Daily Mail: Hundreds of criminals let out of jail yesterday are just the first wave of Labour’s ‘prison break-out bonanza’, the public was warned last night. Up to 50,000 offenders a year are likely to be freed early under Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s soft-justice programme. The Conservatives said the Government’s scheme posed an ‘acute threat’ to public safety.
Comment: There are a couple of positive takeaways from the release of prisoners. First, that we do not actually need prisons, and second clearly the government believes that the safety of the public will not be affected. Just think of all the money saved too.
Tooru (TOO), the AIM listed company focused on the branded health and wellness sector, announce that its OAF gluten-free brand has secured a significant new listing with a new major UK retailer, in addition to its established presence in the Tesco and Asda estates. The Company expects two of its OAF gluten-free products to be launched in approximately 400 new stores in January 2027, representing a significant expansion of the brand’s UK retail distribution. The Board is delighted with the continued progress being made by OAF. The brand continues to perform strongly within both Tesco and Asda, where there has also been further expansion of both products and presence in stores.
Comment: While one perhaps cannot tell the progress being made by the company by the share price, it is the case that operationally it is doing what shareholders need: distribution and sales. Indeed, one would expect this to be factored into the market cap sooner, rather than later – even by the end of this year.
Sovereign Metals Limited (SVML) advises that Dr Julian Stephens has resigned as a Non-Executive Director of the Company effective immediately. Dr Stephens was Managing Director of Sovereign from June 2016 until October 2023 where he was instrumental in the Company’s growth and development. He first identified rutile mineralisation in Malawi and subsequently led the team that discovered Sovereign’s world-class Kasiya deposit, progressing the project through its scoping and pre-feasibility study stages.
Comment: This week I attended one of the best investor lunches in my experience, from SVML. This was not only the content / delivery, but also the proposition. Therefore, it is somewhat strange that just a couple of days later a key player at the company departs. That said, we should see decent newsflow in coming weeks to console the market.
TheraCryf (TCF), the biotech company developing new medicines for addiction and other neuropsychiatric disorders, announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, TheraCryf Australia Pty Ltd, has appointed Avance Clinical Pty Ltd, a leading global Contract Research Organisation, to support the Australian clinical and regulatory preparations for a first-in-human Phase 1 study of its lead Ox-1 programme. Avance Clinical was selected following a competitive process. It will support TheraCryf’s preparation of the application to a Human Research Ethics Committee and the subsequent Clinical Trial Notification to Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Comment: It has to be admitted that the main reason for including TCF in the RNS Hotlist was the diligence of their PR in sending me the story. This is appropriate given my interest in biotech, especially those in the addiction / neuropsychiatric space who can really change lives for the better.
Pathos Communications (NEWS), the leading PR technology business, announced that it has been recognised in the Financial Times as one of the UK’s fastest growing companies, and the fastest growing British company in its sector. The list, published by the Financial Times, is a ranking of 150 British companies by the highest percentage compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in revenues over the prior three year period. The ranking is based on certified revenue figures.
Comment: There is a certain degree of irony in terms of the contrast between my mentioning previously that NEWS is a company that hardly anyone in the stock market has heard of, to the company being recognised by the FT. One would be keen to congratulate the NEWS investor relations operative on this coup..
Critical Metals plc (CRTM), a mining company established to acquire mining opportunities in the critical and strategic metals sector, currently developing the Molulu Copper/Cobalt Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, announces the start of its 2026 field programme at Molulu, following programme authorisation, funding release and mobilisation. CRTM said “We are delighted to announce that the release of funds and approval of the field programme presented to the board have received the go-ahead, and that we are now in a position to mobilise the team on the ground. Our priority is to establish whether the initial target can support scout mining which will be determined by the results of the field programme. I look forward to updating shareholders on those results in due course.”
Comment: Just when some in the market may have thought that CRTM was out of the game, we see the company has been busy, at least in terms of getting the cash together for a field programme. Perhaps of just as much interest is the way that the shares have already revived by nearly 3x over the past month.
Bezant Resources Plc (BZT), the copper mining company, in its recent interims reported that run of mine ore from the newly developed Hope & Gorob mine was now being processed through the Company’s Tsoaxaub Metals flotation plant. The Company provided further information on, operations to date, as well as initial planning for future expansion phases. The commencement of production marks an important transition from development into revenue-generating operations. The commissioning process will continue over the coming weeks, producing copper-gold concentrate for sale, with steady ramp up scheduled for the rest of the year.
Comment: Having already rallied 4x last year, it was always going to be a challenge for the shares to repeat the feat in 2026, even if it had the newsflow to match. Interestingly enough the run up to the commencement of production is just the driver for outsized share price rally.
Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd. (ECO), the oil and gas exploration company focused on the offshore Atlantic Margins, announced that on 1 October 2026, it received formal Ministerial approval from the Honourable Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy of Namibia for the transfer and assignment, relating to the Company’s previously announced farm down of a 60% Participating interest, in all three of its Petroleum Exploration Licenses offshore Namibia to BP Namibia Energy Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of BP Exploration Operating Company Limited.
Comment: ECO has been one of the stars of 2026, something which would probably have happened anyway given the soaring price of fossil fuel. That said, when combined with the now ultra fashionable Atlantic Margin, and majors looking for assets there, we have seen the shares rise 40% this year. However, a return to the best levels at 70p (from the 40p zone now) should be on the cards over the next 3-4 months.
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.
