(Alliance News) – Rule changes in the UK to enable people to receive clearer information from financial firms to make it easier for them to find and compare products are being considered by the City regulator. The Financial Conduct Authority, FCA, is exploring how it can simplify communications about savings accounts.
It will also review parts of its credit advertising rules, such as lengthy terms and conditions. The regulator is also looking at its expectations for mortgage lending, as part of a range of proposals to streamline its rules, reduce burdens on businesses and improve outcomes for consumers.
Comment: Hopefully one day the FCA will help old people and children cross the road, ensure that there are no lumps in custard and perhaps more importantly of all, that one never forgets one’s pin number.
Fiinu (BANK), a fintech group and creator of the Plugin Overdraft®, announced the reactivation of its core banking software services agreement with Tuum following the signing of a Second Amendment to the original Agreement. This reactivation is linked to the Company’s strategic white-label initiative announced on 15 January 2025 and updated on 5 March 2025.
Comment: It has been a rather rocky ride as far as BANK shares have been concerned, even though we were told at the start of this year that with the original agreement the company was on its way with the Plugin concept.
Lexington Gold (LEX), a gold exploration and development company with assets in both the United States and South Africa, notes and welcomes the recent Executive Order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump on 20 March 2025, which outlines a comprehensive framework to accelerate domestic mineral production across the United States. The Executive Order, titled “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production”, identifies gold among a group of minerals considered critical to U.S. national interests.
Comment: While the odd James Bond villain might regard gold as being a critical mineral, it is hard to justify this even though the yellow metal is supposed to be a store of value. Nevertheless, the news is a shot in the arm for US focused LEX.
Good Life Plus Plc (AQSE: GDLF), an innovator in the luxury prize draw and rewards sector, is pleased to give the following update on trading for the year ended 31 January 2025 (FY24/25). The Company has traded strongly throughout the period and into the early part of the new financial year. Revenue for FY24/25 is expected to exceed £3.7m (HY24/25: £1.7m) with monthly recurring revenue (MMR) in January 2025 of £420,000, compared to MMR of £330,000 in July 2024. Subscriber numbers have also continued to grow and now exceed 40,000 compared to 37,000 at the half year.
Comment: While revenue is set to deliver the proverbial hockey stick improvement, the MMR and subscriber numbers do not yet appear to be in the Omaze category. Perhaps blanket advertising / marketing would be the key here?
EKF Diagnostics Holdings (EKF), the AIM-listed global diagnostics business, announces its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2024, reflecting the focus on higher margin product ranges and core operations, the winding down of non-core and low margin product lines and services, and the realignment of the business’s cost base. In FY 2024 EKF has delivered improved adjusted EBITDA, enhanced gross margins, stronger than expected cash generation and a significant improvement in the strength of its balance sheet. The Company has also outlined details of its strategic development plan to accelerate growth over the next five years.
Comment: EKF is certainly feeling optimistic regarding its future prospects, even though the latest update seems to represent a holding pattern / consolidation as the company prepared to spring forward, something which is perhaps a reflection of the strong prospects for its sector as a whole.
Digitalbox (DBOX), the mobile-first digital media business, which owns leading websites Entertainment Daily, The Daily Mash, The Poke, The Tab and TV Guide, today published its final audited results for the year ended 31 December 2024.
| Group revenue | 3,645 | 2,790 | +30.6% |
| Gross profit | 3,094 | 2,184 | +41.6% |
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | 624 | 20 | +31x |
| Adjusted EBITDA margin(1) | 17.1% | 0.7% | +16.4% points |
| Cash generated by operations | 562 | 193 | +191.2% |
| Gross cash | 2,109 | 1,913 | +10.2% |
| Net Cash | 2,015 | 1,670 | +20.6% |
Comment: Although perhaps it is the TV Guide that some of us have heard of, it would appear that DBOX has blown the lights out / doors off, in terms of its metrics. It is a shame that the company has relatively speaking hidden its light under a bushel as far as the stock market has been concerned.
Fevertree Drinks (FEVR) announced its FY24 Preliminary Results to 31 December 2024. Revenue growth accelerated to 7%[1] in the second half to deliver 4%1 growth for the full year. Strong US growth of 12%1, with value share gains across key categories, including Ginger Beer and Tonic. Significant gross margin improvement of 540bps, resulting in a 66% increase in Adjusted EBITDA to £50.7 million, in-line with expectations.
Comment: FEVR would appear not as post growth as many might intuitively have thought. Indeed, it seems to be getting itself match fit enough for a company like, say Diageo (DGE) to write a cheque in order to support its bottom line.
Alpha Growth (ALGW), a financial services specialist in life insurance-linked wealth and asset management, announced its unaudited interim results for the twelve month period ended 31 December 2024. The key highlights during the period were as follows: 28% increase in revenues compared to equivalent prior period; Profit before taxation of £0.97m (£1.49m loss before taxation for the twelve months ended 31 December 2023) helped by one-off adjustments.
Comment: Given the recent share price collapse has factored in World War III, the update today might be a chance for some brave souls to attempt catching the falling guillotine that ALGW has been of late.
EnergyPathways (EPP), an energy transition company, announce progress on its MESH energy storage project in relation to hydrogen, long duration energy storage and low-carbon flexible power solutions. EnergyPathways is distributing a specialised project briefing document outlining the conclusions from its hydrogen and clean energy pre-FEED activities and highlighting the critical role that hydrogen and compressed air storage technologies can play in reducing carbon emissions, enhancing energy security and becoming a cornerstone of the UK’s transition to a sustainable net-zero economy.
Comment: Given how much we all hate net-zero, especially the billions we are paying for it, and the showcasing of how wonderful it is via Heathrow airport going down, this may explain why the better the newsflow gets at EPP, the more the shares retrace. Perhaps a freshening up of the messaging is required now the stock is back down to half its peak?
Shell (SHELL) will today present to investors at its Capital Markets Day 2025 the next steps in the execution of its strategy. Shell is strengthening its commitment to value creation and maintaining its focus on performance, discipline and simplification. ‘’We have made significant progress against all of the targets we set out at our Capital Markets Day in 2023. Thanks to the outstanding efforts of our people, we are transforming Shell to become simpler, more resilient and more competitive,’’ said CEO Wael Sawan. ‘‘We want to become the world’s leading integrated gas and LNG business and the most customer-focused energy marketer and trader, while sustaining a material level of liquids production. Today we are raising the bar across our key financial targets, investing where we have competitive strengths and delivering more for our shareholders.’’
Comment: Although Capital Markets Days are normally a complete waste of time, it would appear that SHELL has hit the spot even before it has started, with not a mention of Just Stop Oil or near 8 figure salaries anywhere in the RNS.
Galileo Resources (GLR) said it has completed logging and initial assaying of rock chips and core from its most recent reverse circulation and diamond drilling programmes completed on the Shinganda Licence. Sufficient work has been completed to warrant the implementation of a Phase 4 programme focusing on the Main Fault target. Galileo has a 75% interest in the Project. GLR said “The drill programmes have confirmed the presence of mineralised dilation zones confined to the hematite-rich lithological unit associated with the Shinganda Splay. A better understanding of the scale of mineralisation will in time require further drilling both along strike to pick up the individual mineralised lenses and to test the full extent of each dilation zone.”
Comment: The initial share price reaction today rather belies the progress GLR is making at the Shinganda license. Presumably the market will be kinder once more is revealed regarding the project.
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.
