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  • Powerhouse Energy Reports £437,100 H1 Revenue and Advances International Waste-to-Hydrogen Projects

    Powerhouse Energy Reports £437,100 H1 Revenue and Advances International Waste-to-Hydrogen Projects

    Powerhouse Energy Group plc (LSE:PHE) reported revenue of £437,100 for the six months ended 30 June 2026, including its first third-party revenues, as the company progressed its waste-to-energy technology projects and expanded its international commercial activities.

    According to its unaudited interim results, the company recorded gross profit of £199,900, with third-party revenues contributing £379,100. Cash stood at £1.42 million at the period-end.

    Powerhouse raised £1.3 million through two fundraisings during the period to support ongoing operating costs and project activities, including work associated with National Waste 2 Energy (NW2E) and its Ballymena development.

    The company secured a five-year framework agreement with National Waste 2 Energy, a newly established vehicle of National Hydrogen, covering potential projects in Australia, Italy, Switzerland and Hong Kong.

    At Ballymena, Powerhouse continued developing its proposed waste-to-energy facility under a design-build-operate/sell model. The company submitted a planning application and progressed discussions concerning feedstock supply, hydrogen offtake arrangements and project financing.

    Powerhouse said the project-finance approach at Ballymena represents an exception to its broader strategy of licensing its technology to third parties.

    The group’s engineering consultancy division, Engsolve, reported first-half orders in line with expectations and secured additional contracts in the water and lithium processing sectors.

    Meanwhile, the Feedstock Testing Unit at the Powerhouse Technology Centre began generating third-party testing revenue and commercial enquiries. The company said operational data from the unit is being used to refine its Distributed Modular Generation (DMG) technology and inform the design of future commercial installations.

    Technical development during the period included optimisation of the syngas burner and feed systems. Powerhouse expects these modifications, together with operational experience from the testing unit, to improve the performance and efficiency of future commercial units.

    The company also reported that it now holds 12 granted patents across key geographical markets, supporting its strategy of licensing its waste-to-energy technology internationally.

    Powerhouse continues to pursue grant funding opportunities, including work under a HORIZON collaboration with Brunel University.

    In management developments, chief executive Paul Emmitt stepped down at the company’s annual general meeting but will remain involved as a consultant. Interim executive chairman David Hitchcock has assumed leadership responsibilities.

    Looking ahead, Powerhouse is progressing its project pipeline, with several developments approaching potential final investment decisions during the second half of 2026. The company is also pursuing international commercial enquiries and further licensing opportunities.

    Powerhouse develops technology designed to convert non-recyclable waste, including plastics and end-of-life tyres, into synthesis gas that can be used to produce hydrogen, electricity and chemical feedstocks.

    Its commercial strategy centres on licensing its DMG technology and generating revenue through licensing fees, royalties and engineering services, alongside selected project development activities.

  • B90 Holdings H1 Revenue Rises 38% to €3.33 Million as Operating Cash Flow Increases

    B90 Holdings H1 Revenue Rises 38% to €3.33 Million as Operating Cash Flow Increases

    B90 Holdings (LSE:B90) reported a 38% increase in revenue to €3.33 million for the six months ended 30 June 2026, alongside positive adjusted EBITDA and higher operating cash flow, according to its unaudited interim results.

    Adjusted EBITDA reached €0.31 million, while operating cash flow increased to €0.50 million. Cash and cash equivalents stood at €1.47 million at the period-end, and the company reported a net loss of €0.02 million.

    During the period, B90 continued expanding its international performance marketing operations and developing its network of commercial partners. The company also increased its use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation across campaign optimisation and customer acquisition activities.

    Management is directing further investment towards technology, AI capabilities, personnel and digital assets, with the aim of improving operational efficiency and supporting the expansion of its marketing platform.

    B90 is also testing its technology and marketing capabilities in additional markets and business verticals as it evaluates opportunities beyond its existing operations.

    The company expects its full-year results to be broadly in line with current management expectations.

    B90 said its cash position provides additional flexibility to fund planned investments, including the development of its core performance marketing business and the expansion of its digital marketing channels.

    The group is also assessing how developments in generative AI and changes in online search behaviour could affect customer acquisition and digital marketing strategies.

    B90 operates as a performance marketing and marketing technology company focused on the global iGaming industry. Its activities include paid customer acquisition, owned digital assets, data analytics and business-to-business partnerships.

    The company generates customer leads and first-time depositing customers for gaming operators without directly assuming player or betting risk. Its digital portfolio includes Oddsen.nu and Bet90.com.

    B90 intends to continue investing in its technology platform while evaluating opportunities to extend its marketing capabilities into additional markets and sectors.

  • Contango Holdings Repays Investor Loans Following £5 Million Subscription, Eyes Maiden Dividend

    Contango Holdings Repays Investor Loans Following £5 Million Subscription, Eyes Maiden Dividend

    Contango Holdings plc (LSE:CGO) has repaid all outstanding investor loans following receipt of a £5 million subscription in late August 2026, with the company stating that it now has sufficient working capital to fund its operational requirements through to mid-2027.

    The repayment eliminates the company’s outstanding investor loan obligations and follows the receipt of funds from the subscription, which has also provided additional resources for ongoing corporate activities.

    Contango said its current funding position is expected to cover operational requirements until the middle of next year, allowing it to continue implementing its corporate strategy without an immediate requirement for additional working capital.

    The company also expects to receive a further royalty payment of $2 million by the end of 2026.

    Following receipt of this payment, Contango anticipates being in a position to declare its maiden dividend, which would represent its first distribution to shareholders. The proposed dividend remains dependent on the anticipated royalty payment, and no dividend amount or payment date has been announced.

    Separately, Contango plans to publish its audited financial statements for the 12 months ended 31 May 2026 by the end of September.

    The forthcoming accounts will provide updated financial information covering the company’s most recent financial year.

    Contango is a UK-listed company focused on resource-based assets, with its activities supported by investor subscriptions and royalty income. The repayment of its investor loans, expected royalty receipt and planned publication of audited accounts represent the company’s latest financial and corporate developments.

  • Guardian Metal Reports 92-Metre Tungsten Intersection at Tempiute, Advances Underground Rehabilitation

    Guardian Metal Reports 92-Metre Tungsten Intersection at Tempiute, Advances Underground Rehabilitation

    Guardian Metal Resources (LSE:GMET) has reported further drilling results from its Tempiute tungsten project in Nevada, including an intersection of 92.0 metres grading 0.34% tungsten trioxide (WO3), as the company prepares to accelerate underground rehabilitation work.

    Phase I regional drilling identified multiple tungsten-bearing zones beyond the footprint of the historical mine. According to the company, the results indicate a more extensive tungsten-skarn system associated with key intrusive bodies and have identified several targets for further exploration.

    The regional programme also returned a high proportion of mineralised intersections, providing additional information on the distribution of tungsten mineralisation across the project area.

    Phase II resource drilling has focused on the historic South Thumb and Schofield zones, where results included broad tungsten intersections, notably 92.0 metres at 0.34% WO3.

    Following these results, Guardian Metal has accelerated plans to rehabilitate the existing underground workings at Tempiute to provide access for underground drilling.

    The company has engaged a contractor to begin rehabilitation activities in October 2026. The planned work is intended to enable further drilling of the mineralised zones and support the definition of an initial Mineral Resource.

    Guardian Metal is also evaluating permitting requirements for a near-surface lode as part of its assessment of potential development options at the project.

    The company aims to establish an initial Mineral Resource and determine a development pathway for Tempiute, with the longer-term objective of returning the historical tungsten operation to production and contributing to the US tungsten supply chain.

    Guardian Metal Resources is focused on the exploration and development of tungsten assets in Nevada. Its work at Tempiute combines drilling around historically producing areas with regional exploration targeting additional tungsten-skarn mineralisation.

  • Reabold Resources Declares All-Share Union Jack Oil Takeover Offer Final

    Reabold Resources Declares All-Share Union Jack Oil Takeover Offer Final

    Reabold Resources (LSE:RBD) has declared its all-share takeover offer for Union Jack Oil plc final, maintaining that the proposed combination would create a larger, more diversified energy group with access to additional funding opportunities.

    The company said its board disagrees with Union Jack’s assessment of the proposal, arguing that the target’s new board has placed excessive emphasis on short-term share price movements and funding assumptions rather than the longer-term implications of combining the businesses.

    Reabold maintains that the transaction would provide benefits to shareholders of both companies through a larger asset portfolio, increased financial resources and the consolidation of their energy interests.

    Addressing questions about its financial position, Reabold highlighted its recent £4.16 million fundraising and its access to capital markets as evidence of its ability to secure funding.

    The company also questioned Union Jack’s capacity to raise additional capital, citing its limited cash resources and the rejection of shareholder resolutions required for a capital increase. These concerns form part of Reabold’s response to Union Jack’s opposition to the takeover proposal.

    Reabold further disputed Union Jack’s assessment of the West Newton project, an onshore conventional gas and condensate discovery in the United Kingdom. The company reiterated its view of the project’s scale and development potential, which it considers relevant to the proposed combination.

    The Reabold board has urged shareholders to consider the longer-term implications of the transaction, including access to funding, asset development and the potential benefits of consolidation.

    It also maintained that governance disagreements at Union Jack and the current level of acceptances for the offer should not determine shareholders’ assessment of the proposed transaction.

    Reabold is a UK-listed energy investment and development company with interests in oil and gas assets at various stages of production, appraisal and development. Its portfolio includes the West Newton project, which remains a focus of its development strategy.

    The all-share offer has been declared final, while the two companies continue to hold differing positions on the proposed transaction.

  • Hamak Strategy Sells 8 Bitcoin for £482,516 to Fund Akoko Gold Project and Reduce Debt

    Hamak Strategy Sells 8 Bitcoin for £482,516 to Fund Akoko Gold Project and Reduce Debt

    Hamak Strategy Limited (LSE:HAMA) has sold 8 Bitcoin for gross proceeds of £482,516, with the funds allocated to advancing its Akoko Gold Project in Ghana, reducing short-term debt and supporting working capital.

    The company said the sale followed recent Bitcoin price appreciation and represents a tactical use of its cryptocurrency reserves. Hamak intends to maintain its combined gold exploration and Bitcoin treasury strategy.

    Proceeds from the transaction will support work on the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for Akoko, where the company is evaluating the potential development of an open-pit, heap-leach gold operation.

    The assessment is progressing following a recent site visit by consultants Snowden Optiro. Current activities include open-pit designs focused on the project’s 124,000-ounce oxide gold resource, detailed drone topographical surveys and additional metallurgical testing.

    Previous metallurgical work indicated gold recoveries of between 85% and 95%. Further testing will contribute to the ongoing economic assessment of the project.

    Following the sale, Hamak retains 18 Bitcoin, valued at approximately £1.075 million. The remaining holdings form part of the company’s treasury strategy, which combines cryptocurrency assets with its gold exploration activities.

    Hamak said it remains committed to using its Bitcoin treasury to support project development and balance-sheet management while acknowledging the risks associated with cryptocurrency holdings.

    The company is focused on gold exploration in Africa, with Akoko serving as its principal mining project. Its strategy combines the evaluation of the Ghanaian gold resource with Bitcoin treasury management, providing exposure to both gold project development and cryptocurrency price movements.

  • CleanTech Lithium Reports Laguna Verde Progress and £5.3 Million Fundraising in H1 2026

    CleanTech Lithium Reports Laguna Verde Progress and £5.3 Million Fundraising in H1 2026

    CleanTech Lithium PLC (LSE:CTL) reported progress on its Laguna Verde lithium brine project in Chile during the six months ended 30 June 2026, including an agreement on contractual terms for a 40-year operating contract, completion of a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) and further development of its Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) process.

    The company agreed the contractual terms of a 40-year Special Lithium Operating Contract with Chile’s Ministry of Mining, establishing a framework for the proposed development of Laguna Verde.

    CleanTech also completed a PFS for the project, which indicated a pre-tax net present value (NPV) of US$1.37 billion. The study forms part of the company’s transition from resource definition towards project development.

    During the reporting period, CleanTech continued work on producing battery-grade lithium carbonate using DLE technology, while progressing the selection of a strategic partner and holding discussions regarding project financing.

    The company raised £5.3 million through a fundraising, recovered VAT and converted all outstanding convertible loan notes into equity.

    Following the period-end, CleanTech reduced the cash consideration for 23 Laguna Verde concessions from US$35 million to US$14 million, a decrease of US$21 million.

    The company also advanced production campaigns targeting high-purity lithium carbonate and continued preparations for a dual listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

    Further work includes permitting activities and securing financing for the development of Laguna Verde.

    CleanTech is focused on developing lithium projects in Chile using DLE technology, with Laguna Verde serving as its principal development asset. The company intends to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate and is pursuing a long-term operating framework alongside strategic partnerships and project funding.

  • 3i Infrastructure: Building Value Through Essential Infrastructure and Active Ownership

    3i Infrastructure: Building Value Through Essential Infrastructure and Active Ownership

    For investors looking for exposure to the infrastructure that underpins the modern economy, 3i Infrastructure (LSE:3IN) offers a strategy built around essential businesses, long-term structural trends and active ownership.

    In a recent Capital Compass interview, James Dawes, Chief Financial Officer of 3i Infrastructure, outlined how the company seeks to identify attractive infrastructure businesses, grow them through active management and ultimately realise value for shareholders.

    The approach is centred on investing in mature businesses with hard-to-replicate assets that provide essential services. Rather than simply owning projects or concessions, 3i Infrastructure looks for established companies with employees, management teams and identifiable opportunities for further growth.

    As Dawes explains, the objective is straightforward: buy businesses, grow them and ultimately sell them on.

    Investing behind long-term structural trends

    A key attraction of the strategy is its focus on what 3i Infrastructure describes as “mega trends”, developments that can extend well beyond the normal economic cycle.

    Digitalisation, the energy transition and the renewal of essential infrastructure are creating investment opportunities that could continue for decades.

    The portfolio already provides exposure to several of these themes. Within energy transition, for example, Infinis operates in renewable and low-carbon power generation, while the group’s digitalisation exposure includes fibre businesses and its recently announced investment in a major data centre platform in Norway.

    For investors, the attraction is not simply identifying a short-term trend, but finding businesses that can benefit from structural demand over many years.

    Active ownership at the heart of the model

    Another important part of 3i Infrastructure’s strategy is active ownership and control.

    The company will often take majority or 100% ownership positions in portfolio companies and play an active role at board level. This can include appointing experienced non-executive directors, strengthening management teams and working alongside those teams to develop and execute a growth strategy.

    That approach gives 3i Infrastructure significant influence over how its investments develop.

    Capital can then be directed towards expanding the underlying asset base, while management teams are supported in delivering the agreed strategy.

    For shareholders, this creates a model where value creation is intended to come not only from owning infrastructure assets, but from actively developing the businesses behind them.

    Norway data centre highlights digital infrastructure opportunity

    One of the most interesting examples discussed by James Dawes is the group’s recent investment of approximately €263 million in a data centre platform in Norway.

    The facility is located within a disused mine on Norway’s west coast, providing a naturally cool environment. Cooling can also be supported by water from a nearby fjord, while the electricity supply is entirely renewable and predominantly hydroelectric.

    The site currently has 80MW of power allocated, with that capacity already fully contracted. Importantly, there is also potential for further expansion, with the platform consisting of six levels within the mine and only one currently being used.

    3i Infrastructure is also in the queue for an additional 120MW of grid power.

    That combination of renewable energy, cooling efficiency, existing contracted capacity and expansion potential illustrates why data centres have become such an important part of the digital infrastructure investment landscape.

    TCR demonstrates the value of the approach

    The strategy is also demonstrated by 3i Infrastructure’s experience with TCR, its airport ground support equipment business.

    When 3i Infrastructure invested around a decade ago, TCR operated across approximately 100 airports. By the time of the exit, that figure had grown to 237 airports worldwide, transforming the company into a significantly larger global platform.

    The eventual sale generated a material uplift, with Dawes highlighting that TCR was sold at a valuation 50% above its valuation at the start of the year.

    The example illustrates the wider investment philosophy: identify a smaller business, use active ownership to build its scale and capabilities, establish a clear growth pathway and ultimately position it for a larger investor.

    Recycling capital to create further opportunities

    For 3i Infrastructure, selling successful investments is not simply about taking profits. It is also an important part of the portfolio management strategy.

    Dawes explained that the portfolio is designed to deliver target returns of 8–10% per annum, including the dividend, while outperformance can come from growing businesses beyond their original investment cases and achieving attractive valuations when assets are sold.

    Because 3i Infrastructure maintains control over many of its investments, it can also have greater flexibility around the timing of exits — seeking to sell when both the company and the wider market conditions are appropriate.

    That creates a potentially powerful cycle: invest, develop, grow, realise value and recycle capital into the next opportunity.

    Infrastructure with a focus on value creation

    The Capital Compass discussion with James Dawes provides an insight into a business model that goes beyond simply owning infrastructure.

    From digitalisation and data centres to energy transition and essential services, 3i Infrastructure is targeting areas where long-term demand can provide a supportive backdrop for portfolio companies.

    At the same time, its active ownership model is designed to give the company an active role in developing those businesses and creating additional value.

    The combination of essential infrastructure, structural growth trends, active ownership and disciplined capital recycling forms the core of 3i Infrastructure’s investment approach — with the Norway data centre and TCR providing two clear examples of how that strategy is being applied in practice.

    For investors assessing the infrastructure opportunity, the key message from James Dawes is that 3i Infrastructure is not simply looking to own assets for the long term. It is looking to build better businesses, grow them and ultimately crystallise the value created.

  • Wells Fargo Raises Earnings Forecasts but Lowers S&P 500 Target on Valuation Risks

    Wells Fargo Raises Earnings Forecasts but Lowers S&P 500 Target on Valuation Risks

    Wells Fargo has reduced its year-end 2026 S&P 500 forecast to 7,700 from 7,950, despite increasing its longer-term earnings estimates, as the firm anticipates pressure on equity valuations and a potential market decline of 5% to 10% in the near term.

    Analysts led by Ohsung Kwon raised their earnings-per-share projections to $425 for 2027 and $460 for 2028 but expect valuation multiples to decline as the market moves into a later stage of its cycle.

    The revised outlook includes changes to the firm’s sector positioning. Wells Fargo lowered technology to equal-weight from overweight and raised health care to overweight from equal-weight.

    The analysts also identified a strengthening South Korean won as a potential headwind for memory semiconductor stocks.

    Investor positioning is a central component of the firm’s assessment.

    Wells Fargo estimates that equity allocations have reached 72%, their highest level since 1969. With the 10-year US Treasury yield approaching 5%, the firm calculates that its framework supports an equity allocation closer to 60%.

    The 12-percentage-point difference is the largest negative allocation gap recorded since 1969, according to the bank.

    Wells Fargo said this measure has historically been associated with subsequent five-year equity excess returns. Its analysis indicates limited excess returns ahead under an assumed 7% compound annual growth rate in earnings per share.

    The firm also highlighted the level of corporate earnings relative to historical trends.

    It expects annualised 10-year EPS growth to reach 14% by 2027, a rate exceeded only during the post-war equity market expansion of the 1950s.

    According to the analysts, earnings in 2027 are projected to be 42% above their cyclical level, the highest reading since that decade.

    Wells Fargo consequently expects valuation multiples to contract in 2027, although it sees limited risk to earnings forecasts for that year.

    The outlook for 2028 is more uncertain in the firm’s assessment, particularly if artificial intelligence capital expenditure slows.

    Its 2028 EPS forecast of $460 compares with the consensus estimate of $487.

    The analysts also identified a change in liquidity conditions. Wells Fargo’s Liquidity Indicator has declined to its lowest level so far this year, with the firm forecasting further deterioration through November.

    It noted that defensive equities have historically outperformed during periods of declining liquidity and maintained its preference for quality stocks over higher-beta securities.

    Meanwhile, its Complacency Indicator remains elevated, indicating that equity markets are pricing in relatively low volatility compared with other asset classes.

    Monetary policy is another near-term consideration. Wells Fargo highlighted Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting after a higher-than-expected consumer inflation reading lifted the market-implied probability of an interest-rate move to 94%.

    The analysts said attention would centre on whether Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh presents the decision as the beginning of a broader tightening cycle or a single adjustment.

    The firm also identified the September 24 meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping as a potential market event, while noting that markets currently anticipate a muted outcome.

    Wells Fargo’s revised forecasts reflect an expectation that earnings growth may continue even as valuation multiples decline, creating the possibility of lower equity prices despite higher corporate profits.

  • Piper Sandler Identifies Declining Equity Participation as Treasury Yields Reach 5%

    Piper Sandler Identifies Declining Equity Participation as Treasury Yields Reach 5%

    Piper Sandler has highlighted a decline in US stock market participation, with several of its technical indicators signalling weaker intermediate-term trends despite gains in communications, software and cybersecurity shares.

    In a Wednesday research note, the firm advised against aggressively increasing equity exposure until broader market participation improves.

    The S&P 500 fell 0.48% on Tuesday, contrasting with a 0.04% gain in the equal-weighted index. The difference reflected varying performance among index constituents rather than a uniform decline across the market.

    Communications shares advanced 2.2%, breaking above resistance at their 200-day moving average.

    Within technology, semiconductor stocks declined while other industry groups advanced.

    The SMH semiconductor fund lost 4.75% as AI safety warnings affected semiconductor and infrastructure stocks. Software shares rose 5%, cybersecurity stocks gained 6%, and CrowdStrike (NASDAQ:CRWD) reached a record high.

    Piper Sandler’s broader technical indicators presented a different picture from the gains recorded in those sectors.

    Its 26-Week New Highs and 40-Week Technique measures are currently in sell positions, while the firm’s MACE analysis indicates that the number of stocks in weekly downtrends exceeds those in uptrends.

    The percentage of market groups maintaining defined uptrends fell by 10 percentage points last week, declining from 53% to 43%.

    The firm also highlighted developments in government bond yields and energy markets.

    The 10-year US Treasury yield briefly exceeded 5.0%, while crude oil approached $105 per barrel before settling around $101.50.

    According to Piper Sandler, a sustained move in the Treasury yield towards 5.2% and 5.31% would put pressure on equity valuation multiples.

    For crude oil, the firm identified $106 as an important technical level. A move above that threshold would establish $111 as its next target.

    Meanwhile, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq continue to trade near support associated with their 50-day moving averages.

    Piper Sandler’s assessment combines weakening market breadth, divergent sector performance and higher bond yields. The firm favours waiting for broader participation to recover before increasing equity exposure.