BBC: Argentine leader threatens to sanction oil firms (RKH, BOR) and reiterates Falklands claim. Argentina’s president has heightened tensions with the UK over the Falkland Islands, warning he will impose economic sanctions on firms which exploit oil close to the British overseas territory. In a national address, Javier Milei said the “winds of change” favoured Argentina’s claim to the islands, emboldened by signs the US might reconsider its stance of neutrality on the issue.
Borders & Southern fell around 15%, while Rockhopper dropped about 9% to 71.1p, having briefly touched a two-month low at the start of trading.
Comment: Oh dear. President Trump has landed us in it with the Falklands. Luckily, if the Chagos Islands are anything to go by, the government will propose to pay Argentina £100bn to take the Falklands back. Actually, let’s be generous, make than £500bn. One wonders what the late Baroness Thatcher would have made of all this? Unfortunately the level of journalism is so low these days, commentators would say she would be in favour of handing back the Falklands and presumably, anti-Brexit too.
Fiinu Plc (BANK), the UK fintech group, provided an operational update on its strategic partnership with Conister Bank Limited, a subsidiary of Manx Financial Group PLC (AIM: MFX). Fiinu and Conister Bank have agreed an important addendum to their existing Master Services Agreement governing the implementation, deployment and production environment of Fiinu’s Plugin Overdraft® platform, which Fiinu believes to be the world’s first unbundled overdraft solution.
Comment: Whether by accident or otherwise, the market has so far totally missed how revolutionary, and how profitable an unbundled overdraft solution would be for BANK. It has also missed how much progress is being made towards this solution being delivered. Presumably, one day soon it will and 4p a share will appear rather cheap.
Avacta Therapeutics (AVCT), a life sciences company developing innovative, targeted oncology drugs, announced that it has received an accelerated payment notice from the convertible bond holder in respect of the April 2026 quarterly deferred convertible bond repayment, which the Company has elected to settle in cash. Accordingly, the Company has settled the accelerated quarterly amortization payment of £2.613 million, representing principal of £2.4 million together with the associated interest and fees payable in the deferment. Following the cash settlement of the April 2026 quarterly deferred convertible bond repayment, both deferred payments have now been satisfied. After settlement of this deferred quarterly repayment and the July 2026 scheduled payment, both made in cash, the principal remaining under the convertible bond will be reduced to £12.0 million, representing ~3.8% of the market capitalization of the Company.
Comment: Funny how shares of AVCT seem to be strong just before debt payment news. That said, we are only £12m away from the Promised Land of having no CLN, which really will feel like nirvana. It is also funny how there has been no read across from the recent Moderna personalised cancer treatment news, or should we not mention that?
Tooru (TOO) announced its unaudited interim results for the six months to 30 June 2026. EBITDA of over £1 million generated from our operating businesses during the first six months of 2026. Continued growth of the OAF brand with increased distribution in major retailers. increased listings with Tesco during the period, new listings in Asda from April 2026. New funds raised amounting to gross cash proceeds of £980,000 and debt conversion of £300,000. The first reporting period that includes all of the operating businesses for the full period.
Comment: The market continues to be rather harsh on TOO, both in terms of the share price, and the current growth / future growth prospects of the company. This should mean that anything under 0.2p will look like bargain basement territory in just a few months time.
Pri0r1ty Intelligence Group (PR1), the AI focused business delivering growth solutions to SMEs, is pleased to announce that it has acquired the operating assets and technology platform of Pirkx Limited, an SME-focused technology platform providing wellbeing and healthcare services and benefits to small and medium enterprises’ employees.
Comment: If nothing else one can say that the fightback at PR1 continues, as the company moves to assemble a decent set of businesses. At least in Pirkx we have a cheap as chips addition to the PR1 stable, even if one still wonders whether the ailing SME area is a viable one to target.
Metals One (MET1), a critical and precious metals project developer and investor with a focus on gold and uranium, announced gross funding of £4 million secured with YA II PN, LTD., a fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP to support the Company’s minerals investment and development programmes and general working capital, structured as a senior promissory note. The net proceeds will primarily fund the continued advancement of the Company’s key gold focused projects in Africa and the Americas and provide Metals One with additional working capital across its operated projects.
Comment: There has been a little nudge higher for shares of MET1 in recent days, as if someone sniffed both that it was time for the company to raise money and / or it had managed to do it. Given where the share price is, and where it peaked, there is now plenty of work to do with the £4m raised.
Arrow Exploration Corp. (AXL), the high-growth operator with a portfolio of assets across key Colombian and Canadian hydrocarbon basins, provided an update on operational activity at the Icaco field on the Tapir Block in the Llanos Basin of Colombia where Arrow holds a 50 percent beneficial interest. AXL said, “Arrow is very proud to surpass the 6,000 boe/d threshold. The additional production from drilling and workovers highlights the continued operational success the Company has had on the Tapir block. The multi-zone quality of the Icaco discovery, and its commensurate production rates, have surpassed initial expectations
Comment: This week shares of AXL have nudged the 30p zone, something which has been rather. Delayed given how well it has been doing operationally, and how courtesy of Donald Trump, the oil price has been soaring. Given the relative underperformance of the shares, current levels are attractive for those late to the party.
Manx Financial Group plc (MFX), the diversified financial services group serving the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom, provided the following operational update on trading, strategic progress and the Group’s priorities for sustainable shareholder value creation. This update covers H1 2026 and contains key KPI’s, along with operational developments within the Group. MFX said “The Group delivered strong operational growth despite challenging macroeconomic conditions. Conister Bank continued to deploy liquidity efficiently, Payment Assist increased lending volumes, expanded its partnerships and broadened its product offering, and we began implementing the AI strategy announced at our AGM. These developments strengthen the Group’s earnings potential, improve operating efficiency and support our objective of delivering sustainable long-term value for shareholders.”
Comment: It may be the case that the more challenging the economic conditions, the better that MFX does. That said, the shares remain in the low end of the range, and perhaps the company should do more to make it less invisible on the stock market, given how well it is doing.
Botswana Minerals (BMIN), the London AIM and Botswana Stock Exchange-listed exploration company focused on copper and strategic minerals in Botswana, provided an update on its AI-assisted exploration programme across its north-west (Ngamiland) Botswana licences. The programme is now moving from large-scale data analysis into increasingly focused field testing. AI has been used to bring together decades of exploration information and identify where the strongest evidence for mineralisation occurs. Fieldwork will now test those areas on the ground and progressively and rapidly narrow them towards drill targets.
Comment: While one presumes that AI is involved in all exploration these days, it makes for a nice hook in the RNS. That said the company does appear to be more confident than of late, and the shares appear to be doing their best to bounce from the low end of the range.
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.
