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Aptamer Group plc (LSE:APTA) reported a series of new contract awards worth £192,000, helping lift its FY26 order book to £1.95 million. The wins include a renewed project with a top-five global pharmaceutical company, underscoring rising industry confidence in the firm’s Optimer® technology. Aptamer’s strategy—anchored in fee-for-service engagements while developing a portfolio of high-value IP—continues to gain traction, supporting its ambitions to generate long-term revenue through licensing and royalty agreements. With sustained interest from leading pharma clients and a refreshed sales pipeline, the company expects to surpass last year’s revenue performance and progress further toward therapeutic partnerships.

Aptamer’s broader outlook remains weighed down by significant financial pressures and soft technical indicators. Even so, recent strategic wins and expanding collaborations offer pockets of optimism for future growth. High leverage and ongoing losses continue to present notable risks.

More about Aptamer Group Plc

Aptamer Group plc operates within the life sciences sector, developing advanced synthetic binders via its proprietary Optimer® platform. The company partners with pharmaceutical and biotechnology organizations to create tailored therapeutic and diagnostic solutions aimed at high-value applications.

FRP Advisory Group Plc (LSE:FRP) has unveiled the £6.0 million acquisition of Arc & Co Structured Finance Limited, with further consideration tied to net assets and future performance. Arc & Co, a specialist financial advisory firm focused on the real estate market, will bolster FRP’s capabilities through the creation of a new division, FRP Real Estate Advisory. The deal supports FRP’s ongoing strategy to broaden its service suite and deepen its market reach, marking the firm’s fifteenth acquisition since its 2020 IPO. Management expects the transaction to be earnings accretive and to reinforce FRP’s growing presence in the real estate advisory space.

FRP’s outlook remains supported by steady revenue expansion, solid profitability, and strong cash generation. Technical indicators point to continued positive momentum, while the company’s valuation appears balanced, offering a reasonable investment proposition. The lack of recent earnings-call commentary has minimal impact on the broader assessment.

More about FRP Advisory Group Plc

FRP Advisory Group Plc is a UK-based specialist advisory firm founded in 2010. It provides restructuring, corporate finance, debt advisory, forensic accounting, and broader financial advisory services to companies, investors, lenders, and other stakeholders across the business landscape.

Supermarket Income REIT plc (LSE:SUPR) has expanded its presence in France through the €123 million acquisition of 20 Carrefour supermarkets, secured via a sale-and-leaseback agreement. The move aligns with the trust’s strategy of targeting assets that underpin long-term dividend growth. The newly acquired stores operate in markets with limited competition and play an integral role in Carrefour’s online fulfilment network. Funded through an existing credit facility, the transaction is expected to be earnings-enhancing while further diversifying SUPR’s asset base—Carrefour-operated properties now account for roughly 10% of total gross asset value.

SUPR continues to benefit from strong profitability and a healthy balance sheet, with valuation metrics supported by a favorable P/E ratio and an attractive dividend yield. While technical indicators point to a neutral near-term setup, the overall investment case remains underpinned by the company’s financial strength and income-focused strategy.

More about Supermarket Income REIT Plc

Supermarket Income REIT plc is a FTSE 250 real estate investment trust investing in grocery-anchored properties central to food distribution infrastructure across the UK and Europe. Its portfolio—valued at £1.6 billion as of June 2025—concentrates on omnichannel supermarkets leased to major operators, generating long-term, inflation-linked rental income designed to support progressive dividends and sustained capital growth.

Oriole Resources PLC (LSE:ORR) has unveiled a conditional £1.8 million capital raise through the placement of 750 million new ordinary shares priced at 0.24 pence each, alongside a separate retail offer that could bring in up to an additional £0.2 million. The fresh funding will support expanded exploration work in Cameroon, including step-out drilling at the MB01-S target and further technical evaluations at the Bibemi project. The participation of RAB Capital Group as a major investor, together with the issuance of warrants to placing and retail offer participants, underscores the company’s strategy to strengthen its balance sheet and advance its operational pipeline. Management believes the financing will meaningfully enhance its exploration momentum and could set the stage for a valuation uplift as programs progress.

More about Oriole Resources PLC

Oriole Resources PLC is an AIM-listed gold exploration company focused on building value through its projects in West and Central Africa, with a particular emphasis on Cameroon. Its portfolio includes the Mbe and Bibemi gold projects—its most advanced assets—where the company is working to uncover and develop commercially viable mineral deposits.

Polarean Imaging PLC (LSE:POLX) announced that it will seek shareholder approval to delist its Ordinary Shares from AIM and convert to a private limited company. The move is aimed at easing access to new capital, lowering operating expenses, and addressing what management views as persistent undervaluation in the public markets. By stepping away from the public listing, the company expects to streamline its cost base, improve funding optionality, and potentially raise capital at more favorable valuations—steps the Board considers aligned with the long-term interests of both the business and its shareholders.

The company’s stock assessment reflects a difficult financial backdrop and weak technical signals, with stretched valuation metrics further pressuring sentiment. Although recent earnings commentary included some constructive elements, near-term financial and market headwinds remain dominant in the outlook.

More about Polarean Imaging

Polarean Imaging is a medical imaging technology company dedicated to advancing pulmonary diagnostics through MRI-based visualization of lung function. Its flagship innovation is XENOVIEW®, an FDA-approved hyperpolarised Xenon MRI inhaled contrast agent, designed to deliver precise, non-invasive insights for patients with chronic respiratory conditions.

Metals Exploration PLC (LSE:MTL) reported that Super-typhoon Uwan temporarily disrupted activities at the Runruno mine in the Philippines, damaging site infrastructure and forcing a short halt to processing. The company confirmed that no injuries occurred and that physical damage was limited, allowing mining work to resume soon after the storm passed. Even so, the interruption—combined with earlier operational setbacks—prompted management to lower its full-year gold production forecast to 65,000–70,000 ounces, down from the previous 70,000–75,000 ounce range. Metals Exploration emphasized its commitment to optimizing value across its portfolio and continuing community-support initiatives, while also advancing its development activities in Nicaragua.

The company’s broader outlook is supported by notable revenue gains and healthy cash flow, though technical indicators remain uneven. A negative P/E ratio and lack of dividend payments weigh on valuation sentiment, resulting in a measured, moderately positive near-term view.

More about Metals Exploration

Metals Exploration PLC is a gold producer and explorer with core assets in the Philippines and Nicaragua. Its flagship operation is the Runruno gold project, where the company manages both mining and processing activities, complemented by ongoing development efforts across its wider portfolio.

DFS Furniture plc (LSE:DFS) reported a solid start to fiscal year 2026, with order intake rising over the first 19 weeks despite a sluggish wider market. Management highlighted the benefits of the company’s scale, vertically integrated model, and distinctive culture, noting that ongoing cost-efficiency measures have lifted gross margins and helped offset inflationary pressures. Even with broader economic uncertainty, DFS expects to deliver substantial first-half profit growth and remains focused on executing its strategy to deliver long-term value for customers and shareholders.

The company’s outlook is supported by firm cash generation and disciplined cost control, factors that strengthen its financial position. While elevated leverage and modest profitability continue to pose hurdles, DFS’s moderate valuation, improving technical backdrop, and positive momentum provide additional support for its near-term potential, even in the absence of dividends or recent earnings-call updates.

More about DFS Furniture

DFS Furniture plc is the UK’s largest specialist retailer of upholstered furniture, offering a wide range of affordable, well-designed, and sustainably sourced products. The company operates through both physical showrooms and digital platforms across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, primarily under the DFS and Sofology brands, which are recognized for quality craftsmanship and flexible consumer financing options.

Amaroq Ltd. (LSE:AMRQ) delivered a strong set of results for the third quarter of 2025, underscored by the successful ramp-up of operations at the Nalunaq mine. The company confirmed it met its gold production objectives for the period and advanced its shift to an owner-operated mining model—an operational change aimed at boosting productivity and cost control.

During the quarter, Amaroq also accelerated its exploration pipeline. Fieldwork uncovered new zones of high-grade gold as well as promising critical mineral occurrences, findings that the company expects will strengthen long-term project value and broaden its development potential.

More about Amaroq Ltd

Amaroq Ltd. is a mining company focused on gold production and mineral exploration in Greenland. Its core activities center on the Nalunaq gold project, where it extracts and processes ore, while also advancing exploration across a broader portfolio that includes targets prospective for rare earth elements and other critical minerals.

U.S. equity futures were signaling a softer start to Thursday’s session, with investors bracing for early declines after two days of uneven trading.

Much of the pressure stems from Disney (NYSE:DIS), whose shares are sliding 6.0% in premarket action. The entertainment group delivered better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter profits, but revenue fell short of forecasts, weighing on sentiment across the broader market.

Some of the downside may be tempered by political developments in Washington. President Donald Trump signed a stopgap funding bill late Wednesday, formally ending the longest federal government shutdown on record. The measure extends funding for most federal agencies through January 30, enabling the return of key U.S. economic data releases that investors have been waiting for.

However, uncertainty remains. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned reporters on Wednesday that the October employment and inflation readings are “likely never being released” due to the prolonged shutdown, leaving a gap in the economic picture heading into year-end.

The indices themselves have been moving in different directions this week. On Wednesday, the Dow powered to another record close, boosted by strong moves in UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH), Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) and Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO). The Nasdaq, by contrast, dipped again as technology names continued to struggle with valuation concerns.

The Nasdaq slipped 61.84 points, or 0.3%, to finish at 23,406.46. The S&P 500 edged up 4.31 points, or 0.1%, to 6,850.92, while the Dow advanced 326.86 points, or 0.7%, ending at 48,254.82.

One notable bright spot in tech was Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). Shares jumped 9.0% after CEO Lisa Su forecast that the company’s annual revenue growth could average more than 35% over the next three to five years. She also reiterated that AMD could achieve “double-digit” market share in data-center AI chips, a segment currently dominated by Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA).

Meanwhile, lawmakers in the House of Representatives were preparing Wednesday to vote on the funding bill to bring the shutdown to a definitive close — a move that helped keep volatility in check.

Sector performance was mixed. Gold miners rallied sharply as bullion prices surged, lifting the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index by 3.7%. Airline stocks also gained momentum, with the NYSE Arca Airline Index up 2.6%.

Steelmakers, drug manufacturers, and semiconductor stocks posted solid advances, while energy shares slumped alongside a steep decline in crude oil prices.

European equities turned lower on Thursday afternoon, giving back early gains as investors positioned themselves ahead of upcoming economic releases following the end of the longest U.S. federal shutdown in history. The shutdown concluded late Wednesday after President Donald Trump signed a temporary funding package.

The Republican-controlled House approved the short-term measure with a 222 to 209 vote, with two members not voting.

After signing the bill in the Oval Office, Trump said the government would now “resume normal operations” after “people were hurt so badly” during the prolonged closure.

The agreement includes stopgap funding that keeps the U.S. government operating until January 30.

While markets remain cautious, expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next month helped limit downside pressure on equity indexes.

Across major European benchmarks, the U.K. and Germany traded in negative territory, while France remained firmly higher.
The Stoxx 600 edged up 0.11%, the FTSE 100 slipped 0.34%, the DAX dropped 0.4%, and the CAC 40 gained 0.69%.

U.K. movers

In London, 3I Group (LSE:III) plunged nearly 16%, despite a sharp rise in first-half profit, after the firm flagged tougher conditions ahead and softer recent performance at Action, the discount retailer that dominates its portfolio.

First-half profit climbed to £3.287 billion, up from £2.048 billion, while EPS increased to 339.8p from 211.6p.

Heavyweights including Aviva (LSE:AV.), WPP (LSE:WPP), Admiral Group (LSE:ADM), SSE (LSE:SSE), Barratt Redrow (LSE:BTRW), Vodafone (LSE:VOD), BP (LSE:BP.), Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (LSE:CCEP), Kingfisher (LSE:KGF), Bunzl (LSE:BNZL), Entain (LSE:ENT), GSK (LSE:GSK), Shell (LSE:SHEL), Smith & Nephew (LSE:SN.), and Compass Group (LSE:CPG) traded 1% to 2.5% lower.

Bright spots included Endeavour Mining (LSE:EDV), soaring 11.5% after a strong Q3 supported by stronger gold prices and robust output.

Burberry Group (LSE:BRBY) advanced after reporting its first-half pretax loss narrowed to £48 million from £80 million.

Convatec Group (LSE:CTEC) rose 6.5%, while Fresnillo, Spirax Group, Persimmon, Metlen Energy & Metals, IAG, Hiscox, Experian, Babcock International, Standard Chartered, and EasyJet posted moderate to sharp gains.

Germany

In Frankfurt, Siemens dropped 5.5% after quarterly earnings fell to €1.619 billion (€2.05 per share) from €1.900 billion (€2.38) a year earlier.

Siemens Healthineers slipped 3.2%, while RWE and E.ON lost 2.1% and 2%, respectively.
Fresenius Medical Care, Beiersdorf, and Fresenius also weakened.

Meanwhile, Merck climbed more than 6% after Q3 net profit increased to €898 million (€2.07 per share) from €812 million (€1.86). Pre-exceptional EPS edged up to €2.32.

Munich RE, Bayer, MTU Aero Engines, Hannover Rück, and Infineon gained between 1% and 1.7%.

France

In Paris, Kering, Teleperformance, Crédit Agricole, Bouygues, Société Générale, Saint-Gobain, AXA, Unibail-Rodamco, Thales, Dassault Systèmes, and TotalEnergies advanced 1% to 2.5%.

Carrefour rose more than 1.5% after the Saadé family acquired a 4% stake, becoming the company’s new majority shareholder.

Edenred slid 1.9%, while Pernod Ricard dropped 1.5% and Legrand, Publicis Groupe, and Hermès International posted modest declines.

Economic data

• Eurozone industrial production rose 0.2% MoM in September after a 1.1% decline in August. YoY growth held at 1.2%, missing forecasts of 2.1%.
• France’s unemployment rate ticked up to 7.7% in Q3 from a revised 7.6%.
• U.K. GDP grew 0.1% in Q3, slowing from 0.3%. Monthly GDP fell 0.1%, following no growth in August.
• The U.K. visible trade deficit narrowed to £18.89 billion from £19.53 billion.