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Oil prices gained around 1% on Monday after OPEC+ unveiled a smaller-than-expected boost in production for November, easing some supply concerns, though a subdued demand outlook may limit further short-term gains.

Brent crude futures rose 67 cents, or 1%, to $65.20 a barrel by 0625 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude increased 66 cents, or 1.1%, to $61.54.

“The price jump has primarily been boosted by OPEC+’s decision for a lower-than-expected production hike next month as the group intended to buffer the recent slump in oil markets,” said independent analyst Tina Teng.

On Sunday, OPEC+—comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia, and several smaller producers—announced a November production increase of 137,000 barrels per day (bpd), the same modest rise as in October, amid ongoing concerns about a potential supply glut.

Ahead of the decision, sources noted that while Russia favored the 137,000 bpd increase to avoid further price pressure, Saudi Arabia had advocated for a higher boost—potentially double, triple, or quadruple—to regain market share faster.

In the short term, analysts expect the upcoming refinery maintenance season in the Middle East to help cap prices.

“Higher-than-usual refinery maintenance across the Middle East in Q4 will leave more crude available for shipment, further contributing to the prospect of strong export volumes,” said Sentosa Shipbrokers in a client report.

Refiners in other regions may also scale back their crude intake during shutdowns.

“As the shoulder season progresses… a ramp-up in refinery maintenance should create a significant surplus, spurring a selloff in oil,” BMI analysts noted in a client briefing.

Concerns over weak demand fundamentals in Q4 add further restraint to the market.

“With the absence of any fresh bullish catalysts and growing ambiguity on the demand outlook, oil prices are likely to stay capped despite OPEC+’s smaller-than-feared output hike,” said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.

“The reality is that the market is gradually shifting toward a phase of oversupply, with seasonal demand expected to taper off into winter and macro data offering little upside impulse,” she added.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Efforts to form a major new European satellite manufacturer involving Airbus (EU:AIR), Thales (EU:HO), and Leonardo (BIT:LDO) have stalled, according to French newspaper La Tribune.

The discussions, ongoing for several months, aimed to create a European venture better positioned to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX in satellite production. While momentum reportedly built last week, the talks ran into a significant obstacle.

The primary sticking point concerns the allocation of workshare among the three aerospace firms, La Tribune reported. Thales and Leonardo, which co-own Thales Alenia Space—Airbus’ main competitor in satellite manufacturing—have requested more time to resolve these disagreements.

If successful, the venture would represent a major consolidation in Europe’s space sector, as companies look to bolster their competitiveness amid rising international pressure.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

European equities fell on Monday, pressured by renewed political turmoil in France, which rattled domestic markets.

France’s newly appointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu unexpectedly resigned, just hours after naming a new cabinet, with both allies and opponents threatening to bring down his government. Lecornu, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, leaves the country facing heightened political instability in one of Europe’s largest economies.

By 08:04 GMT, France’s CAC 40 had dropped 2.1%, while the pan-European Stoxx 600 fell 0.4%. Germany’s DAX slipped 0.2%, and the UK’s FTSE 100 was down 0.2%.

Eurozone banks were among the hardest hit, led by French lenders such as BNP Paribas (EU:BNP), Societe Generale (EU:GLE), and Credit Agricole (EU:ACA).

Energy stocks offered some relief, buoyed by rising oil prices after OPEC+ announced a smaller-than-expected output increase over the weekend. The technology sector also saw gains, helped by a more than 1% rise in shares of semiconductor giant ASML (EU:ASML).

Shares of French kitchenware maker SEB (EU:SK) plunged more than 22% after it cut its annual sales and profit guidance, attributing the downgrade to weaker demand amid a “wait and see” approach among U.S. consumers and businesses.

Meanwhile, British luxury carmaker Aston Martin (LSE:AML) indicated that it expects a deeper full-year loss due to sluggish demand in North America and the Asia-Pacific region, compounded by higher U.S. tariffs.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

AstraZeneca (LSE:AZN) and Daiichi Sankyo have reported that Datroway demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in overall survival for patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who are ineligible for immunotherapy.

The TROPION-Breast02 Phase III trial showed that the drug improved both overall survival and progression-free survival compared with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment. This represents the first therapy to show a survival benefit in this specific patient population.

Around 70% of patients with metastatic TNBC are not candidates for immunotherapy, including those whose tumors do not express PD-L1 or who cannot receive it for other reasons. For these patients, chemotherapy has been the standard first-line therapy.

“TROPION-Breast02 is the only trial ever to show an overall survival benefit in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer for whom immunotherapy is not an option,” said Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President of Oncology Haematology R&D at AstraZeneca.

Ken Takeshita, Global Head of R&D at Daiichi Sankyo, added that Datroway is “the first antibody drug conjugate and the only therapy to significantly improve overall survival compared to chemotherapy” in this patient group.

The safety profile was consistent with prior clinical trials. Detailed data will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and shared with regulatory authorities.

Datroway is a TROP2-directed antibody drug conjugate being jointly developed by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo. The companies are evaluating it across multiple stages of TNBC in three additional Phase III trials.

TNBC represents about 15% of all breast cancer cases, with roughly 345,000 new diagnoses globally each year. It is the most aggressive form of breast cancer, with a median overall survival of just 12 to 18 months.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Mondi Group (LSE:MNDI) on Monday issued a profit warning after its third-quarter earnings fell well short of expectations, causing shares to fall more than 14%.

The packaging and paper company attributed the shortfall to weak demand and extended maintenance shutdowns in softer markets. The group reported third-quarter EBITDA of €223 million, down from €274 million in the second quarter. Excluding a €20 million forest fair value gain, EBITDA came in at €203 million, 11% below Jefferies’ revised estimate of €250 million and 15% lower than Jefferies’ €242 million forecast excluding an €8 million forest fair value gain.

Jefferies noted that packaging volumes were more stable than the previous quarter, but uncoated fine paper volumes were “significantly weaker,” adding the results are “negative to the wider P&P sector, due to weak demand but more to graphic paper.”

Mondi now expects 2025 EBITDA to range between €1 billion and €1.05 billion, reflecting a 9% to 13% cut versus the €1.15 billion consensus and Jefferies’ €1.08 billion forecast. Jefferies described the downgrade as “worse than we had expected” and said “challenging trading conditions are expected to persist through year-end with fragile demand-side confidence, lower prices and volumes in oversupplied markets.”

The company also revised guidance for contributions from major projects in 2025, now expecting approximately €30 million in EBITDA, down from Jefferies’ €60 million estimate.

Mondi confirmed that capital expenditure plans have been scaled back, with new strategic investments delayed. Capex will now prioritize maintenance requirements, including a new sack machine at Hinton, Canada, while decisions on strategic projects have been postponed due to the current market environment. The group anticipates that capex will align with depreciation and amortisation levels by 2027, projecting €675 million–€725 million in 2026. Jefferies noted that with lower earnings, there is no scope for buybacks in 2026.

The company also updated its acquisition of Schumacher, raising the synergy target to €32 million over three years from a previous €22 million target, after less than six months of ownership.

Mondi announced a reorganisation combining uncoated fine paper with corrugated operations, saying the change is intended to “facilitate more streamlined organisation & decision-making and cost take-out.” Jefferies described this as a “negative loss in disclosure.”

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

British stocks opened largely unchanged on Monday, while European markets showed mixed trading, and the pound slipped against the U.S. dollar. As of 0720 GMT, the FTSE 100 edged down 0.02%, and the British pound fell 0.2% to just above $1.34. Germany’s DAX gained 0.05%, while France’s CAC 40 dropped 0.6%.

Aston Martin Lowers 2025 Volume Guidance

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC (LSE:AML) has cut its 2025 volume forecast, now expecting a mid-to-high single-digit percentage decline versus 2024. Weakening demand in North America and the Asia-Pacific region, coupled with ongoing tariff pressures, is weighing on performance. The automaker delivered around 1,430 wholesale units in Q3 2025, below last year’s 1,641 units and its prior guidance of broadly stable volumes.

Mondi Issues Profit Warning Amid Weak Demand

Mondi PLC (LSE:MNDI) has issued a profit warning after reporting weaker-than-expected Q3 results. Quarterly EBITDA fell to €223 million from €274 million in Q2. Excluding a €20 million forest fair value gain, EBITDA came in at €203 million, 15% below analyst forecasts. The packaging segments held steady, but the uncoated fine paper business underperformed, with challenging market conditions expected to continue through year-end.

Ferrexpo Increases Q3 Production

Ferrexpo PLC (LSE:FXPO) reported Q3 production of 1.51 million tonnes, up 3.3% from Q2 but down 29% from Q1 levels. The iron ore producer has limited operations to a single pellet line due to the ongoing suspension of VAT refunds by Ukrainian tax authorities, with withheld funds totaling $47 million.

AstraZeneca Breast Cancer Drug Shows Survival Benefit

In pharma news, AstraZeneca PLC (LSE:AZN) and Daiichi Sankyo’s Datroway demonstrated significant improvements in overall survival for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer patients ineligible for immunotherapy. The TROPION-Breast02 Phase III trial showed benefits in both overall survival and progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy, marking the first therapy to show a survival advantage in this patient population.

Shawbrook Group Announces London IPO

Shawbrook Group, a UK digital banking platform, confirmed plans for an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange Main Market. The lender, which has grown its loan book from £1.4 billion in 2013 to £17.0 billion by June 2025, plans to issue new shares alongside existing shares sold by Marlin Bidco Limited.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Wishbone Gold Plc (LSE:WSBN) has announced an expansion of its drilling program at the Red Setter Gold Dome Project in Western Australia, supported by a recent £4 million funding raise. The addition of a second Reverse Circulation (RC) drill rig will improve the company’s capacity to explore shallower gold and copper deposits, enhancing operational efficiency and potentially accelerating resource discoveries. This expansion is expected to strengthen Wishbone Gold’s position in the mining sector.

About Wishbone Gold

Wishbone Gold Plc is a mining company focused on gold exploration and development, with primary operations in Western Australia. The company aims to identify and develop gold and copper mineral resources, advancing projects that have the potential to deliver long-term value.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

UK Oil & Gas PLC (LSE:UKOG) has secured an additional £1 million in funding to advance its hydrogen projects, following strong investor interest. The capital will support engineering studies and collaborative efforts necessary for government revenue support applications, while also progressing the company’s hydrogen storage and generation initiatives in Dorset.

About UK Oil & Gas PLC

UK Oil & Gas PLC is transitioning from traditional petroleum operations to focus on clean energy, with an emphasis on hydrogen storage and generation. The company is developing hydrogen infrastructure, including salt-cavern storage and electrolytic hydrogen production, primarily targeting projects in South Dorset and Yorkshire.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

ITM Power (LSE:ITM) has signed a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) contract for the NEPTUNE V project, part of the UK’s Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 (HAR2). The project will feature multiple 5MW containerized green hydrogen plants and is expected to become operational by 2028, subject to a Final Investment Decision. This contract reinforces NEPTUNE V’s role as a leading mid-scale green hydrogen solution, potentially enhancing ITM Power’s market position and delivering strategic value for stakeholders in the green hydrogen sector.

While ITM Power faces financial pressures, including profitability and cash flow challenges, recent developments—such as revenue growth and strategic initiatives highlighted in the earnings call—offer some positive momentum. However, technical indicators and valuation metrics remain weak, tempering the overall outlook.

About ITM Power

Headquartered in Sheffield, England, ITM Power designs and manufactures proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers for green hydrogen production. Using renewable electricity and water, its technology produces net-zero energy hydrogen. Founded in 2000, ITM Power has been listed on the AIM of the London Stock Exchange since 2004.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Beeks Financial Cloud Group plc (LSE:BKS) reported robust results for the year ending June 30, 2025, with revenue rising 26% to £35.9 million and underlying profit before tax increasing 41% to £5.5 million. The company secured major contracts with leading financial institutions, including the Australian Securities Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange, and introduced strategic initiatives such as a revenue share model for Exchange Cloud® deals. The launch of Market Edge Intelligence™ further strengthens Beeks’ position in financial market infrastructure, supporting a strong pipeline and confidence in continued growth for FY26.

Beeks maintains a solid financial foundation with promising expansion opportunities through recent contracts and partnerships. While technical indicators suggest cautious optimism, a high P/E ratio and lack of dividend yield present valuation considerations for investors.

About Beeks Financial Cloud Group plc

Beeks Financial Cloud Group plc is a leading managed cloud provider specializing in the financial markets sector. The company delivers Infrastructure-as-a-Service optimized for low-latency private cloud computing, connectivity, and analytics, enabling hybrid cloud solutions. ISO 27001 certified, Beeks ensures security aligned with global standards. Founded in 2011, the company is listed on the London Stock Exchange, employs over 100 team members worldwide, and is headquartered in Renfrew, Scotland.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.