The FTSE 100 edged higher on Friday, closing up 23 points, or 0.3%, at 8,554.80 after a hesitant start, as easing trade war tensions lifted investor sentiment. The mid-cap FTSE 250 also advanced, gaining 0.2%.
BP led the blue-chip gains, jumping 4.7% after reports suggested several major energy rivals are weighing a potential takeover bid for the UK oil giant.
The AIM All-Share rose 3% this week and is now up 15% over the past month, outperforming the FTSE 100 on both measures.
AIM is currently trading at a steep discount—nearly 40% below its 10-year average and 60% behind the FTSE All-Share. According to Turner Pope, that gap is becoming increasingly difficult for investors to overlook. As economic conditions evolve, sentiment could be shifting back in AIM’s favour.
Part of the renewed optimism stems from the index’s transformation. AIM has significantly streamlined, now comprising just 586 companies compared to almost 1,700 at its peak. What remains is a more focused collection of better-run businesses, many with global intellectual property and strong growth potential.
Symphony Environmental Technologies PLC (SYM) soared 100% after securing a £2.5 million investment from Vermont-based wealth manager Quantum Leap, which subscribed at a substantial premium to the market price.
Trading in RiverFort Global Opportunities (RGO) shares resumed after the company announced its acquisition of the healthy snacks division of Aquis-listed S-Ventures (SVEN). The deal involves the issuance of 466.7 million shares and a £1 million placing at 0.75p per share. Additionally, a loan is being converted into 356.3 million shares. With the acquisition, RiverFort aims to inject cash into the newly acquired business to support growth. The company will also rebrand as Tooru. Following the news, the share price surged 70.5% to 0.375p.
Mosman Oil and Gas Ltd (MSMN) jumped 42% following the release of its maiden resource estimate for the Sagebrush Project in Colorado, highlighting early potential for accelerated helium and hydrocarbon production.
Kromek Group PLC (KMK) gained 19% after reporting that full-year revenue and profit would exceed expectations, driven by strong performance in its imaging and detection divisions. A pivotal factor was a landmark agreement with Siemens Healthineers.
Big Technologies (BIG) has appointed Ian Johnson as chief executive and Mike Johns as finance director, following the departure of Daren Morris, who has been removed as a director and placed on gardening leave. Johnson will step down as executive chairman of Niox (LON: NIOX) to become its non-executive chairman on 14 May. Excluding its Colombia contract, Big Technologies reported an 11% year-on-year increase in first-quarter revenues to £12.9m. The company’s share price rallied 17.3% to 91.5p on the news.
Tracarta has acquired a 4.15% stake in Coro Energy (CORO), a developer focused on gas and clean energy projects. Following the announcement, Coro’s share price rose 9.3% to 1.175p.
Silver Bullet Data Services (SBDS) reported a 15% year-on-year increase in first-quarter revenues to £2.31m, a strong performance during what is typically a quieter period. The company also secured a $1.5m, two-year contract with a global retailer. Committed services revenue now accounts for nearly 75% of its 2025 target. The share price rose 7.79% to 41.5p.
FALLERS
Argentex Group PLC (AGFX) plummeted 94% after securing emergency funding from IFX Payments and announcing the departure of nearly half its board, including chairman Lord Digby Jones. The £20 million credit facility carries a steep 15% interest rate and a 7.5% non-utilisation fee.
Ocean Harvest Technology Group PLC (OHT) sank 76% after warning it needs urgent funding to continue operating beyond mid-June. Discussions are ongoing, but no firm commitments have been made.
Mirriad Advertising PLC (MIRI) tumbled 34% after cautioning it may enter administration within days unless new funding is found. A potential takeover fell through at the end of April.
Wishbone Gold (WSBN) has identified eleven new gold targets at its Crescent gold project in the Mosquito Creek region of Western Australia. The company has appointed Apex Geoscience Consultants to oversee ground exploration and drilling at the Red Setter Dome. Hot Rocks Investments (LON: HRIP) holds a 3.2% stake in Wishbone. Despite the exploration update, the share price fell 15.7% to 0.215p.
Touchstone Exploration (TXP) has raised £15.4 million through a placing at 20.5p and secured a six-year $30 million term loan to fund the acquisition of a company holding a 65% interest in the Central Block gas asset. The acquisition is expected to add 2,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in net production, with an NPV10 valuation of $42.9 million. Proceeds from the share issue will support the drilling of development wells. Net production is projected to surpass 8,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day—nearly double February’s output. Despite the positive outlook, the share price fell 10.8% to 20.75p.
Physiomics (PYC) has secured a £67,500 contract with a new UK client to apply population Pharmacokinetic (PK) modelling to Phase 1 data, supporting the design of a Phase 2 study for a small molecule targeting rheumatoid arthritis. Despite the contract win, the share price dipped 5.68% to 0.415p.
