The Times: FTSE 100 drugs giant AstraZeneca (AZN) has posted better-than-expected interim results boosted by strong sales of key cancer, heart and kidney disease drugs. Operating profit rose 23 per cent to $7.18 billion in the six months to the end of June, up from $5.86 billion over the same period last year.
Revenue over the period rose 9 per cent to $28 billion. AZN said “Our strong momentum in revenue growth continued through the first half of the year and the delivery from our broad and diverse pipeline has been excellent.”
Comment: Elephants are not supposed to be able to gallop, even though in this case with very impressive results AZN is. Indeed, galloping enough to be planning to leave the London stock market and get a higher valuation in the US.
Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals (HEMO) announced that it has raised gross proceeds of £250,000 via an allotment to Vladislav Sandler at 187p. The net proceeds of this fundraise will be dedicated to the continuation of the Phase I clinical trials for the Company’s Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy (“HG-CT-1”), aimed at treating relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia in adults (“R/R AML”). As shareholders will be aware, the first two patients have now been treated with HG-CT-1 with the four-week safety trials successfully completed and with encouraging early signs of efficacity.
Comment: Discovering the cure for almost everything clearly does not come cheap, and HEMO has been an expert in raising cash in the wake of almost every positive bit of news. That said, the CEO putting in £250,000 into the mix might suggest to some that there is gold in them there test tubes.
Power Metal Resources (POW), the London-listed exploration company with a global project portfolio, announced that First Development Resources (FDR) will commence trading on AIM at 8:00am today, under the ticker FDR. As part of the admission to trading on AIM, FDR raised gross proceeds of £2.3 million. On Admission, FDR will have a market capitalisation of £7.06 million, and Power Metal will hold 43.44% of FDR’s issued share capital.
Comment: Another spin of for POW, and another which it will be keeping a decent chunk of the upside. One dares to dream both that FDR will be as successful as Guardian (GMET), but that on this occasion it will feed through to the POW share price.
Bezant (BZT), the copper-gold exploration and development company, notes that ASX listed Blackstone Minerals Ltd has on 29 July 2025 announced a new partnership with KCA Site Services to jointly purchase a high performance diamond drill rig, marking a pivotal move in advancing the world class Mankayan copper- gold porphyry project in the Philippines.
Comment: Over the past couple of months it has been clear that BZT has very much been relying on the strength of copper / gold prices, as well as prospects for the Mankayan project, which looks set to be a company maker on its own.
Greatland Gold (GGP) announced a Quarterly Activities Report – June Quarter 2025, during which Greatland joined the ASX as a leading Australian gold-copper producer. GGP said the June quarter capped a transformational FY25 with more than $600 million cash flow from operations generated in just seven months, and 198,319 ounces of gold produced at AISC of $1,849 per ounce. $575 million closing net cash to support key growth investments in FY26, targeting further multi-year Telfer life extension.
Comment: It is difficult to remember a busier quarter for any company anywhere, with so much achieved on many fronts. The issue now is for the shares to find a fair valuation once the dust settles.
Pri0r1ty Intelligence Group (PR1), the AI, data and marketing services group, is pleased to announce a $1 million (£750,000) placing to support the expansion of its Pr1bit cryptocurrency offering for commercial Bitcoin transactions at scale via its recently launched Lightning Network Routing Node. PR1 raised gross proceeds of approximately $1 million (£750,000), the proceeds to be applied to expanding Bitcoin liquidity for the Lightning Network to at least 500 million Bitcoin satoshis to accelerate growth (within the Company’s approved Bitcoin Treasury Management Policy as announced on 20 June 2025) PR1 said the Lightning Network gives customers near-instant and almost cost-free Bitcoin transactions.
Comment: It would appear that the strategy at PR1 is very much in the build and they will come category, in terms of the near free cost of dealing BTC.
EnergyPathways (EPP), an integrated energy transition company, announced that it has completed a placing and subscription to raise a total of £400,000 for the Company. The Fundraise comprises i) a placing of £310,000 from a new investor and ii) a subscription of £90,000 from directors and management, raising an aggregate amount of £400,000 at a price of 4.25p.
Comment: Although we may have thought that EPP was fully funded, it would appear that someone is keen to get on board, along with the management. There is an implication that the newsflow is about to get significantly more positive, and / or that progress has been a little slower than expected, hence the need to raise cash. Sharescope says the company has £0.9m of cash, versus the £9.8m market cap.
Jet2 (JET2), the Leisure Travel group, announces the purchase, in accordance with the authority granted by shareholders at the Company’s Annual General Meeting on 5 September 2024, of 79,690 ordinary shares of 1.25p each in the capital of the Company on 28 July 2025 as part of the second tranche of the buyback programme announced on 29 April 2025.
Comment: Nothing beats a JET2 share buyback. One wonders how its advertisement going viral across the world will help the bottom line, given that even Jeff Goldblum has parodied the ad.
Filtronic (FTC), the designer and manufacturer of products for the aerospace, defence, space and telecommunications infrastructure markets, announces its full year results for the 12 months ended 31 May 2025.
Financial Highlights
| FY2025 | FY2024 | % change | |
| Revenue | £56.3m | £25.4m | 121% |
| Adjusted EBITDA* | £17.0m | £4.9m | 247% |
| Operating profit | £13.4m | £3.6m | 272% |
| Profit before taxation | £13.4m | £3.4m | 294% |
| Profit for the year | £14.0m | £3.1m | 352% |
| Basic earnings per share | 6.42p | 1.45p | 343% |
| Diluted earnings per share | 6.05p | 1.41p | 329% |
| Cash at bank | £14.5m | £7.2m | 101% |
| Net cash when excluding right of use property leases | £12.3m | £5.2m | 137% |
| Net cash | £10.8m | £4.2m | 157% |
| Cash generated from operating activities | £13.8m | £6.3m | 119% |
Comment: It must be something of a record to have so many positive metrics in triple digits. One does not have to be Warren Buffett to work out the growth trajectory here, or to see how despite this the London market treats FTC in a relatively nonchalant way. This is one UK company that really would be better off being listed in the US.
Barclays (BARC) announced its Half-year Report. roup RoTE was 12.3% (Q224: 9.9%) with profit before tax of £2.5bn (Q224: £1.9bn). All divisions delivered double-digit RoTE in Q225. Group income of £7.2bn was up 14% year-on-year, with Group net interest income (NII) excluding Barclays Investment Bank and Head Office of £3.1bn, up 12% year-on-year.
Comment: Being a fully paid up member of the Great British banking cartel, one wonders why consumers have to allow a company like BARC to make billions off paying next to nothing on deposits, asking them why they are transferring money to whom, even family members, and allowing HMRC to spy on bank accounts.
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.
