Blog

Incanthera plc (AQSE:INC) signed an exclusive supply agreement with iSmart Developments Limited to supply bioactive skin creams for use with its LED light-therapy skincare devices, which reach approximately one million customers annually.

Stuart Robertson, CEO: “Our new partnership with iSmart underscores the value of our skincare IP and formulation expertise and brings together our bioactive formulation capabilities with a highly complementary commercial partner with genuine global scale and reach.” Read more

Sulnox Group PLC (AQSE:SNOX) reported final results for the year ended March 2026, with revenue increasing 134% to £2.62m with every quarter outperforming the same period the prior year. The Group now has products sold in more than 50 countries and is engaged with approximately 100 shipping companies globally, almost double the number from the same time last year.

Ben Richardson, CEO: “Sulnox enters the new financial year with stronger commercial momentum than at any previous point in its development. The Group’s strategic priority is increasingly to convert proven technology, growing customer adoption and expanding international reach into recurring revenues and sustainable commercial scale.” Read more

Ormonde Mining PLC (AQSE:ORM) provided an update confirming the identification of two new gold-in-soil anomalies at the Golden Rose Project in Newfoundland, with TRU Precious Metals staking an additional 394 claims in response. Read more

EPE Special Opportunities Limited (AQSE:EO.P) reported interim results for the six months ended July 2026, with NAV per share up 10.7% and its share price up 40.7% for the six months ended July 2026, following the disposal of Pharmacy2U at a premium and strong portfolio performance. Read more

Newbury Racecourse PLC (AQSE:NYR) reported interim results for the six months ended June 2026, with turnover up 6% to £10.29m and raceday attendances growing 5%. The Rocking Horse Nursery also reported a 15% increase in revenue and retained its OFSTED Outstanding rating. Read more

IntelliAM AI plc (AQSE:INT) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with SkyIO Inc, a South Carolina-based provider of industrial automation and integration services. Under the proposed agreement, SkyIO will act as an agent and integrator for IntelliAM in the US market, supporting customer identification and implementation of IntelliAM’s AI-powered manufacturing software.

Tom Clayton, CEO: “We are delighted to have signed this Memorandum of Understanding with one of the leading integrators in the US manufacturing automation and systems integration market. It is another important step in our strategy to build our presence and customer base in the North American market.” Read more

Falconedge PLC (AQSE:EDGE) reported a monthly Bitcoin yield of 0.698% for August, bringing its total compounded return to 10.93% across nine consecutive months of positive returns.

Roy Kashi, CEO: “August marks nine consecutive months of positive Bitcoin yield for Falconedge, a run that underscores the consistency and repeatability we set out to build into this strategy from day one. Nine months in, the trend speaks for itself.” Read more

All Aquis Stock Exchange Announcements

Gold prices moved higher on Friday following a decline of nearly 2% in the previous session, as investors awaited US consumer inflation data and assessed expectations for the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate decision next week.

At 01:59 ET (05:59 GMT), spot gold gained 0.8% to $4,351.28 an ounce, while gold futures declined 0.4% to $4,391.37. Spot silver increased 0.8% to $64.10 an ounce, while platinum rose 1.1% to $1,801.18.

The US Dollar Index was broadly unchanged at 99.04.

Economists expect headline US CPI to increase 0.4% month on month in August and 3.4% from a year earlier. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, is forecast to rise 0.2% from July.

Fed Rate Expectations Remain in Focus

Spot gold fell 1.8% on Thursday and remained on track to record a third consecutive weekly decline.

US producer prices increased 0.4% in August, matching expectations and recording their largest monthly increase since May.

Higher energy prices were also being assessed for their potential impact on inflation. Brent crude traded close to $108 per barrel amid the continuing conflict between the United States and Iran.

The source cited US strikes on Iranian oil tankers, Iranian missile attacks on an airbase in Jordan and attacks on Saudi infrastructure by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen.

Markets were pricing in approximately a 70% probability of a Federal Reserve rate increase this month. The pricing reflects market expectations and does not represent a confirmed Fed decision.

Gold ETF Holdings Reach Record 4,189 Tonnes

Gold investment demand remained elevated during August, according to the World Gold Council.

Global physically backed gold exchange-traded funds attracted $18 billion during the month, representing the second-largest monthly inflow on record.

ETF holdings increased by 121 tonnes to a record 4,189 tonnes, while assets under management rose 16% to $615 billion.

The World Gold Council said gold gained 13% in August, representing its third-largest monthly return in 25 years.

Tony Sycamore, senior market analyst at IG, said gold remained below its 200-day moving average near $4,537. According to his technical assessment, gold would need to recover above that level to indicate that the decline from the $4,697 high was ending. Otherwise, Sycamore said there was scope for prices to move towards $4,200.

Oil prices moved lower on Friday but remained on track to close the week above $100 per barrel for the first time since mid-May, while the US national average diesel price moved above $6 per gallon for the first time.

Brent crude futures declined $1.65, or 1.53%, to $105.98 per barrel by 07:58 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate fell $1.36, or 1.33%, to $101.12.

The benchmarks reversed earlier gains after the Financial Times reported that foreign ministers in the Middle East were seeking a temporary agreement with Iran to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Both Brent and WTI rose more than 6% on Thursday and remained more than 10% higher for the week.

“Some headlines of possible new talks in the Middle East are weighing moderately on oil prices today,” UBS energy analyst Giovanni Staunovo said, adding: “I keep seeing near-term risks to the upside for oil prices, but we should expect ongoing high price volatility too”.

Hormuz Ship Transits Decline to Seven

Iran said it attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday following US strikes on five Iranian oil tankers. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would escalate its response if further attacks occurred.

Preliminary tracking data showed seven vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, down from 11 a day earlier and below the 10-day average of 15.

Before the Iran war began in late February, the Strait of Hormuz handled approximately one-fifth of global daily oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

Iran-aligned Houthi forces took control of Yemen’s port of Mocha on Thursday, adding another potential disruption to Red Sea shipping. The source also cited attacks from Yemen on Saudi energy facilities.

The International Energy Agency said global oil supply and demand will decline by more than previously expected this year, with the continuation of the Iran war delaying a return to normal Middle East flows into 2027.

Supply Disruptions Push US Diesel Above $6

Supply disruptions associated with the Iran war, together with Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries, contributed to the US national average diesel price moving above $6 per gallon for the first time on Thursday, according to GasBuddy.

“Refined products, particularly diesel, are feeling a one-two punch right now,” KCM Trade chief market analyst Tim Waterer said.

“As long as both the Gulf shipping constraints and Russian refining outages remain in play, diesel and other refined products are likely to show a higher upside tendency than the broader crude market,” he added.

US President Donald Trump said the US may strike Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain near the damaged Natanz uranium enrichment facility. Trump also said he thought the war would end immediately after the November midterm elections.

China’s state planner separately announced that retail price caps for petrol and diesel will rise from September 12 by 260 yuan ($38.76) and 250 yuan per metric ton, respectively.

European and British wholesale natural gas prices declined on Friday following several sessions of gains, while both benchmarks remained on course for a fifth consecutive weekly increase amid concerns over Middle East supply routes.

The benchmark Dutch front-month gas contract fell 2.5% to around €77.60 per megawatt-hour. The decline followed five consecutive sessions of gains, with the contract reaching €79.64 per MWh on Thursday, its highest level since 2023.

The Dutch benchmark was up 12.1% for the week.

In Britain, the equivalent NBP wholesale gas contract declined 1.5% to 195.00 pence per therm after previously reaching around 198 pence. The UK benchmark was up 12.6% for the week, also marking a fifth consecutive weekly increase.

Middle East Shipping Risks Remain in Focus

Natural gas markets continued to assess the potential effect of military developments in the Middle East on global energy supplies.

Military exchanges between US forces and Iran have restricted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles approximately 20% of global liquefied natural gas flows, primarily from Qatar.

The source also cited US strikes on Iranian oil tankers and an Iranian missile attack on a US base in Jordan. Iran-aligned Houthi forces seized the Yemeni port of Mocha, adding to concerns over shipping through the Red Sea.

Crude oil remained above $108 per barrel. The source said restrictions in the Persian Gulf have increased competition between European and Asian buyers for alternative LNG cargoes from the Atlantic basin.

European Gas Storage at Around 67%

Data from Gas Infrastructure Europe showed European underground gas storage at approximately 67% of capacity, below the five-year seasonal average.

The source attributed slower storage replenishment during August and early September to summer heatwaves, Norwegian pipeline maintenance and market pricing that reduced the economic incentive for near-term storage injections.

Higher European energy prices were also cited in connection with Thursday’s European Central Bank policy decision.

The ECB raised its deposit facility rate by 25 basis points to 2.50%, its second increase of the year, citing inflation risks associated with higher energy input costs.

European equities traded near two-month lows on Friday and were heading for their largest weekly decline since April as investors assessed higher interest rates and rising energy prices.

The Stoxx Europe 600 gained 0.3% but remained around its lowest level in eight weeks. The index was on course to decline more than 2% for the week, which would represent its weakest weekly performance in five months.

Germany’s DAX rose 0.3%, France’s CAC 40 gained 0.5% and the UK’s FTSE 100 was 0.1% higher.

Brent crude reached a four-month high of $109.97 per barrel and was on track for a weekly gain of almost 13%. Oil markets remained affected by restrictions on tanker traffic through the Persian Gulf following military exchanges between US forces and Iranian naval assets.

Iran-aligned Houthi forces also seized the Yemeni port of Mocha overnight, adding to concerns over shipping routes in the Red Sea and Saudi Arabian oil exports.

ECB Raises Deposit Rate to 2.50%

European markets continued to assess Thursday’s European Central Bank decision to increase its deposit facility rate by 25 basis points to 2.50%, its highest level since April 2025.

Eurozone headline inflation increased to 3.3% in August, with the energy component rising 14.3%.

Money markets were pricing in a probability of more than 90% that the ECB would raise rates again before the end of the year. This represents market expectations rather than a confirmed policy decision.

Higher government bond yields and increased input costs coincided with declines during the week in rate-sensitive growth stocks, industrial companies and consumer discretionary shares.

US Inflation Data in Focus

Investors were also awaiting Friday’s US Consumer Price Index report for further indications about the Federal Reserve’s next policy decision.

The inflation report follows US nonfarm payroll data showing an increase of 162,000 jobs.

A higher-than-expected inflation reading could increase market expectations for a Federal Reserve rate rise at its September 15-16 meeting. The outcome of that meeting remains dependent on the Fed’s assessment of economic conditions.