The Times: The headline rate of inflation fell more than expected in November to a 10-month low – increasing expectations that the Bank of England will cut interest rates tomorrow. The consumer price index eased to 3.2 per cent year-on-year, lower than expected and down from 3.6 per cent in October, according to data released this morning by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). City economists had forecast a reading of 3.5 per cent.
Comment: It is either the case that Labour’s “taxing our way to prosperity” strategy is working, or that things are so bad that falling demand is leading to inflation tanking.
Avacta Therapeutics (AVCT), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing pre|CISION®, a tumor-activated oncology delivery platform, today announced compelling new data in patients with salivary gland cancer (SGC) enrolled in the ongoing Phase 1b trial of faridoxorubicin (AVA6000). The data show confirmed partial and minor responses, consistent with data previously reported from the Phase 1a part of the study. AVCT said “These data continue to reinforce our belief in the transformative potential of our pre|CISION® peptide drug conjugates to expand the therapeutic index and increase the efficacy of highly potent therapeutics and further strengthens our confidence across our broader pipeline.”
Comment: AVCT shares end 2025 on a rather stronger footing than they began the year, with newsflow such as today’s underlining that it has been a strong year for biotech across the board. Shareholders will be hoping that 2026 brings both a share price and a fundamental news breakthrough that has been expected for so long.
Kodal Minerals (KOD), the West African lithium producer, mineral exploration and development company, is pleased to provide an update on the mining operations at the Bougouni Lithium Project in Southern Mali, which is owned and operated by Kodal Mining UK Limited in which Kodal has a 49% shareholding. The Company is also pleased to provide confirmation of receipt of the initial payment for the maiden export of spodumene concentrate from Hainan Mining Co. Limited, the Project’s off-take partner and the final assay results for the drilling programme at the Boumou prospect.
Comment: Despite KOD effectively doing what it has said was on the tin, we have seen the shares falling some 30% against the run of positive newsflow. The only solid explanation of this state of affairs is that for the market travelling was better than arriving.
Bezant (AIM: BZT), the copper-gold exploration and resource development company, said that further to its announcements of 14 August 2025, 19 November 2025 and 8 December 2025 confirms that it has now completed the Acquisition of a 90% shareholding in Namib Lead and Zinc Mining (Proprietary) Limited which owns the NLZM Processing Plant. BZT said “I am pleased that we have completed the acquisition of Namib Lead and Zinc Mining (Proprietary) Limited which owns the NLZM Processing Plant, which is a pivotal stage in the development of the Hope & Gorob gold project.
Comment: BZT has already been a big winner so far this year in the wake of the great small cap explorer / developer revival of 2025, up some 260%. The latest completed acquisition by the company underlines how pivotal Hope & Gorob is and will continue to be.
Valereum Plc (AQSE:VLRM) announced that First Sentinel Corporate Finance Ltd has resigned from the role of AQSE Corporate Adviser to the Company with immediate effect. As a result, trading in the Company’s ordinary shares on AQSE will be suspended from 7:30 a.m. on 17 December 2025. The Company continues to work with Quorium Global Photonics SPC (“QGP”) to conclude the recently announced transaction, and will announce a new Corporate Adviser in the coming days.
Comment: Whatever the rights and wrongs of the VLRM situation, the current system of the corporate advisor effectively having a gun pointing at the head of a company and its listing appears unsatisfactory, if only for shareholders. But of course, who cares about shareholders, and whether their shares are suspended or not? This is one of the many things still wrong with the stock market, and preventing it growing.
All Things Considered Group (AQSE:ATC) begins trading on AIM after completing an GBP8.6 million fundraising at 125 pence per share, giving the independent music company a market capitalisation of about GBP29.3 million. The group, which moves from the Aquis Stock Exchange, says the proceeds will support investment in artist representation, technology infrastructure and its proprietary data platform aimed at enhancing direct-to-fan engagement. Executive Director Craig Newman invests GBP585,000 in the placing, taking his stake to around 8%, while COO James Patterson invests GBP100,000. The firm confirms the appointment of Andy Glover as non-executive chair and Cliff Fluet as non-executive director. (Alliance News)
Comment: What an excellent looking RNS. No doubt it will not be mentioned anywhere other than Alliance News and here, and no doubt the company will not be doing anything to underline how it has managed to get itself into such a strong position. Perhaps it is just going to hope that the move from Aquis to AIM will do the job for it?
GENinCode Plc (GENI), the Oxford based predictive genetics company focused on the prevention of cardiovascular disease (“CVD”) and risk assessment of ovarian cancer, announced today a collaboration with Sohin Genetics, Mexico to distribute the CARDIO inCode-Score® Polygenic Risk Score test for the prevention of coronary heart disease. This announcement follows the recent collaboration between GENinCode and “AMPAC” (Mexican Association for the prevention of Atherosclerosis) dedicated to research, education and promotion of healthy lifetstyles to combat atherosclerosis and heart disease in Mexico.
Comment: In terms of RNS updates in the recent past GENI has gone from 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds, with the latest news underlining the momentum the company is building. That said, unless something special happens we are still looking at the shares being down for a fourth consecutive year.
Artemis Resources (ARV) reported that recent work at Titan East has evolved from early encouraging drilling results to a standout high-grade intercept, now complemented by a wide gold intersection, supporting the acceleration of drilling as the Company advances exploration of a newly identified gold zone. ARV said “Drilling at Titan East continues to demonstrate the potential for a significant, coherent mineralised system beneath shallow cover. The combination of the previously reported high-grade intercept in hole 25ARRC006 and the newly reported wide intersection in 25ARRC025 reinforces our interpretation of a substantial shear-hosted gold structure with encouraging width and continuity.”
Comment: Shares of ARV more than tripled from July to October, but pulled back since. The latest discovery will hopefully be a driver for a return to the best levels through 0.6p early in the New Year.
N4 Pharma plc (N4P), the UK biotech developing Nuvec®, its proprietary gene delivery system to enable advanced therapies for cancer and other diseases, provided an operational update and business review. N4P said “We are very encouraged by the progress being made across the Nuvec® programme and by the data emerging from our collaboration with the University of Strathclyde. The stability, targeting and oral delivery data generated to date reinforce our belief that Nuvec® has the potential to address several of the key limitations associated with lipid nanoparticles, which remain the current industry standard.”
Comment: Perhaps not surprisingly so close to Christmas, the positive noises from the company have not cause the share price to move. It would also be helpful if in 2026 the company spends more time to explain to the market, at least more people in the market, a little more of how the science behind what it is trying to achievement actually works.
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.
