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WH Smith PLC (LSE:SMWH) announced that it will delay the release of its preliminary financial results for the fiscal year ended 31 August 2025, moving the publication date to 16 December 2025.

The postponement comes as Deloitte LLP conducts an independent review expected to conclude by the end of November, after which PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will complete the required audit procedures. The company said the decision reflects its commitment to transparency and rigorous financial oversight, though it may influence short-term investor sentiment.

Analysts noted that despite WH Smith’s solid financial fundamentals and resilient retail performance, the stock faces pressure from bearish technical signals and concerns over high leverage and valuation levels. The absence of recent corporate updates or earnings calls has also left investors seeking greater clarity on operational trends.

More about WH Smith PLC

WH Smith PLC is a global travel retailer specializing in books, magazines, and convenience products. With a strong presence in airports, train stations, and other travel hubs, the company continues to focus on expanding its travel retail footprint and enhancing the customer experience across its international network.

Pennpetro Energy Plc (LSE:PPP) has announced the appointment of Richard Spinks as its new Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, signaling a major step in the company’s ongoing strategic evolution. The leadership transition follows RMD Group exercising its right to nominate directors to the board. Former CEO Robert Menzel will remain a board member after stepping down from his executive role.

Spinks, who brings deep expertise in renewable energy, decarbonization, and sustainable development, is expected to guide the company through its next phase of growth and strengthen its long-term value creation strategy.

The company said the leadership change reflects its commitment to aligning traditional energy development with emerging transition opportunities. Management emphasized that Pennpetro aims to capitalize on key assets such as the Limnytskyi License to enhance operational performance and shareholder returns.

More about Pennpetro Energy Plc

Pennpetro Energy Plc is an energy development company pursuing both conventional and transitional energy projects. Its strategy focuses on innovative project development, strategic partnerships, and leadership-driven growth to deliver sustainable value for shareholders.

Aston Martin (LSE:AML) reported a difficult third quarter for 2025, with revenue and gross profit both declining year-over-year amid softer-than-expected wholesale volumes. The luxury automaker faced headwinds from weak demand in China, higher U.S. tariffs, and broader macroeconomic uncertainty.

Despite these challenges, the company began deliveries of its new Valhalla supercar, which is expected to bolster financial results in the fourth quarter and improve performance heading into 2026.

Management said Aston Martin is taking decisive steps to strengthen profitability and cash flow, including tighter cost controls, reduced capital expenditure, and a review of its product cycle strategy. The company plans to leverage its expanded lineup of core and special-edition models to drive growth and maintain competitiveness in the high-end automotive segment.

However, analysts noted that weak profitability, ongoing losses, and elevated leverage continue to weigh on the company’s valuation. Technical indicators also point to bearish momentum in the stock, underscoring near-term downside risk.

More about Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc is a British luxury carmaker known for crafting high-performance sports cars and grand tourers. The company aims to combine cutting-edge innovation with timeless design while aligning its model range with evolving customer preferences and regulatory demands in the premium automotive market.

Cobra Resources (LSE:COBR) has initiated field trials at its Boland Ionic Heavy Rare Earth Project in South Australia, marking a key milestone in its plan to validate low-cost, environmentally responsible in-situ recovery (ISR) mining methods.

The company has also signed a Deed of Assignment with the Barngarla Traditional Owners, allowing the transfer of exploration licenses for additional tenements identified as having strong potential for rare earth element discoveries.

According to management, these initiatives represent important progress in Cobra’s broader strategy to position itself as a major producer of heavy rare earth metals, a move expected to strengthen both its market profile and stakeholder relationships.

More about Cobra Resources Plc

Cobra Resources Plc is a mineral exploration and development company headquartered in South Australia, specializing in critical minerals such as rare earth elements and copper. Its flagship project, the Boland Ionic Heavy Rare Earth Project, is designed to leverage ISR mining to reduce environmental impact and operational costs while supporting the global transition to sustainable resource development.

News of a possible framework agreement between the two global powers—under which Washington would withdraw its latest threat to impose 100% tariffs in exchange for guaranteed access to China’s rare earth magnets — has boosted European and Asian indices, as well as S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures.

However, what many seem to overlook is that even if both sides made concessions, this would not be the end of the story. Most of the underlying issues, particularly the broader goal of rebalancing trade, remain unresolved. In that sense, the agreement could simply be postponing a much deeper reckoning.

Progress with other key trading partners has also been limited. Although several final agreements have been announced, concrete results remain scarce. With Canada, the situation has even gotten worse with Trump raising tariffs by 10% for citing recordings of Ronald Reagan warning about the dangers of tariffs.

Then, where does this optimism come from?

Predictability seems to offset the lack of real progress in trade negotiations. 

That said, markets have gotten used to the negotiating tactics of the Trump era: a dramatic threat followed by a partial retreat. Between April and July alone, he reportedly “flipflopped” 28 times on proposed tariffs. As a result, more investors started snapping up dips, hoping for another TACO from the president.

The context also seems to be helping.

Expectations of further FOMC rate cuts, even as inflation remains above the 2% target, are helping to boost confidence, along with the artificial intelligence mania. Now, if any of these supportive factors falter, the seemingly unstoppable rally could quickly give way to a more cautious, risk-averse mood.

In this context, beyond the Xi-Trump meeting, it’s worth keeping an eye on the FOMC meeting and the tech giants’ results. Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft will release their results on Wednesday, followed by Amazon and Apple on Thursday, as the market looks for clues about whether the AI boom is turning into a bubble.

British equities edged higher on Tuesday, bucking the broader downward trend across European markets, while a weaker pound and strong corporate results from major firms, including HSBC Holdings PLC (LSE:HSBA), supported the benchmark index.

As of 11:43 GMT, the FTSE 100 advanced 0.1%, while the pound slipped 0.2% against the dollar to 1.33. By contrast, the DAX in Germany and the CAC 40 in France both fell 0.1%.

UK corporate highlights

• HSBC Holdings PLC (LSE:HSBA) shares gained after the London-based bank posted third-quarter earnings ahead of forecasts. Adjusted profit before tax came in 9% above consensus, while total income beat expectations by 5%. The strong performance was evenly split between net interest and non-interest income. Net interest income rose to $11 billion, about 3% above projections from Jefferies, and the net interest margin improved to 1.57%, up 1 basis point quarter-on-quarter and 11 basis points year-on-year.

• Anglo American PLC (LSE:AAL) reaffirmed its full-year copper production guidance of 690,000–750,000 tonnes, following flat third-quarter output of 184,000 tonnes. Strong operational results at Quellaveco and Los Bronces offset softer performance at Collahuasi.

• C&C Group (LSE:CCR), the owner of Tennent’s and Bulmers, saw its stock rise 1.4% after reporting a 4% increase in operating profit to €41.9 million for the six months ending August 31, despite a 4% decline in net revenue to €825.7 million. Operating margin improved 0.4 percentage points to 5.1%.

• Evoke PLC (LSE:EVOK) reported a 5% year-over-year revenue increase to £435 million in the third quarter, marking its fifth consecutive quarter of growth. The company reiterated its full-year outlook, suggesting earnings will surpass current market expectations.

• Airtel Africa Plc (LSE:AAF) posted strong half-year results, with revenue rising 24.5% in constant currency to $2.98 billion for the period ended September 30, 2025. Its customer base grew 11% to 173.8 million, while data revenue surged 37% to $1.16 billion—outpacing voice for the first time.

• Rio Tinto Ltd (LSE:RIO) announced it is weighing the closure of Tomago Aluminium, Australia’s largest smelter, due to soaring energy costs. The company has begun employee consultations, which will run until November 21.

• In the pharmaceutical sector, AstraZeneca PLC (LSE:AZN) secured EU approval for its drug Koselugo to treat symptomatic, inoperable plexiform neurofibromas in adults with neurofibromatosis type 1. The green light follows positive data from the KOMET Phase III trial, which showed Koselugo achieved a 20% objective response rate versus 5% with placebo.

The gains in London come as investors weigh diverging regional performances, currency moves, and company-specific catalysts, with the FTSE outperforming its European peers in early trading.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly firmer open on Tuesday, signaling that Wall Street may extend the gains that pushed the major averages to fresh record highs at the start of the week.

The market remains supported by optimism surrounding an upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which investors hope will pave the way for a trade agreement between the world’s two largest economies. Confidence was further underpinned by news of a U.S.-Japan deal on rare metals, reinforcing expectations ahead of the summit later this week.

Still, enthusiasm could be tempered as traders await the Federal Reserve’s policy decision on Wednesday. The Fed is widely anticipated to trim interest rates by 25 basis points, but investors will be paying close attention to Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference and the accompanying statement for signals on the pace of future rate cuts.

Data from CME Group’s FedWatch Tool shows a 94.9% probability of another quarter-point rate cut in December, though forecasts beyond that remain more uncertain.

Earnings are also set to dominate sentiment this week. Heavyweights including Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) are all due to report quarterly results in the coming days.

On Monday, Wall Street surged for a second consecutive session, building on last week’s strength. The Nasdaq Composite jumped 432.59 points, or 1.9%, to 23,637.46. The S&P 500 added 83.47 points, or 1.2%, to 6,875.16, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 337.47 points, or 0.7%, to 47,544.59.

The advance was fueled by renewed trade optimism. Over the weekend, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described weekend negotiations with Chinese officials in Malaysia as a “very successful framework” ahead of the Trump–Xi talks. He also suggested that China may resume U.S. soybean purchases and postpone export restrictions on rare earth materials.

Before heading to Japan, Trump echoed this positive tone, voicing confidence about reaching a deal with Beijing after signing separate trade and mineral agreements with Malaysian and Cambodian leaders.

Hopes of lower borrowing costs have also strengthened sentiment in the lead-up to the Fed’s decision.

Sector-wise, chipmakers led the rally. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index jumped 2.7% to a record close, powered by a sharp 11.1% rise in Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) after it unveiled new AI accelerator chips to compete with NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD).

Telecom names also outperformed, with the NYSE Arca North American Telecom Index gaining 1.4%. Transportation, steel and software stocks posted additional gains, while gold producers fell sharply in tandem with lower bullion prices.

European equity markets were broadly muted on Tuesday, with traders maintaining a cautious stance ahead of several key central bank meetings this week and a closely watched encounter between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, scheduled for Thursday in South Korea.

Sentiment was further weighed down by disappointing German data. A key consumer confidence gauge slipped to its lowest level since April, reflecting persistent geopolitical uncertainty and inflationary pressures.

The FTSE 100 in the U.K. rose 0.2%, while the DAX in Germany hovered just below the flat line, and the CAC 40 in France edged down 0.1%.

Corporate earnings drove much of the individual stock moves. Shares of Symrise AG (TG:SY1) fell sharply after the fragrance and flavor producer cut its full-year organic growth outlook. French bank BNP Paribas (EU:BNP) declined after missing third-quarter profit expectations.

Pharmaceutical group Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) also traded lower despite delivering Q3 earnings in line with forecasts, while Dutch telecom operator KPN (EU:KPN) slipped following a modest 2% increase in quarterly revenue.

On the upside, HSBC Holdings (LSE:HSBA) climbed after the lender raised its 2025 profit outlook, even as pretax profit dropped 14% in Q3. Capgemini (EU:CAP) jumped after lifting its full-year revenue guidance on stronger third-quarter sales.

Meanwhile, Amundi (EU:AMUN), Europe’s largest asset manager, gained after reporting Q3 2025 profit before tax above analyst forecasts.

Tesla, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) grip on the European EV market weakened further in September as sales fell by double digits, while Chinese competitor BYD Company Limited posted explosive growth, capturing a larger share of the region’s fast-growing electric vehicle segment.

Figures released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association show that Tesla registrations in the EU, EFTA and the UK dropped 10.5% year-on-year to 39,837 units. The automaker’s market share declined to 3.2% from 4.0% a year earlier. That said, September sales rebounded sharply from August’s 14,831 units, reflecting a seasonal pickup in demand.

BYD (USOTC:BYDDY), in contrast, saw its registrations soar 398% compared with last year to reach 24,963 vehicles. Its market share climbed to 2% from just 0.4% previously. The strong growth was partly due to BYD’s limited European footprint last year, but also highlights its accelerated push into the region’s EV market. The company’s monthly sales also rose significantly from August’s 11,455 units.

Overall, new car registrations in Europe increased 10.7% year-on-year to 1.24 million units, supported by rising adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles. Both petrol and diesel models saw continued declines.

Hybrid vehicles led with a 34.7% market share, followed by petrol at 27.7%, while battery electric vehicles — Tesla’s primary focus — held 16.1%.

Although Tesla’s year-on-year decline has slowed, the company faces intensifying competition. Local European manufacturers are expanding their EV portfolios, and BYD continues to strengthen its presence with lower-priced models. Tesla’s brand perception in the region also remains fragile, weighed down by growing public criticism of CEO Elon Musk.

Tesla posted record deliveries globally in the third quarter as buyers rushed to take advantage of U.S. tax incentives before they expired. Yet, profitability missed expectations, pressured by shrinking margins and heavy investments in artificial intelligence and robotics.

BYD, which has outperformed Tesla in several months of 2025, continues its aggressive international expansion strategy. Both companies are also locked in an ongoing price war in China, which has squeezed their profit margins in recent quarters.

Gold prices continued to weaken in Asian trading on Tuesday, deepening their retreat below the $4,000 mark after mounting optimism over progress in U.S.–China trade negotiations eroded investor appetite for safe-haven assets ahead of this week’s Federal Reserve System meeting.

Spot gold fell 0.4% to $3,963.60 an ounce at 01:58 ET (05:58 GMT), while U.S. Gold Futures slid 1% to $3,981.59/oz. The metal lost more than 3% on Monday, hitting its lowest level in over two weeks, and is now down about 10% from its record of $4,381.29/oz set just a week earlier.

U.S.–China trade optimism weighs on gold

The recent pullback came after negotiators from Washington and Beijing struck a preliminary trade framework during talks in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend. The proposal seeks to avert additional tariffs and sanctions and could pave the way for a deal when President Donald Trump meets his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping later this week.

Optimism over the talks has reduced the need for gold as a geopolitical hedge.

“Even after (Monday’s) correction, gold is still up more than 50% this year, underpinned by strong ETF demand and central bank buying amid diversification,” analysts at ING said in a note.

“The recent price pullback could even be seen by some central banks as a chance to increase their holdings,” they added.

Investors are now turning their attention to the Fed’s two-day policy meeting, which begins later today and is expected to conclude Wednesday with a 25-basis-point rate cut. While lower borrowing costs typically support gold by reducing real yields, much of the expected move appears already priced in, limiting potential near-term upside.

Metals move lower as risk sentiment improves

Other precious and base metals also weakened on Wednesday, reflecting a broader risk-on tone across markets.

Silver Futures fell 0.6% to $46.49/oz, and Platinum Futures dropped 1.6% to $1,556.60/oz. Benchmark Copper Futures on the London Metal Exchange declined 0.6% to $10,948.95 a ton, while U.S. Copper Futures fell 0.8% to $5.12 a pound.

LME copper hit a record $11,052/ton on Monday, buoyed by a tightening supply backdrop and hopes of stronger global trade activity.

“With supply disruptions stacking up and trade optimism growing, the outlook for copper is starting to look brighter,” analysts said.