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Caledonian Holdings PLC (LSE:CHP) has outlined plans to raise capital through the issue of new ordinary shares, with proceeds directed toward increasing its investment in AlbaCo Limited. AlbaCo recently secured a conditional banking license, positioning it to become Scotland’s first bank dedicated exclusively to serving small and medium-sized enterprises, provided it can raise £25 million in regulatory capital. Caledonian’s fundraising is subject to shareholder approval and must be finalized by mid-September 2025.

The company’s financial outlook remains challenging, with ongoing losses, limited cash flow, and weak valuation metrics weighing on performance. While its debt-free balance sheet offers some stability, the absence of meaningful revenue continues to pressure investor confidence. Nonetheless, the capital raise signals a potential opportunity for Caledonian to strengthen its foothold in the high-growth financial services sector.

About Caledonian Holdings PLC

Listed on AIM, Caledonian Holdings PLC is an investment company focused on opportunities within the financial services market. Its strategy centers on building exposure to innovative and fast-growing businesses in the sector.

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.

Focus Xplore PLC (LSE:FOX) has announced the completion of its first-phase exploration program in Ontario, Canada, aimed at identifying potential deposits of lithium and rare earth elements (REE). Early findings from the Bay Road, Iva, Oba, and Ellie projects revealed moderate granite fractionation, suggesting potential for lithium and REE pegmatite systems, though no significant mineralization has been discovered to date.

The company intends to refine its exploration strategy and continue work across its portfolio, with additional activities planned at the Pearl and White Pine projects.

About Focus Xplore PLC

Focus Xplore PLC is engaged in the exploration and development of strategic energy and critical mineral resources, with a particular emphasis on lithium and rare earth elements. The company is dedicated to enhancing shareholder value by advancing projects in key minerals such as lithium, REE, and uranium, while also exploring opportunities to integrate AI-driven solutions into its operations.

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.

Drax Group plc (LSE:DRX) has disclosed that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched an investigation into the company’s biomass sourcing activities and the accuracy of its annual reports for the years 2021 to 2023. Drax has stated it will fully cooperate with regulators throughout the process. The inquiry may influence both its operations and investor sentiment.

Despite the regulatory spotlight, Drax continues to demonstrate solid financial results, supported by favorable technical indicators and a valuation considered attractive by analysts. Its most recent earnings call highlighted strategic growth initiatives, reinforcing confidence in the company’s long-term direction, even amid industry headwinds.

About Drax Group plc

Operating within the renewable energy sector, Drax Group focuses on sustainable power generation, with a particular emphasis on biomass energy. The company is recognized as a key player in advancing low-carbon solutions in the UK energy market.

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.

Clean Power Hydrogen PLC (LSE:CPH2) has unveiled plans to secure £6.5 million through a share placing and subscription, alongside a retail offering of up to £0.3 million. The initiative is designed to strengthen the company’s operational capabilities and accelerate its market growth, with a particular focus on the UK and Ireland, where the appetite for advanced clean energy solutions continues to rise.

The company believes its Membrane-Free Electrolyser (MFE) technology is well positioned to benefit from the global shift toward green hydrogen, supported by increasing government commitments to renewable energy and the broader push for sustainable alternatives.

About Clean Power Hydrogen PLC

Headquartered in Doncaster, Clean Power Hydrogen PLC is a British company specializing in green hydrogen technology and manufacturing. Its core innovation, the Membrane-Free Electrolyser, integrates electrolysis with cryogenic separation to deliver high-purity hydrogen and oxygen. CPH2’s mission is to deliver scalable, reliable, and cost-effective hydrogen production solutions, particularly targeting the UK, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland—regions where renewable energy policies are driving demand for long-duration energy storage and clean power solutions.

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 were uneven on Wednesday as investors balanced political uncertainty in France with anticipation ahead of Nvidia’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) quarterly earnings. Weak consumer sentiment data from Germany also added to the cautious mood.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou called on lawmakers Tuesday to make a choice between “chaos” and “responsibility” during the upcoming confidence vote scheduled for September 8.

Adding to the headwinds, a closely followed GfK survey revealed that German consumer confidence is expected to decline again in September. Rising concerns over job security are discouraging spending, dimming hopes of a solid economic rebound.

The regional indices reflected the cautious tone: France’s CAC 40 gained 0.7%, the FTSE 100 hovered just below unchanged in London, while Germany’s DAX slipped 0.1%.

In the U.K., financials were under pressure with Natwest Group (LSE:NWG), Barclays (LSE:BARC), and Standard Chartered (LSE:STAN) losing 2.5%, 1.45%, and 1.3%, respectively. Other laggards included Endeavour Mining (LSE:EDV), Bunzl (LSE:BNZL), Associated British Foods (LSE:ABF), Prudential (LSE:PRU), and Sainsbury (LSE:SBRY).

JD Sports Fashion (LSE:JD.) bucked the trend, climbing nearly 1.5% after unveiling a £100 million share buyback plan. The company said second-quarter group like-for-like sales were down 3%, though organic sales rose 2.2%. For the 26 weeks to August 2, comparable sales declined 2.5%.

Other U.K. names posting modest gains of 1–1.5% included Pershing Square Holdings (LSE:PSH), National Grid (LSE:NG.), Airtel Africa (LSE:AAF), Severn Trent (LSE:SVT), Vodafone Group (LSE:VOD), Intercontinental Hotels Group (LSE:IHG), SSE (LSE:SEE), Pearson (LSE:PSON), Haleon (LSE:HLN), and Games Workshop (LSE:GAW).

German stocks leaned weaker, with Commerzbank (TG:CBK) falling 3.2% for a second straight day and Deutsche Bank (TG:DBK) off 2.3%. Zalando (TG:ZAL), BASF (TG:BAS), and Siemens Energy (TG:SIE) dropped between 1.4% and 1.7%. Offsetting some of the losses, Porsche (TG:PAH3) gained over 1%, while Covestro (BIT:11COV), RWE (TG:RWE), SAP (TG:SAP), Bayer (TG:BAYN), Vonovia (TG:VNA), Munich RE (TG:A289EQ), Deutsche Telekom (TG:DTE), and E.ON (TG:A30V8B) advanced slightly.

In Paris, Carrefour (EU:CA) declined 2.2%, while ArcelorMittal (EU:MT), Unibail Rodamco (BIT:URW), and Edenred (EU:EDEN) fell 1.1–1.4%. Other decliners included Stellantis (BIT:STLAM), Veolia (EU:VIE), Credit Agricole (EU:ACA), Eurofins Scientific (EU:ERF), and BNP Paribas (EU:BNP). On the upside, luxury giant LVMH (EU:MC) rose 1.8%, joined by AXA (TG:AXA), Thales (EU:HO), Hermes International (EU:RMS), Vivendi (EU:VIV), Bouygues (EU:EN), TotalEnergies (EU:TTE), Air Liquide (EU:AI), Dassault Systemes (EU:DSY), Kering (EU:KER), and Vinci (EU:DG), each up around 1–1.3%.

The GfK index of German consumer confidence fell to -23.6 for September from -21.7 in August, worse than forecasts for a milder drop to -22.

“With the third consecutive decline, consumer sentiment is now definitely in the summer slump,” said Rolf Burkl, head of consumer climate research at NIM.

“Growing fear of job losses is causing many consumers to remain cautious about making major purchases,” Burkl added. “This further dampens hopes for a robust recovery in consumer sentiment before the end of the year.”

Income expectations plunged in August, with the relevant index tumbling 11.1 points to 4.1, the lowest since March. Persistent worries about energy costs, influenced by geopolitical risks and U.S. tariff policy, also weighed on the outlook.

Economic expectations declined for a second consecutive month, sliding to -7.4, the weakest reading in half a year.

In the U.K., the Confederation of British Industry’s retail sales gauge inched higher to -32 in August from -34 in July, beating forecasts of -33. Still, the survey pointed to an 11th straight month of falling retail sales volumes, though the outlook for September improved to -16.

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.

U.S. equity futures pointed to a quiet start on Wednesday, with Wall Street showing little conviction as traders await Nvidia’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) earnings and continue to digest political uncertainty surrounding the Federal Reserve.

The chip giant, often seen as the bellwether for AI enthusiasm, is slated to announce second-quarter results after today’s close. Nvidia shares ticked up 0.5% in premarket activity, extending their momentum from Tuesday when the stock gained 1.1%.

Economic catalysts are thin today, but Friday looms large with the release of the Commerce Department’s July personal income and spending report. The data will include the Fed’s preferred inflation measure, with economists expecting the annual core reading to edge up to 2.9% from 2.8% in June. A hotter print could complicate the outlook for monetary policy.

CME’s FedWatch Tool indicates markets are heavily leaning toward a 25-basis-point rate cut in September, with the probability currently at 88.2%. Additional indicators—including weekly jobless claims, pending home sales, and the updated Q2 GDP estimate—will also shape investor sentiment later this week.

Tuesday’s session underscored the market’s indecision. Stocks moved sideways for much of the day before closing firmly higher. The Nasdaq advanced 94.98 points, or 0.4%, to 21,544.27, while the S&P 500 climbed 26.62 points, or 0.4%, to 6,465.94. The Dow ended 135.60 points, or 0.3%, higher at 45,418.07.

Bond markets offered some relief as short-term Treasury yields pulled back, a move many linked to speculation that President Donald Trump’s latest clash with the Fed could increase pressure for near-term rate cuts.

Trump announced via Truth Social on Monday that he was removing Fed Governor Lisa Cook, citing allegations of false statements on mortgage agreements. Cook fired back, insisting the president lacks the authority to dismiss her and pledging to challenge the move legally. The central bank added it will “abide by any court decision.”

Sector performance was mixed. Airline stocks jumped sharply, driving the NYSE Arca Airline Index up 2.3% to its strongest level in six months. Gold miners surged as well, with the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index climbing 2.2% to a 12-year high on firmer bullion prices. Networking names posted solid gains, highlighted by a 2.1% rise in the NYSE Arca Networking Index. Meanwhile, oil service companies lagged as crude oil prices slumped.

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.

The U.S. dollar gained on Wednesday, although the advance remained modest due to worries over the Federal Reserve’s autonomy following President Donald Trump’s attempt to remove Governor Lisa Cook.

At 05:25 ET (09:25 GMT), the Dollar Index, which measures the greenback against six major currencies, rose 0.4% to 98.487, rebounding from early-week losses.

Fed independence under scrutiny

Trump announced on Monday his intention to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook over alleged mortgage irregularities, sparking concerns about potential political interference in U.S. monetary policy. Cook, through her attorney, stated that Trump lacks the authority to dismiss her and confirmed she will not step down, setting the stage for a possible prolonged legal dispute.

“President Trump’s firing of Fed Governor Lisa Cook and the broad view that this marks further politicisation of the Fed are negative for the dollar,” noted analysts at ING.

“Yet, the FX reaction has been muted and may only play out in the longer run, likely for two reasons. First, Cook is challenging the decision, which will probably end up in court. Second, her departure won’t have a big impact on the next few meetings. With Powell still in charge, markets expect policy to remain data-driven, and the dovish dissent remains too small to push for faster or larger cuts.”

Euro declines

In Europe, EUR/USD fell 0.5% to 1.1586, pressured by political uncertainty in France and disappointing German consumer sentiment figures. French Prime Minister François Bayrou is expected to lose a confidence vote on September 8 regarding his budget plan.

Should the government fall, President Emmanuel Macron could either appoint a new prime minister, keep Bayrou as head of a caretaker administration, or call early elections.

“Markets are still making up their minds about the aftermath of the upcoming confidence vote and don’t seem in a rush to price snap elections as the baseline scenario,” said ING.

“The alternative – this or a new government watering down spending cuts enough to gather parliamentary support and deliver some fiscal consolidation – is plausible, though admittedly a relatively narrow path given the heightened scrutiny it faces.”

Meanwhile, German consumer sentiment is forecast to drop for the third consecutive month in September, with the GfK index declining to -23.6 points from a slightly revised -21.7 points in August.

GBP/USD traded 0.3% lower at 1.3445, supported to some extent by a hawkish Bank of England.

“We still think a structural break above 1.35 is a matter of when rather than if,” ING added.

Other currencies

Elsewhere, USD/JPY climbed 0.4% to 147.92, while USD/CNY rose 0.1% to 7.1610. AUD/USD slipped 0.3% to 0.6471 after Australia’s consumer price index for July jumped 2.8% year-on-year, surpassing expectations of 2.3% and rising from 1.9% in June.

The spike was largely driven by higher electricity costs following the expiration of some federal rebates. These figures followed the Reserve Bank of Australia’s August minutes, which indicated further rate cuts could be considered if inflation moderated as expected. While the central bank reduced rates by 25 basis points last month, the latest data suggest inflation may remain stubborn, complicating the RBA’s policy outlook.

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.

Gold prices eased in Asian trading on Wednesday following a rally that had pushed the metal to a more than two-week high. Investor jitters over U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempt to dismiss Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook renewed concerns about the central bank’s independence.

The initial surge in gold came after Trump’s late-Monday announcement to remove Cook immediately, citing allegations of mortgage fraud. The move caused the dollar to weaken, boosting gold and other metals.

However, the greenback regained ground, and Treasury yields stabilized after both Cook and the Fed asserted that Trump lacked authority to enact the firing. Spot gold fell 0.5% to $3,378.29 per ounce, while October gold futures dipped 0.1% to $3,428.70/oz by 00:23 ET (04:23 GMT).

Safe-Haven Demand Boosts Gold Amid Legal Standoff

Gold’s rally this week was fueled by safe-haven buying amid a potential legal showdown between Trump and Cook.

Cook has stated she will not resign and plans to challenge her removal in court, arguing the president had no valid grounds. The Fed has echoed this position.

Trump’s attempt to replace Cook raised broader concerns about political interference at the Fed, which traditionally operates independently. Earlier this year, Trump also threatened to dismiss Chair Jerome Powell, criticizing him for not cutting interest rates more aggressively.

“Replacing Cook with his own nominee would give Trump a potential majority on the Fed’s seven-member rate-setting board, allowing him to pursue calls for lower interest rates,” analysts noted.

This has unsettled markets, as the Fed has maintained a cautious stance on further easing, highlighting potential inflationary risks from Trump’s tariff policies. While Powell has signaled some openness to a September rate cut, he has largely remained non-committal. Lower interest rates, however, tend to benefit gold and other precious metals.

Dollar Rebounds, Metals Pull Back

The dollar index climbed above 98 points on Wednesday, recovering earlier losses, while Treasury yields steadied following sharp rises earlier this week.

Stronger greenback dynamics weighed on broader metal prices. Spot platinum dropped 0.1% to $1,353.71/oz, and spot silver fell 0.3% to $38.5035/oz.

Among industrial metals, London Metal Exchange copper futures slipped 0.1% to $9,838.55 per ton, while COMEX copper fell 0.5% to $4.5248 per pound. Both contracts had surged last week on optimism over lower U.S. interest rates and expectations of additional stimulus from China.

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.

Oil prices were largely flat in Asian trade on Wednesday, following steep losses in the previous session, as investors assessed the effects of additional U.S. tariffs on India and a smaller-than-expected drop in U.S. crude inventories.

By 22:00 ET (02:00 GMT), October Brent futures edged down 0.1% to $67.16 per barrel, while WTI crude for the same month slipped 0.1% to $63.17 per barrel. Both contracts fell more than 2% on Tuesday, driven by diminishing hopes for a near-term Russia-Ukraine peace agreement.

New India Tariffs Take Effect

As part of Washington’s response to India’s ongoing purchases of Russian crude, an extra 25% tariff on Indian imports came into effect on August 27 at 12:01 a.m. ET, doubling the total levy to 50%. This measure is intended to pressure India over its energy ties with Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“The secondary tariff has not been enough to stop India from buying Russian oil. Initially, secondary tariffs saw Indian refiners pause purchases. They have resumed purchases,” ING analysts said.

“The market will be watching Russian oil flows to India closely going forward to gauge the impact, if any, of secondary tariffs,” the analysts added.

The Ukraine conflict continues to dominate sentiment in energy markets. U.S. President Donald Trump has sought to present himself as a mediator but warned last week that he would implement new sanctions on Moscow if no progress toward a peace agreement occurs within two weeks.

U.S. Crude Inventories Drop Less Than Expected

Data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) on Tuesday indicated that U.S. crude inventories fell by 970,000 barrels in the week ending August 22, below analysts’ forecast of a 1.7 million-barrel decline. Gasoline and distillate inventories decreased by 2.1 million barrels and 1.5 million barrels, respectively.

“The draw in distillate stocks was slightly supportive for the middle distillate market, particularly given that we are in a period where stocks usually grow,” ING analysts noted.

Investors now look ahead to official inventory figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) later on Wednesday for a clearer picture of demand trends.

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.

U.S. stock futures nudged higher Wednesday as markets awaited crucial earnings from Nvidia, the AI-focused tech giant, which is expected to influence short-term investor sentiment. Meanwhile, new U.S. tariffs on Indian imports are now in effect, and France remains under scrutiny due to ongoing political instability.

Nvidia’s earnings in focus

Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), a key indicator of the artificial intelligence boom, is set to release its fiscal second-quarter results after U.S. market close.

Technology shares, which had driven markets upward for much of the year, have cooled recently as investor enthusiasm tempered. Nvidia’s upcoming results are expected to provide a benchmark for near-term risk appetite, revealing whether the lofty valuations for AI-focused companies are justified.

The chipmaker is projected to report a 53% year-on-year revenue increase to $46 billion for the second quarter, according to LSEG data. While significant, this figure falls short of the triple-digit growth seen in previous quarters. Investors will also be closely monitoring Nvidia’s outlook, particularly the company’s China business, which is heavily influenced by trade negotiations and potential restrictions between the U.S. and China.

U.S. futures modestly higher

Ahead of Nvidia’s results, U.S. stock futures inched upward. At 03:00 ET, S&P 500 futures rose 20 points (0.1%), Nasdaq 100 futures added 4 points (0.1%), and Dow futures climbed 15 points (0.1%).

The major indices closed higher on Tuesday, buoyed by confidence ahead of Nvidia’s earnings, with the chipmaker seen as a bellwether for broader markets and AI-related developments. Nvidia has beaten earnings expectations in 11 of its past 12 quarterly reports.

Despite historically challenging August trading, all three major U.S. indexes are on track for gains this month: the S&P 500 up 2%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 2.9%, and the Nasdaq Composite up 2%.

U.S.-India tariffs now active

President Donald Trump’s recently doubled 50% tariffs on Indian exports to the U.S. have taken effect, following a missed deadline for a trade agreement with New Delhi.

Earlier this month, Trump announced 25% tariffs on Indian goods, stating the rate would double to 50% after three weeks as a sign of frustration over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. July shipping data showed India as Russia’s second-largest oil buyer after Saudi Arabia.

Along with Brazil, India now faces some of the highest U.S. tariffs globally.

“We estimate 70% ($55 billion) of India’s exports to the United States are now under serious threat, accelerating downside risks to growth,” said Aastha Gudwani, India chief economist at Barclays. “From a ’good friend’ to a ’bad trading partner’, it has come a long way.”

Political and financial instability in France

French markets remain under pressure after Prime Minister François Bayrou’s plan to win support for his unpopular debt-reduction proposal failed, exacerbating political and financial uncertainty.

Earlier this week, Bayrou called for a confidence vote on his plan, scheduled for September 8. Opposition parties rejected the proposal, potentially shortening his tenure as leader of a minority government.

If Bayrou falls, President Emmanuel Macron could dissolve Parliament for fresh elections or appoint a new government, though neither solution is expected to resolve the country’s budgetary issues or political gridlock.

France’s CAC 40 has fallen over 3% this week, while the spread between French and German 10-year government bonds—a measure of the premium investors demand to hold French debt—widened to roughly 79 basis points on Tuesday, its highest level since April.

Oil markets react to tariffs

Oil prices stabilized after sharp losses in the previous session as traders digested the impact of new U.S. tariffs on India, the world’s third-largest crude consumer.

At 03:00 ET, Brent futures slipped 0.1% to $66.66 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures rose 0.1% to $63.27 a barrel. Both contracts fell over 2% on Tuesday after opening the week at a two-week high.

Goldman Sachs forecasts Brent crude prices could drop to the low $50s a barrel by late 2026, citing growing global oil surplus.

“We expect the oil surplus to widen and average 1.8 million barrels per day in 2025 Q4 (through) 2026 Q4, resulting in a nearly 800 million barrel rise in global stocks by end 2026,” the U.S. investment bank said in a client note Tuesday.

Goldman expects Brent prices to remain near forward contract levels through 2025 but fall below those contracts in 2026 as OECD stockpiles grow.

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.