £8 million in research and development, focusing on IoT-enabled platforms built on open standards to ensure compatibility with existing systems and future innovations.

  • European Shares Advance on Prospects of Israel-Lebanon Talks: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European Shares Advance on Prospects of Israel-Lebanon Talks: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European equity markets traded higher on Friday after Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that Israel is open to direct negotiations with Lebanon, while maintaining that military operations against Hezbollah across the country would continue.

    On the economic front, data from Destatis showed that German consumer inflation accelerated to its highest level since January 2024, driven largely by rising energy costs following the Iran conflict.

    Consumer prices increased 2.7% year on year in March, up from 1.9% in February, in line with preliminary figures released at the end of March. The reading marks the strongest inflation level since early 2024.

    Harmonized inflation across the euro area framework also climbed to 2.8%, matching expectations and rising from 2.0% the previous month.

    In the markets, the DAX gained 0.8%, the CAC 40 rose 0.7%, and the FTSE 100 advanced 0.3%.

    Among individual stocks, Porsche (TG:PAH3) declined after reporting weaker first-quarter delivery figures.

    Sodexo (EU:SW) also came under pressure following a sharp drop in first-half earnings and a downgrade to its full-year sales and profit outlook.

    On the upside, Skanska (BIT:1SKAB) gained after announcing a contract to build a high-tech facility in the United States valued at approximately SEK 1.3 billion.

  • European Stocks Edge Higher as Markets Monitor Fragile U.S.-Iran Ceasefire: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European Stocks Edge Higher as Markets Monitor Fragile U.S.-Iran Ceasefire: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European equity markets opened slightly firmer on Friday, taking cues from gains on Wall Street after Benjamin Netanyahu indicated a willingness to pursue talks with Lebanon.

    As of 07:13 GMT, the Stoxx Europe 600 was up 0.2%, while Germany’s DAX rose 0.4%. The FTSE 100 added 0.1%, and France’s CAC 40 hovered around flat.

    The remarks helped lift sentiment around a potential extension of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire ahead of possible talks between Washington and Tehran over the weekend. However, the situation remains uncertain. Iran’s foreign minister warned that the country would not take part in discussions in Pakistan if Israeli strikes against Hezbollah-linked targets in Lebanon continue.

    Israel confirmed further military action on Friday, while Netanyahu stated there is “no ceasefire” in Lebanon, underscoring the fragile nature of the truce.

    Meanwhile, tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted. According to reports, flows through the key waterway are still operating at less than 10% of normal levels, despite the ceasefire. Iran has reportedly instructed vessels to remain within its territorial waters when transiting the strait, which is critical for global oil supply.

    The disruption is particularly significant for Asian economies that rely heavily on crude shipments passing through the region, while Europe depends on natural gas from Persian Gulf producers, some of which have been affected by recent Iranian actions.

    In Saudi Arabia, attacks on energy infrastructure have reduced oil production capacity by around 600,000 barrels per day and cut throughput on the East-West Pipeline by approximately 700,000 barrels per day, further tightening supply conditions.

    These factors have supported oil prices. Brent crude was last up 1.4% at $97.24 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate gained a similar amount to $99.25. Although the temporary ceasefire has put oil on track for its largest weekly decline since June 2025, prices remain elevated compared with levels prior to the escalation in late February.

    Rising energy costs have heightened concerns about inflation, potentially prompting tighter monetary policy from central banks such as the European Central Bank. Bond markets have been volatile as investors assess how geopolitical developments could shape the outlook for interest rates, with knock-on effects for equities.

    Further clarity may come later in the day with the release of U.S. inflation data for March. Economists expect a sharp increase in headline inflation, largely driven by higher fuel prices following the recent energy shock.

    “Markets aren’t being provided with clear direction at the moment. There is a strong sense that the ceasefire is fragile, with ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon proving a key friction in U.S.-Iran negotiations,” analysts at ING said in a note.

    In corporate news, Sodexo (EU:SW) lowered its full-year sales and profit guidance, while AO World (LSE:AO.) said it expects annual profit to reach the upper end of its forecast range.