(Alliance News) – Stocks in London are set to open higher on Friday, ahead of the UK chancellor’s meeting in Washington to negotiate a possible US-UK trade deal. UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves will meet her US counterpart on Friday as she attempts to make progress on a trade deal during her visit to Washington. Reeves is expected to discuss a potential UK-US trade deal when she sits down with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Comment: Given that she is currently on a roll with growth up and inflation down, one can only expect great things from our Chancellor. This is especially true given that our Rachel has apparently already put her foot down on the chlorinated chicken front.
ACG Metals (ACG) announced the release of its Annual Financial Statements and Report for the period ended 31 December 2024. ACG said “2024 marked a transformational year for ACG Metals. In a short span, we transitioned from a SPAC to a fully operational and listed mining company with a producing asset, a clear copper growth strategy, and enhanced access to global capital markets. The acquisition of the Gediktepe Mine in Türkiye was a defining milestone-providing immediate gold and silver production, strong cash flows, and the foundation for long-term copper growth. We secured a $146 million EPC contract for the sulphide expansion project, which is now underway, and successfully raised $200 million through a Nordic bond offering-the first of its kind for a Turkish mining asset. Operationally, Gediktepe delivered a 49% year-on-year increase in gold equivalent production.” Artem Volynets (Chairman and CEO) and Patrick Henze (CFO) will provide a live presentation relating to the FY24 Results via Investor Meet Company on 09 May 2025, 14:00 BST. https://www.investormeetcompany.com/acg-metals-limited/register-investor.
Comment: ACG comes to the market “fully formed” and fully funded, with gold production soaring, and copper production on its way. While the London stock market specialises in being reticent in welcoming new mining plays, even as commodities prices soar, the differentiator with ACG is its scale and near term prospects.
Valereum (AQSE: VLRM) shared the news that Carmen Elena Ochoa de Medina, Head of El Salvador, VLRM Markets S.A. de C.V. (VLRM Markets), was part of an exclusive four-person delegation that met the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on 22 April 2025. The meeting focused on exploring collaboration opportunities, including the potential to establish a cross-border digital asset regulatory sandbox. The aims of the sandbox include the testing and development of digital asset products under the regulatory oversight of both U.S. and Salvadoran authorities, with an emphasis on two key pilot programs.
Comment: One of the most difficult things to achieve on the London market is a multi-bagger rally, while one of the most painful things to watch is a company allowing this to wither away. VLRM fights back after its shares peaked at 30p in January, and were back to 5p earlier this week.
SigmaRoc (SRC), a European lime and minerals group, announced a partnership with Adaptavate to scale low-carbon tech in global construction. This agreement is part of Adaptavate’s successful £2.7 million pre-Series A funding round, which included participation from Skreenhouse Ventures by SigmaRoc.
Comment: A near £1bn market cap company can easily afford a couple of million in green washing, that would do Ed Milliband proud. That said, as we are now in the Trump era it may not be needed.
Wishbone Gold (WSBN) announced that it is preparing to drill into the main undrilled gold target at its Red Setter Dome near the Telfer Gold Mine that was identified by Expert Geophysics Limited (https://expertgeophysics.com) in September 2024. EGL has interpreted a major “Dome” like structure at Red Setter that displays many similarities to that of the Telfer Dome, which hosts the +15Moz Telfer Gold Mine that is located only 13 kilometres to the north-east.
Comment: The new rebooted WSBN certainly has better sentiment towards it than previously, helped in no small part by the soaring gold price. The key now will be the company hitting something significant from its Red Setter asset to get that £0.6m up.
Premier African Minerals Limited (PREM) announced a subscription today to raise £1.575 million before expenses at an issue price of 0.035 pence per new ordinary share primarily for the Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project. PREM said “The recently announced amendment to the Offtake and Prepayment agreement with Canmax, the provision of a non-binding letter of interest and the alleviation of the concerns related to the long stop date all help a restoration of confidence in Premier, and this should help support us through the next three months whilst we complete the spodumene float section at Zulu”.
Comment: It is amazing that even though we all know PREM needs fresh funding every couple of months, the shares have the ability to rally significantly in between times. Mr Roach appears to have created a perpetual money machine, as we head to the spodumene float section completion. Just imagine what actual production could do to the share price.
Vast Resources (VAST), the AIM quoted mining company, provide an operational update on its mines in Romania and Tajikistan. VAST said “The Company has continued production at Baita Plai whilst continuing drilling and reprofiling the underground asset. The Company has also at the same time entered into joint venture discussions and due diligence processes with other mining companies regarding third party investment into Baita Plai.”
Comment: It is still the case that the CEO lending €500k in January was one of the best buy signals in small caps in the recent past. This is even more so after today’s potential third party investment in Baita Plai. The lack of a fundraise even though some bright spark on X said it was on its way, should really wrong foot the bears today. Oh dear, what a pity, never mind, as the late Windsor Davies would say. One of the best charting and fundamental calls here of the year to date.
MyHealthChecked (MHC), the consumer home-testing healthcare company, provides an update in respect of the potential VAT reclaim. The Board now expects that the net cash repayment receivable by the Company will be up to c£0.6m dependent on the outcome of on-going discussions. The Company will provide further updates once the matter is fully concluded.
Comment: It is interesting that if anyone owes HMRC even a penny of VAT, all hell breaks lose in terms of legal baseball bats and harassment. But if an entity is owed money by HMRC, things are far more relaxed, nonchalant even.
Nanoco Group (NANO), a world leader in the development and manufacture of cadmium-free quantum dots and other specific nanomaterials emanating from its technology platform, announced that it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against certain defendants in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The lawsuit claims infringement of Nanoco’s U.S. Patent No.’s: 7,588,828; 7,803,423; 7,867,557; 8,524,365. These patents relate to Nanoco’s innovative technology for the synthesis of quantum dots. Named as defendants in the lawsuit are: (i) LG Electronics, Inc. and (ii) LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc.
Comment: Although little NANO might be thought of having just a snowballs chance in hell of beating the mighty LG, those of a religious persuasion may be familiar with the David vs Goliath story. Perhaps more importantly, shares of NANO are currently at the bottom of the range, with the market already factoring in a loss. Any glimmer of hope and there could be a sharp rebound.
Disclaimer & Declaration of Interest:
The information, investment views, and recommendations in this Zaks Traders Cafe interview are provided for general information purposes only. Nothing in this interview should be construed as a promotion or solicitation to buy or sell any financial product relating to any companies under discussion or referred to or to engage in or refrain from doing so or engage in any other transaction. Any opinions or comments are made to the best of the knowledge and belief of the commentator but no responsibility is accepted for actions based on such opinions or comments. The commentators may or may not hold investments in the companies under discussion.
