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Winking Studios (LSE:WKS) reported robust full-year 2025 results, with revenue climbing 42.6% to US$45.5 million, supported by the successful integration of its Mineloader acquisition alongside a recovery in underlying business activity. Organic revenue growth reached 8.6%, while gross profit increased 43.2% with margins remaining broadly steady. Adjusted EBITDA rose 13.2%, reflecting continued profitability despite higher costs associated with its market listing and expanded operations.

The company significantly increased its involvement in AAA game projects, expanding the number of titles supported from 14 to 117 during the year. It also established Vertic Studios in Southeast Asia, a new unit dedicated to premium English-language AAA art production. Revenue diversification improved notably, with U.S. sales more than doubling while China and Hong Kong continued to represent the largest regional markets. Supported by a stronger balance sheet, rising bookings, and plans to develop a Western operational base, Winking Studios aims to benefit from a recovery in global demand for outsourced game development services.

More about Winking Studios Limited

Winking Studios Limited, listed in both London and Singapore, is a global provider of AAA game art outsourcing and game development services to the international gaming industry. Operating across Art Outsourcing, Game Development, and Global Publishing & Other Services segments, the company runs 13 studios throughout Greater China and Southeast Asia and employs more than 1,400 staff, delivering end-to-end production support for many of the world’s leading game publishers and developers.

RentGuarantor Holdings (LSE:RGG) has introduced a proprietary artificial intelligence framework aimed at automating the assessment of tenant documentation, beginning with an Automated Document Reader designed for Universal Credit records. The initiative, overseen by Non-Executive Director and computer science professor David Cliff, forms part of a broader AI strategy to simplify one of the most labour-intensive stages of underwriting while keeping final application decisions under human supervision.

The company plans to expand the technology across multiple document categories, targeting the capacity to handle up to 100,000 tenant contracts annually by 2029 — approximately 30 times its FY25 processing volume. Management anticipates that the system will enable rapid “accept or refer” decisions within about one minute, increase operational scale without a matching rise in staffing levels, and improve the overall digital application experience. These efficiencies are expected to enhance RentGuarantor’s competitive standing within the property technology sector while delivering stronger operational leverage.

More about RentGuarantor Holdings PLC

RentGuarantor Holdings PLC provides rent guarantee solutions for tenants renting residential property across the UK private rental market, excluding Northern Ireland. The company operates a secure, purpose-built online platform designed to simplify and accelerate applications, with many cases completed within the same day.

N4 Pharma plc (LSE:N4P), the UK biotechnology company known for developing the Nuvec gene delivery platform for cancer and advanced therapies, is moving toward a therapeutics-led business model built around an expanded pipeline of RNA-based treatments. As part of this strategic transition, the company intends to rename itself Thalia Therapeutics plc, pending shareholder approval at a general meeting scheduled for 17 March 2026 in London.

The proposed rebrand aims to reflect updated leadership, a more defined corporate strategy, and an increased emphasis on internally developed RNA therapeutic assets alongside continued advancement of the Nuvec platform. The company also plans to pursue strategic collaborations to support long-term value creation. Key trading identifiers, including the LEI, ISIN, and SEDOL, will remain unchanged, while existing share certificates will continue to be valid. The company’s website and ticker branding will be updated once the name change is formally registered.

N4 Pharma’s outlook continues to be weighed down by financial challenges, including sustained losses, ongoing cash consumption, and declining equity levels, although the absence of debt provides some balance sheet flexibility. Technical indicators suggest a negative trend, with momentum measures remaining weak and the share price trading below major moving averages. Valuation metrics are also constrained by negative earnings and the lack of dividend support.

More about N4 Pharma

N4 Pharma plc is a UK-based biotechnology company focused on advancing Nuvec, its proprietary gene delivery technology designed to support next-generation therapies for cancer and other diseases. The company is evolving toward a therapeutics-driven model centred on innovative RNA-based drug development while continuing to progress its delivery platform and expand internal research programs and partnership opportunities.

Nexus Infrastructure plc (LSE:NEXS) has issued its 2025 Annual Report and Accounts alongside the formal Notice of its 2026 Annual General Meeting, with both documents now available through the investor relations section of the company’s website. The AGM will take place on 25 March 2026 at Nexus Park in Essex, allowing shareholders to participate either in person or via a virtual format.

Shareholders joining online will have the opportunity to submit questions during the meeting but will not be able to vote electronically. The company has encouraged investors to cast their votes in advance through proxy submissions, either online or by post. The arrangements reflect Nexus Infrastructure’s approach to improving accessibility while preserving established governance and voting procedures ahead of an important annual shareholder event.

The company’s overall stock assessment remains pressured by weak financial fundamentals, including declining revenues, reduced profitability, and liquidity concerns. While technical indicators point to some positive market momentum, valuation measures suggest the shares may be trading at elevated levels. The lack of earnings call updates or significant corporate developments has not materially affected the overall evaluation.

More about Nexus Infrastructure plc

Nexus Infrastructure plc is a UK-based civil engineering and infrastructure services provider operating through subsidiaries Tamdown Group and Coleman Construction & Utilities. Tamdown delivers infrastructure solutions primarily for housebuilders across London and South-East England, while Coleman focuses on civil engineering and construction projects spanning water, rail, highways, and river and marine sectors.

SRT Marine Systems (LSE:SRT) has been awarded a $20.5 million follow-on systems contract from an existing sovereign client, building on an earlier deployment of its maritime surveillance technology. The new agreement will broaden the customer’s maritime domain awareness infrastructure, highlighting continued government demand for SRT’s intelligence-driven monitoring solutions and strengthening the company’s position as a trusted long-term partner in national maritime security initiatives.

The company’s forward outlook is supported by solid revenue expansion and gains in operational efficiency. Nevertheless, elevated valuation levels and softer technical performance indicators continue to weigh on overall sentiment. In addition, the lack of a dividend and ongoing cash flow pressures remain factors affecting investor appeal.

More about SRT Marine Systems

SRT Marine Systems plc is an AIM-listed technology company specialising in maritime intelligence, surveillance, and navigation safety systems for civil defence applications. Its solutions deliver maritime domain awareness capabilities to sovereign organisations including coast guards, fisheries agencies, ports, and waterway authorities, alongside services for commercial shipping and recreational vessel operators worldwide.

Connecting Excellence Group Plc (AQSE:XCE) (USOTC:XCELF) reported a solid first-half trading performance, with net fee income rising sharply as higher-value executive placements supported revenue growth, while the company continued to build out its Bitcoin treasury following its recent IPO.

For the six months ended 31 December 2025, the group’s operational recruitment business, Spencer Riley, generated net fee income of £0.89 million, representing a 20.3% increase compared with £0.74 million in the same period a year earlier. The improvement was driven by a 12.7% increase in average fee per placement, reflecting a strategic shift toward higher-value mandates.

Trading momentum has continued into the new year, with the company delivering its strongest January on record, generating £0.25 million in net fee income since the period end.

IPO and market expansion

In December 2025, Connecting Excellence completed its initial public offering and began trading on the Access segment of the Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market, raising £3.3 million in gross proceeds. The company further expanded its market presence in February 2026 when its shares started trading on the OTCQB market, a move aimed at improving liquidity and broadening its international investor base.

Bitcoin treasury strategy progresses

Since listing, the group has accelerated its Bitcoin treasury strategy, acquiring 33.15 BTC for £2.2 million using IPO proceeds alongside £64,000 generated from free cash flow. The company also launched its XCE BTC Bond in January, issuing the first tranche equivalent to 10 BTC.

Combined with 9.27 BTC held prior to the IPO, Connecting Excellence now holds a total of 52.42 BTC.

The company expects to publish interim results in the second half of March 2026.

Scott Ellam, Chief Executive Officer of Connecting Excellence Group, commented:
“We are pleased to report a strong first half, with net fee income increasing by 20.3% year-on-year, supported by a 12.7% rise in average fee per placement and our strategic focus on higher-value mandates. The record January performance since the Period end provides encouraging momentum entering the second half.

“Our successful IPO and admission to the Aquis Exchange marked an important milestone, strengthening our balance sheet and enabling further progress in our long-term Bitcoin treasury strategy. We remain firmly focused on delivering cashflow growth in our international executive recruitment business and enhancing our Bitcoin treasury strategy. We look forward to updating shareholders with our interim results next month.”

Company overview

Connecting Excellence Group is an international executive recruitment business operating through its flagship brand Spencer Riley, placing senior professionals across engineering, logistics, life sciences, automation, technology, professional services and B2B sectors worldwide.

Alongside recruitment operations, the company is pursuing a disciplined Bitcoin treasury strategy designed to support long-term growth, talent incentives and potential acquisition-led expansion using performance-based equity structures. The group is also developing a specialist Bitcoin-focused executive recruitment division targeting both crypto-native and traditional businesses seeking Bitcoin expertise.

Gold prices traded slightly higher on Thursday as safe-haven demand persisted amid uncertainty over U.S. trade policy and ahead of renewed nuclear talks between the United States and Iran.

At 05:00 ET (10:00 GMT), spot gold advanced 0.5% to $5,188.77 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures slipped 0.4% to $5,204.49 per ounce.

Markets focus on diplomacy and trade risks

Investor attention remained firmly on geopolitical developments as officials from Washington and Tehran prepared to meet in Geneva later in the day for fresh discussions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme.

Markets are closely watching for any signs of rising tensions or stalled negotiations, developments that could increase demand for traditional safe-haven assets such as gold.

At the same time, traders continued to assess the fallout from newly introduced U.S. tariffs following a recent Supreme Court ruling that reshaped the legal basis for certain trade actions.

The introduction of additional global tariffs of up to 15% has heightened uncertainty surrounding the outlook for international trade.

Later in the session, investors will also monitor incoming U.S. economic indicators — including weekly jobless claims — for signals about the likely direction of monetary policy.

So far this year, gold has remained supported by persistent geopolitical uncertainty, ongoing central bank purchases and diversification flows from investment portfolios.

“Gold has now recovered more than half of the losses seen during the sharp sell-off late last month,” ING analysts said in a note.

“Geopolitical risks remain a key upside factor; any escalation in tensions involving Iran is likely to add further support and reinforce gold’s role as a hedge against shocks,” they added.

Silver and platinum pull back after recent advances

Other precious and industrial metals moved lower on Thursday, surrendering part of their recent gains.

Silver declined 4% to $87.37 per ounce after climbing more than 2% in the previous session.

Platinum dropped 1.5% to $2,298.95 per ounce following a rally of more than 5% on Wednesday.

Benchmark copper futures on the London Metal Exchange edged down 0.1% to $13,315.0 per ton, while U.S. copper futures eased 0.2% to $6.0315 per pound.