The Telegraph: Typical household energy bills will rise to £1,755 a year in October under the price cap. Ofgem, which sets the limit on what energy companies can charge customers, confirmed average energy bills will rise by £35 from £1,720. Michael Penhaligon, of fuel poverty charity National Energy Action, warned that a rise in bills would be a blow because there were people who “already can’t afford their bills and many of them are deep in debt.
Comment: We can be in the EU or out of it, regulators or no regulators, one thing is certain, Rip-Off Britain will always prevail. As for the people in debt, they should go on a Jet2 holiday, where a family of four can save up to £200.
Eurasia Mining (EUA, the iridium, osmium, palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium and gold mining company is pleased to announce a licence extension and update on NKT. NKT is a restart of a formerly producing mine adjacent to Eurasia’s Monchetundra mine development. EUA said “The Directors are pleased that compliance with the licence agreement has resulted in the 2-year extension of the licence for our company making Tier-1 scale NKT asset. This allows both the maintenance of the licence and the reserves upgrade to achieve our Russia exit strategy. This major milestone is another element of the shareholder value creation in the Arctic, where we have the first mover advantage and a competitive edge of the existing infrastructure of formerly producing NKT mine.”
Comment: Given all the distractions regarding the new listing, it is pleasing to see EUA go back to its mining day job, this time underlining its desire to widen the footprint from dependency on Russia. Who knows, this issue may be resolved one way or the other quite soon?
ECR Minerals (ECR), the exploration and development company focused on gold in Australia, provided an update on activities at the Blue Mountain gold project in Queensland, Australia and the Company’s upcoming drilling programme at the Lolworth gold and rare earths project in North Queensland, Australia. ECR said “Our Queensland portfolio continues to stand out and deliver exciting results. At the Blue Mountain Project we have confirmed visible gold across several prospects, including coarse and heavy-textured gold at Upper Kariboe Creek, which we consider a significant milestone as we consider how to advance its near-term production potential.”
Comment: ECR has been huffing and puffing to get its share price up, with BTC strategies out of nowhere, and repeat mentions of Blue Mountain and its attractions. Rather amazingly, this repeating of the message again and again seems to be working. A fundraise at 0.30p plus would be great.
Aptamer Group (APTA), the leading developer of next-generation synthetic binders delivering innovation to the life science industry, announced the launch of its biomarker discovery service, creating a new fee-for-service revenue stream targeting the US$62.4 billion global biomarker discovery market. APTA said “This new service builds on our core strength in applying Optimer® libraries to bind precisely to disease-relevant targets. Following our successful identification and validation of the biomarker for our fibrotic liver delivery system, we have seen strong interest from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies seeking novel drug targets to strengthen their intellectual property positions.”
Comment: Another day, another RNS from APTA which will no doubt further cement stock market appreciation, and consolidate the recent solid bull run in the shares. Indeed, this initiate shows the company is serious in setting out its stall as being a key player in providing the picks and shovels for the pharma / biotech space.
Defence Holdings (ALRT), the UK’s first listed software-led defence company, is announce the appointment of Richard “Bertie” Bassett as Vice President, Defence Programmes, a move that materially enhances the Company’s operational credibility, expands its senior military relationships, and accelerates its ability to secure frontline-driven defence contracts. 26 years in Special Operations and senior strategic command roles, including the first-ever appointment as Command Sergeant Major at the strategic level of UK defence.
Comment: All we need now at ALRT is Captain Mainwaring and Sgt Wilson and we are good to go. The company has beefed up its head count to deliver defence contracts. We look forward to their arrival, to celebrate the 14x rally we have seen in the shares so far this year.
Cykel AI (CYK) noted the significant increase in its share price and the volume of trading in its shares. The board is in advanced discussions with a strategic investor group regarding a possible significant equity investment into the Company, to raise funds to help develop the Company’s existing business and support its treasury strategy which will be revised if the fundraise completes to allow investment in Solana and stablecoins. The Possible Investment, which is expected to be priced at a significant discount to the closing price on Friday 22 August 2025, will be subject to shareholder approval. These discussions may or may not lead to the completion of the Possible Investment on these or similar terms. The Company will update the market in due course.
Comment: Another winning Brian Stockbridge stock, and another one that was covered in the Bulletin Board Heroes yesterday. What a shame it had to release a “speeding ticket” RNS, something that should not exist on the stock market: a company exists on the stock market for the shares to go up. Nevertheless, a tantalizing update, which merits that the shares build on yesterday’s 55% rise, and hits the 4.5p peak we saw in June.
Shield Therapeutics (STX), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company specialising in iron deficiency, announced positive efficacy and safety results in the ORION-HF study showing improvements in haemoglobin and other iron markers, exercise capacity, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with heart failure (HF) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA), after 16 weeks of treatment with FeRACCRU® (ferric maltol). These results were published in the European Journal of Heart Failure on 21 July 2025.
Comment: The European Journal of Heart Failure sounds like a real page turner. perhaps there is a European Journal Of Heart Resuscitation as well. Just don’t mention Tommy Cooper. In the meantime, STX finesses its recent 3x share price since the beginning of July with a little backing from “The Science.”
Zenith Energy Ltd. (ZEN), the listed international energy production and development company, announced the acquisition of an additional agrivoltaic solar energy development project located in the Lazio region of Italy. On August 6, 2025, the Company announced the acquisition of its first agrivoltaic development project in Lazio. The Company has now completed the acquisition of an additional 10 hectares of farmland in Lazio for the development of a 5 MWp agrivoltaic solar energy project. The total consideration for the Lazio Acquisition is EUR 650,000.
Comment: ZEN continues to underline that it is not a one trick pony as far as winning the Tunisian arbitration, but a company seriously focused on being a European renewable energy player. Tunisia is and would be a welcome bonus.
Ajax (AJAX), the natural resources investment company (AQSE: AJAX), provided the following update. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ippolito Ingo Cattaneo, visited the Province of Jujuy, Argentina, in August 2025 to review progress ahead of the planned commencement of operational activities in the autumn of 2025 following submission of its Environmental Impact Study for the Eureka copper and gold project. The Company has applied for mineral subsurface rights over three areas of land. Two of these applications relate to mineral exploration licences, covering a combined area of approximately 118 hectares, while the third concerns a mining licence called La Piqueta, which covers approximately 216 hectares. In aggregate, the Applications comprise approximately 335 hectares of land and are all contiguous with the Company’s Eureka Project in the Province of Jujuy, Republic of Argentina. AJAX confirmed the completion of the acquisition of 100% the La Norteña Licence Area, which neighbours the Company’s Eureka Project to the north, for US$22,500 from a local investor. La Norteña covers an area of 6,300 hectares.
Comment: As well as picking up the Eureka Project for a song, it can be seen that AJAX is keen to engage in an economical land grab in the surrounding area, something which could deliver more outsized returns for the company, given the value of these acquisitions, and the yet modest market cap of the company.
Distil (DIS), owner of premium drinks brands including RedLeg Spiced Rum, Blackwoods Gin and Vodka, and Blavod Black Vodka, announced that Ardgowan Distillery has begun public tours of its new single malt whisky distillery in Inverkip. The distillery’s on-site shop is also now open from 10:00-17:00, Tuesday to Saturday, stocking Ardgowan’s “Clydebuilt” range of whisky. A Distillery Exclusive Clydebuilt 2012 Pedro Ximénez Hogshead Single Cask Single Malt expression is also available for £85.
Comment: These public tours sound like a must for any serious growth company investor. Cheap at twice the price.
Hochschild Mining (HOC) announced its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2025. Revenue up 33% at $520.0 million (H1 2024: $391.7 million). Adjusted EBITDA up 27% at $224.5 million (H1 2024: $177.1 million). Net debt of $202.3 million as at 30 June 2025 (31 December 2024: $215.6 million). H1 2025 attributable production of 161,597 gold equivalent ounces or 13.4 million silver equivalent ounces (H1 2024: 152,792 gold equivalent ounces or 12.7 million silver equivalent ounces). Attributable all-in sustaining costs (AISC) from operations of $1,914 per gold equivalent ounce (H1 2024: $1,432) or $23.1 per silver equivalent ounce (H1 2024: $17.3).
Comment: Obviously in the current environment even Coco The Clown could deliver a decent result for HOC, given the space it is in. Presumably the company is so upbeat regarding its prospects, it does not even care about paying down some more of its debt.
Crystal Amber (CRS) announced that Morphic Medical Inc. (“MMI”), the medical device company in which the Fund owns 96.7% of the issued share capital, has achieved a significant UK milestone for its revolutionary RESET® therapy, the first endoscopic, non-surgical treatment for both obesity and type 2 diabetes in Europe. RESET® has now been commercially registered for sale by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), completing an important legal requirement for sales of the product into the UK market.
Comment: Given CRS’s recent triumph with De La Rue, and given the way that the weight loss jabs were originally targeting type 2 diabetes, one would want to pay serious attention to today’s RNS, and the prospects for the company it delivers.
Thor Explorations Ltd. (THX) announced further positive drilling results from its maiden drilling campaign at its 100% owned Guitry Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire. THX said “We are extremely pleased to report further positive drilling results from our maiden drilling campaign in Côte d’Ivoire. Our drilling has continued to successfully intersect high grade mineralisation at depth at Guitry, which prior to our ownership, was characterised by numerous gold-in-soil geochemical anomalies that had only been partially drill tested with shallow drilling.”
Comment: THX and its CEO Segun Lawson have given the impression of having the ability to walk on water, especially in jurisdictions where others either fear to tread, or have had multiple custard pies in the face. Any initiative which sustains the production of THX going forward has to be welcomed with open arms, for instance, today’s news.
Journeo plc (JNEO), a leading provider of information systems and technical services to transport operators, local authorities and the public transport networks that connect them, announced approximately £1m of purchase orders from a large local authority in the South of England. The orders are for the supply, installation and maintenance of passenger information display infrastructure and associated software services that will support the authority in meeting the goals set out as part of their Bus Service Improvement Plan.
Comment: No one ever covers the JNEO, and given how dull its field of operation, one would assume that no one ever will. Nevertheless, we know that boring is good on the stock market, and display infrastructure could very well be the new rock and roll.
Aterian (ATN), the Africa-focused critical minerals exploration and development company, updated on three recently awarded prospecting licences in the world-renowned Kalahari Copperbelt, located in the Republic of Botswana, and announced on 7 August 2025. The three PLs were awarded to the Company’s 90% owned subsidiary, Atlantis Metals Ltd and cover an area of 329.16 km². The KCB portfolio now comprises ten PLs covering an aggregate area of 2,298.34 km², in a region attracting strong global interest from major copper exploration and mining companies.
Comment: It is evident that it is not just Colin Bird / Galileo Resources (GLR) that loves the KCB, we have ATN keenly in the mix as well. This is probably just as well as ATN really needs something to turn its share price around.
Synergia Energy Limited (SYN), announced the following update regarding its Cambay PSC (WI: 50%), onshore India. Selan Exploration Technology Limited have informed the Company of the following planned activities on the Cambay PSC: The Aakash 50T work over rig will be deployed to the Cambay C-64 wellsite by mid-September to undertake the installation of the sucker rod pump. Selan plan to deploy a drilling rig contracted from Kiri Oilfield Services to drill a new well on the Cambay PSC in October 2025. The cost of the new well will be carried by Selan under the work program associated with the Farm In / Farm Out agreement between Synergia and Selan.
Comment: Things have been so slow at SYN that even the CEO left. Perhaps George Roach could be parachuted in from Premier African (PREM) to speed things up, once he leaves on August 31?
Critical Mineral Resources (CMRS) announced details of the Agadir Melloul sedimentary copper project in Central Morocco, the acquisition of three additional permits in the same district, exclusivity on a further six permits, together with the terms of its definitive joint venture agreement. CMR and the Joint Venture partner now have a dominant position in the Agadir Melloul district. In recent days, over fifty drill pads have been prepared, a testament to our team on the ground and the project’s favourable topography. Diamond core drilling will begin very shortly.
Comment: Shares of CMRS have already been a massive technical buy in recent weeks, have been covered here from the start at ZaksTradersCafe, and have more than 3x’ed since the beginning of July. The best case scenario target (so far) of 3.8p, appears imminent.
Fusion Antibodies FAB), specialists in pre-clinical antibody discovery, engineering and supply for both therapeutic drug and diagnostic applications, announced that it has been selected to proceed with three follow on projects to the stable Cell Line Development project announced on 27 February 2025. The original contract and the follow-on contracts all operate under a collaborative research and development agreement with a US based biotechnology company.
Comment: FAB shares covered here on a charting basis from 7p, target 14p, now 16p. Who says the technical analysis does not work. Great to see the company finally getting share price and fundamental traction, especially for long standing shareholders.
Aminex (AEX), the oil and gas exploration and development company focused on Tanzania, announced the following: During meetings in Tanzania this week between the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), ARA Petroleum Tanzania (APT) and Aminex, the TPDC provided the following update on the pipeline from the Ntorya gas field to the Madimba gas processing plant. AEX said “These developments demonstrate again the Government of Tanzania’s strong commitment to this project which will deliver large volumes of gas supplies to help alleviate energy poverty, boost industrial development and fuel Tanzania’s economic growth.”
Comment: Although historically dealing with the Tanzanian government has not been known for being an easy thing to do, to be fair, it is probably not as difficult as dealing with the Welsh government on aspects of business. Shares of AEX are fast approaching the key 2p breakout zone.
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.
