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CelLBxHealth plc (LSE:CLBX) has entered into a collaboration and co-marketing agreement with QIAGEN Manchester Ltd., a move aimed at strengthening the development of CTC-based applications. The partnership will integrate CelLBxHealth’s Parsortix platform with QIAGEN’s molecular technologies to support drug development, biomarker discovery, and companion diagnostic feasibility work. Under the agreement, QIAGEN can promote the Parsortix system to its pharmaceutical partners, potentially accelerating broader adoption of liquid-biopsy-driven approaches in oncology. The initiative fits squarely within CelLBxHealth’s strategy to expand global access to its CTC technology and deepen its presence in precision medicine.

CelLBxHealth’s broader outlook continues to be overshadowed by weak financial performance and valuation pressures, with technical indicators pointing to bearish trading conditions. Although management has highlighted some positive operational developments, ongoing funding needs and difficult market dynamics remain key challenges for the company.

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CelLBxHealth plc is a global precision CTC intelligence company specialising in circulating tumour cell technologies for research, drug development, and clinical oncology. Its patented Parsortix® platform captures CTCs from blood and integrates seamlessly with standard laboratory workflows, enabling whole-cell imaging, proteomic analysis, and comprehensive genomic profiling. The company focuses on product sales, lab-developed tests, and specialised laboratory services, with commercial efforts aimed at accelerating adoption of Parsortix and supporting clinical trials and assay development.

Costain Group PLC (LSE:COST) has secured a five-year extension to its long-standing framework agreement with EDF, a deal worth £75 million that will see the company continue providing project controls services across all eight of EDF’s UK nuclear power stations. The renewal builds on a partnership established in 2017 and reinforces Costain’s strategy of deepening relationships with major infrastructure owners, while contributing to the safe and efficient operation of the nation’s nuclear assets.

The company’s outlook reflects a blend of financial stability and constructive market sentiment. A solid balance sheet and disciplined debt management remain key strengths, though pressure on margins and softer cash generation point to areas where performance could improve. Overall, Costain’s valuation appears reasonable, suggesting scope for steady — if moderate — shareholder returns.

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Costain Group PLC delivers integrated infrastructure solutions designed to support a more sustainable and connected UK. Operating across transport, water, energy, and defence markets, the company combines construction, engineering, consultancy, and digital capabilities to help clients meet essential national infrastructure and decarbonisation objectives.

Thor Explorations Ltd (LSE:THX) delivered a strong performance in the third quarter of 2025, reporting sharp gains in revenue, net profit, and gold output from the Segilola Gold Mine in Nigeria. The company continued to advance exploration across its broader portfolio, including active drilling at both Segilola and the Douta project, while recent strategic acquisitions have added depth to its resource base.

Alongside its operational progress, Thor highlighted improvements in sustainability metrics and ongoing community development efforts, reinforcing its commitment to responsible mining practices. Management also narrowed production and cost guidance for the full year, a move that reflects growing confidence in its operational execution and mine performance.

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Thor Explorations Ltd is a West Africa–focused gold exploration and production company with operations spanning Nigeria, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire. Its flagship asset is the Segilola Gold Mine in Nigeria, supplemented by a pipeline of exploration projects aimed at expanding resources and supporting long-term growth through targeted drilling and strategic acquisitions.

Aeorema Communications plc (LSE:AEO) reported a robust trading performance for the 18-month period ending 31 December 2025, projecting revenue of at least £29.0 million and underlying profit before tax of no less than £700,000. The company’s ongoing restructuring work, emphasis on improving margins, and a solid pipeline of client mandates supported the uplift. Growth was particularly strong across North America and EMEA, where the group continues to expand its footprint and deliver large-scale international projects. Alongside its operational progress, Aeorema reaffirmed its commitment to shareholder returns through a progressive dividend policy as it targets continued momentum into 2026.

Aeorema’s near-term outlook reflects a blend of improving operational performance and supportive technical trends. However, its elevated P/E ratio introduces valuation questions, and limited visibility from the absence of earnings call data or recent corporate events caps additional insight into management expectations.

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Aeorema Communications plc is a strategic communications and events specialist operating from London, New York, and Amsterdam. The group provides tailored live, virtual, and hybrid event experiences for a global blue-chip client base spanning finance, professional services, advertising, IT, gaming, fashion, fintech, and beverage sectors. Through its subsidiaries Cheerful Twentyfirst and Eventful Limited, Aeorema also offers high-level consultancy to help organisations refine and strengthen long-term communication strategies.

Oriole Resources PLC (LSE:ORR) has secured roughly £2.03 million in new funding, combining proceeds from its WRAP Retail Offer with an earlier placing and subscription. In total, the company issued 846,640,463 new ordinary shares. The strengthened balance sheet is expected to underpin Oriole’s exploration programmes across Africa, supporting ongoing project work and potentially broadening opportunities for investors as the firm builds its regional footprint.

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Oriole Resources PLC is an AIM-listed gold exploration company with a strategic focus on West and Central Africa, where it targets early-stage discoveries and value-accretive development opportunities.

Bodycote (LSE:BOY) posted a slight 2.2% rise in organic revenue across its core operations during the four months to October 2025, a period marked by ongoing weakness in both Automotive and broader Industrial markets. Even so, the group continues to push ahead with its Optimise programme — a restructuring initiative that includes the disposal of 10 sites in France and selective plant closures — designed to tighten operational discipline and support profitability over time.

Momentum remained stronger in Aerospace & Defence, where demand helped offset softer trading elsewhere. Management is also leaning into higher-value growth areas, including expanded Precision Heat Treatment capabilities and additional HIP capacity, while signalling that disciplined acquisitions may complement its long-term strategy. Collectively, these initiatives aim to lift execution quality and reshape the business toward more resilient earnings.

Financially, Bodycote’s picture is mixed. Cash generation remains healthy, but margins have come under pressure, and leverage has edged higher. Market sentiment is similarly cautious: technical indicators suggest a bearish tilt, and an elevated P/E ratio continues to prompt valuation questions. With no recent earnings calls or corporate actions to adjust expectations, the company’s near-term outlook rests largely on its operational progress and sector trends.

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Bodycote is a global leader in specialist thermal processing, delivering technologies that strengthen and enhance the performance of metals and alloys. Its services support critical sectors including Aerospace & Defence, Automotive, and Industrial markets, helping customers improve durability, reliability, and material efficiency across a range of applications.

There’s less than a month left until the Fed’s final meeting of the year, and investors’ hopes for another rate cut are fading fast, at least according to the CME FedWatch Tool. Back in October, markets were pricing in almost a 100% chance of a cut; now that probability has dropped below 45%.

Even the end of the longest U.S. government shutdown in history didn’t help, and no wonder. Since no data was collected during that period, we won’t receive a flood of new reports, which means the Fed will have little new information on which to base its monetary policy decisions.

The rhetoric of Fed officials doesn’t help. For instance, the Kansas City Fed President warned that further rate cuts could entrench higher inflation rather than support the labor market. Meanwhile, Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack indicated that she does not favor another rate cut in the near term.

This week, the speakers include Philip Jefferson, Christopher Waller, Michael Barr, Stephen Miran, and Lisa Cook. If they collectively signal that inflation concerns outweigh worries about slowing employment, risk appetite could continue to decline, hurting the S&P 500 index along the way.

The same story applies to the minutes from the last FOMC meeting. 

With Chair Powell making it clear in the press conference that we shouldn’t assume a December rate cut, the minutes are likely to come across as hawkish. As for the long-delayed September jobs report, which is set to be released this week, its impact should be fairly limited given that the data is already somewhat outdated.

Last but not least, the fact that Trump went “TACO” again and exempted food products from tariffs could actually be a worrying sign. At first glance, it appears to be a move to curb inflation and support purchasing power. But it might really suggest that everyday consumers are feeling significant pressure.

The good news is that expectations for rate cuts have dropped quickly, although they could rise just as fast.

European equity markets moved mostly lower on Monday, as renewed anxiety over a potential artificial-intelligence bubble and slowing global growth pressured risk appetite.

With few immediate catalysts on the calendar, investors turned their attention to upcoming U.S. economic releases and earnings from AI favorite Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), which are expected to help set the tone for markets this week.

By midday, Germany’s DAX had fallen 0.7%, France’s CAC 40 was down 0.5%, and London’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.3%.

In corporate developments, SIG Group shares jumped after the Swiss packaging specialist named Mikko Keto as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Sandoz (LSE:0SAN) also traded higher after announcing that TYRUKO (natalizumab-sztn) is now available to patients in the United States.

Meanwhile, British defense and security firm QinetiQ (LSE:QQ.) advanced following the launch of the second phase of its share buyback program.

U.S. equity futures pointed to a muted start on Monday, suggesting the major indexes may struggle for direction as traders brace for a wave of delayed economic releases and closely watched results from Nvidia later this week.

The recent government shutdown stalled several key data publications, leaving investors hesitant to take large positions until fresh numbers begin to roll out. The first of these will arrive this morning, when the Commerce Department publishes its postponed August construction spending report.

Additional backlog releases—including factory orders, August trade figures, and the September employment report—are also slated for the coming days. Even though these updates will be somewhat dated, they may still shape expectations for the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting in December.

According to CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, markets currently assign a 57.4% probability that the Fed leaves rates unchanged next month versus a 42.6% chance of another 25-basis-point cut.

Nvidia, long a standout of the AI trade, is also set to command investor attention. The chipmaker will report third-quarter earnings Wednesday after the bell, and given ongoing anxiety over stretched AI valuations, its outlook could heavily influence broader market sentiment.

Stocks experienced notable swings last week. After a steep selloff Thursday, markets fell again Friday morning before mounting a sharp intraday rebound. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 briefly pushed into positive territory, ultimately closing near flat for the day, while the Dow extended its pullback from Wednesday’s record high.

For the week, the indexes were mixed: the Nasdaq slipped 0.5%, the S&P 500 ticked up 0.1%, and the Dow gained 0.3%.

Tech shares initially remained under pressure Friday due to continued valuation concerns, but major names like Nvidia, Palantir, and Tesla managed to reverse early losses as the session progressed. Still, uncertainty surrounding the Fed’s next move kept many buyers cautious, especially after policymakers hinted that missing economic data could complicate the December decision.

Elsewhere, airline stocks deepened Thursday’s losses, dragging the NYSE Arca Airline Index down 2.0%, while retail shares also weakened. In contrast, energy stocks rallied alongside higher crude prices, and hardware and software names rebounded after leading Thursday’s decline.

Cadence Minerals (LSE:KDNC) released an update on the ongoing Offtake Financing discussions for its Azteca processing plant, noting that recent findings have supported the company’s assumptions in negotiations. According to the update, non-systematic grab samples collected from the plant’s tailings confirmed iron grades in line with expectations, satisfying the prospective offtaker and allowing the financing process to move ahead without the need for additional sampling.

The samples—taken exclusively for due-diligence review—were prepared and analysed by an independent accredited laboratory using industry-standard methodologies and appropriate QA/QC protocols. Cadence emphasized that the material was not used for geological modelling, technical assessments, or resource estimation.

The company said the development aligns with its broader strategy to secure funding arrangements and reinforce its competitive position within the minerals sector.

More about Cadence Minerals

Cadence Minerals is engaged in mineral exploration and development, with a focus on iron ore and related mineral projects. The company aims to advance its assets through strategic partnerships, targeted investment, and financing structures designed to enhance long-term operational and commercial performance.