Alliance News: Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the UK government is nearing a trade pact with six Gulf nations, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as its next major deal. She told the BBC the agreement would be the government’s “next deal” as it looks to continue to boost post-Brexit trade ties. Reeves suggested economic growth would be strengthened through recent trade deals with the US, the EU and India.
Comment: Given that every deal this government does seems to cost more than it delivers, one is already in the brace position regarding a potential Gulf States sell out. At least we are fast running out of territories to get ripped off by. That said, perhaps a trade deal paying £10bn a year to buy snow from Antarctica in return for UK rainwater could work.
Coinsilium Group (AQUIS:COIN), the Web3 investor, advisor, and venture builder, updated on its Bitcoin treasury strategy and its wholly owned Gibraltar subsidiary, Forza! Gibraltar Limited, established to implement Coinsilium’s dedicated Bitcoin-focused treasury operations. As an initial step in the build-out of Forza!’s Bitcoin holdings, the Company intends to transfer 5 Bitcoin from Coinsilium’s existing reserves into Forza!’s treasury. After raising gross proceeds of £1.5 million, the Company also intends to allocate an initial amount of no less than 10 Bitcoin from these proceeds to Forza!’s treasury.
Comment: COIN is certainly getting on with the job of building up its Bitcoin Strategy, and it goes for the Microstrategy approach. All of this should be very supportive to the stock in the wake of last week’s fundraise.
Progressive Equity Research has been commissioned by Forterra (FORT) to produce ongoing research coverage. A new research document has been published this morning, and is freely available to UK investors. Research note summary: ‘Encouraging start’ to year – upgrades later? Forterra has issued an upbeat AGM statement, pointing to a 22% Y/Y increase in revenue for the first four months of FY25 (our estimate for the full year, +8%), with ‘strong’ performances in both divisions driven by an uplift in housebuilding.
Comment: “Progressive is an equity research and investor engagement company. FCA authorised and regulated, the firm has a 15-strong team of highly experienced analysts. We provide Institutional grade research and connect companies with investors across every sector of the market.” 15 people is a lot of National Insurance payments.
Vodafone Group (VOD) announced its FY25 Preliminary Results. The company said results were in line with expectations and growth outlook. It CEO said “Since I set out my plans to transform Vodafone two years ago, Vodafone has changed. We have reshaped Europe, we are seeing the positive impact of our drive for customer satisfaction in all our markets – most noticeably in the UK and Germany.
Comment: VOD continues to drift along, with the shares flatlining for the past couple of years. This may explain why the company is delivering a £500m share buyback, something which is not likely to move the dial either in terms of breaking out of the range.
Diploma (DPLM) announced half year results for the six months ended 31 March 2025. It revealed a Strong H1 performance and FY upgrade. DPLM said “The results are very strong. They demonstrate our sustainable quality compounding with excellent earnings growth at fantastic returns on capital. We have a differentiated business model with a well-diversified portfolio of high-quality businesses, allowing us to deliver compounding growth in good times and bad.”
Comment: DPLM makes it all look easy, perhaps too easy. But the company is one that effectively provides the picks and shovels of distribution, and hence seems to be a perpetual revenues machine.
Greggs (GRG) announced Improved performance; expectations for the year remain unchanged. Total sales up 7.4% to £784 million. 2.9% LFL* sales growth, with improved performance in the last 11 weeks supported by better trading conditions.
Comment: The artery clogging / pancreas blasting group appears to be back in favour in the High Street, but it looks like it will be something of a stretch for the shares to break early 2025 resistance at £22, even after today’s update.
Further to the announcement on 14 May 2025 regarding the conditional acquisition of the Swales Gold Property in Nevada, USA, Metals One (MET1), a minerals exploration and development company, is pleased to announce the formal staking of an additional 99 unpatented mining claims contiguous with the Project located in the prolific Carlin Trend, proximal to some of the largest gold mines in Nevada.
Comment: Those thinking that yesterday’s rug pull for the shares may be the end of the line for the 10x rally in the shares could be disappointed, with today’s news underlining the way that on a fundamental basis it still very much has the bit between its teeth.
OptiBiotix Health (OPTI), a life sciences business developing products which reduce hunger and food cravings, enhance the gut microbiome, and sweet fibres as healthy sugar substitutes, announces the launch of products containing SlimBiome® with a NASDAQ listed partner, Natural Health Trends Corp (NASDAQ: NHTC).
Comment: A company with arguably some of the worst own goal PR, delivering hunger reducing products as if weight loss jabs simply did not exist. Dracula could market blood banks better.
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.
