Who’s Company Is It Anyway?
As I have said previously here, since I became aware of the stock market in 1973 when I was 7, I always wanted to be involved. Part of this was to wear the bowler hat and pinstripe suit, and the other was to actually be involved in a listed company, with a 3-4 letter code. I remember the greats, ICI, GKN, et al. Of course, there are more to public companies than this, ideally making money for shareholders and paying dividends is an idea. Of course, it seems that everyone and their mum wants to be on the board of a listed company, wants to be Chairman or CEO. If one looks around this seems to be a status thing for people. A bit like being in a rock band for old men. However, something which seems to be missing is that public companies belong to their shareholders. They are not the fiefdom of the management. This is something that one is acutely aware of having gone through the IPO process, not only as an investor, but also raising money from investors. I feel that there are not enough boards who understand who is actually the boss.
This Week’s Risers
It may be that my eye has been slightly off the ball in recent weeks, or just that the market has changed for the good, but there seems to be an overload of bullish shares to look at in the small caps. Clearly, this is partly a factor of a trickle down from the blue chips. The FTSE 100 seems well ensconced above 10,000, a level that until recently seemed unimaginable. Obviously, we hope this state of affairs will continue. But it is not just a trickle down. Much of the buzz in small caps comes from resources stocks, and in the case of miners, whether explorers or developers, they are having their day in the sun. After being unloved for years, massive rises in the value of copper, tin, gold and silver, have meant that these days a company just needs to announce a new drilling programme to see a share price rise. In fact, for some companies, they do not need to announce anything at all. Oracle Power (ORCP) was up 72% this week on no new news. The last we heard from the company was with regard to the execution of a deed for grant of mining tenement and a land use agreement with the Marlinyu Ghoorlie Native Title Claimant Group. We have seen Bradda Head Lithium (BHL) rally over 100% this week, and called up on a charting basis here at Zaks Traders Café, with no fresh news. It would appear that the market has cottoned onto the fact that BHL’s US assets are very well positioned for current supply chain / tariff wars. Chair Mr Stalker’s time has finally come.
Of course, while UK listed companies with critical minerals in the US are now hot, hotter, of which Phoenix Copper (PXC) should be added to the list, the excitement currently has come from President Trump’s bid to take over Greenland. Some might suggest that it would be easier, and perhaps most legally acceptable for him to simple buy a selection of the resources companies operating there. I am sure investors in the likes of GreenRoc (GROC), Amaroq (AMRQ), Alba (ALBA), 80 Mile (80M) and GreenX (GRX) would be delighted if this happened. That said, we have a definite general rising tide in the mining space, so it may be a case of simply trying to work out which new train is the next to leave the station.
One of the aberrations of the recent past has been the way that well funded Kodal Minerals (KOD) has not joined the party in the mining space. Until this week. The shares rose 42% on no more than a joint broker appointment RNS. Last month the company announced initial shipments of spodumene from its flagship Bougouni, and this week the share price underlined that the company is on it way.
Another company closer to home which underlines the way that lithium is back, is Alkemy (ALK). This week we were treated to news of “FEED Study progress that positions Tees Valley Lithium as a leading low-cost refinery in Europe.” It helps that ALK’s subsidiary is able to boast that lithium is up “60% on year.” Shares of ALK rose 30% this week in sympathy.
After being in the dog section of the stock market for the longest time, we have seen Tertiary Minerals (TYM) rise beautifully this week, helped by the recent stakebuilding by investing legend Mark Allaway. The man is already well in the money, we hope, after the 68% rise in the shares since the start of the month.
Away from resources and it was the suave looking James Parsons from EQTEC (EQT) with a strategic expansion at the gasification company. The shares were up 56% and would probably be up much more if the company spent a little more time and effort explaining its raison d’etre. BSF (BSFA) was an interesting rebound to the tune of 44%, with no fresh news since last month’s Head of Terms with SeaWith, a South Korean cultivated-meat company.
Wellnex Life Limited (WNX) looks as though it is finally turning the corner, something which triggered the predictable crackpot / psychotic comments on the company from those who wish to ensure this will not happen for purely malicious, self-serving, gangster like purposes. H1 FY26 EBITDA improved by $2.4 million versus prior comparative period at the consumer healthcare group.
And Finally…
GenIP (GNIP), also underlined that it is at an inflection point. The AI-powered innovation intelligence and technology commercialisation company, boasted “approximately 330% revenue growth and 150% growth in gross margin compared with FY2024. Active clients increased by over 225%, with client retention remaining high at approximately 90%.” If the company can continue to prove it is an international, scalable, and perhaps most of all, disruptive business, we could see it become one of the better tech based winners on the London market this week.
Ajax Resources (AJAX) is very much on the zeitgeist as far as 2026 is concerned, with the turnaround in share price and sentiment here being a standout of late. The latest highlights here have been the conditional Option-to-Purchase Agreement for 100% of the Rachaite Prospect, a potentially large polymetallic silver, lead, zinc and copper/gold opportunity in north-western Argentina, as well as the start of drilling at Eureka. The shares have rallied well since the recent fundraise at 5.5p. The technical call now is that a break of 10p should lead to 14p by the end of next month.
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.
