The FTSE 100 closed 15.26 points, or 0.1%, higher at 10,695.25 on Friday, while the FTSE 250 rose 0.4% to 24,261.14 and AIM added 0.2%.
For the week, the FTSE 100 gained 0.3%, the FTSE 250 rose 0.2%, while AIM fell 1.6%.
Oil prices eased from Thursday’s highs, with Brent crude around $106.21 a barrel, down from $107.25, as investors weighed signs of possible progress between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.
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Elsewhere on AIM, 80 Mile (LON: 80M) surged 150% after restructuring its Jameson joint venture in Greenland. Greenland Energy Company will assume responsibility for permits and licences, while 80 Mile receives £500,000 in cash and drilling longstop dates move to the end of 2028.
Forgent (LON: FORG) rose 41% after completing a further 12 drill holes at the Curley’s prospect within its Peak Hill gold-copper project. Assay results remain pending.
Getech (LON: GTC) gained 39% after saying trading remained on track and later winning a European Commission natural-hydrogen study worth more than €1 million. First-half revenue increased 15% to £2.4 million and the company returned to underlying profitability.
Retail software group itim (LON: ITIM) advanced 27% after adjusted earnings more than tripled to £1.3 million on revenue of £8.6 million, while net cash increased to £3.1 million.
ASOS (LON: ASC) gained 14% over the week as signs of operational improvement strengthened. Active customer numbers grew quarter on quarter for the first time since 2022, while UK and German gross merchandise value returned to growth in the second half.
TomCo Energy (LON: TOM) shares rose 13.3% after partner Valkor began a re-entry and production start programme on pilot wells at Asphalt Ridge. The initial wells could produce around 20 to 40 barrels of oil per day. If the programme is successful, additional wells are expected to be drilled, with Greenfield Energy having the opportunity to participate.
Bango (LON: BGO) shares rose 13% after the payments technology group reported stronger recurring revenues and higher first-half earnings. Interim revenue increased 3% to $25.9 million, while annualised recurring revenue climbed 31% to $20.4 million, reflecting stronger subscription income.
Premier African Minerals (LON: PREM) gained 12% after tightening the vesting terms attached to management options linked to production milestones at the Zulu lithium and tantalum project. The revised terms remove the ability to exercise options before the relevant production milestones are achieved. Premier also reported an interim loss of $6.9 million.
Fallers
On the downside, Sunda Energy (LON: SNDA) fell 45% after launching a £5.25 million placing at 1.5p alongside a retail offer of up to £525,000. The funds are intended to complete the acquisition of Matahio, which would move Sunda from exploration into production of around 1,000 barrels of oil per day.
Orosur Mining (LON: OMI) dropped 34% after launching a placing of up to £7.5 million to fund its Anzá exploration project in Colombia and broaden its shareholder base.
Safestay (LON: SSTY) fell 28% on Friday after reporting a £1.9 million first-half loss, with adjusted earnings dropping to £0.6 million from £2.1 million and forward bookings down 21%. Safestay has used property disposals to strengthen its balance sheet, reducing net debt by around one-third to £16.2 million. The company reported net asset value of 20p per share, well above the current market price.
Great Western Mining Corporation (LON: GWMO) slipped 9.3%. The company ended June with €2.77 million of cash after a €1.14 million first-half cash outflow from operations and investment. A maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for the Defender tungsten project is expected in the coming months.
Gemfields (LON: GEM) fell 7.1% after lower-than-expected ruby recoveries weighed on its first-half performance. Group auction revenue rose to $102.8 million, helped by the timing of an auction, but the company expects a $73.5 million net loss after a $125.2 million impairment against its ruby operation.
For investors, the week showed a sharp split between companies delivering contract wins, improving earnings visibility or operational progress and those returning to the market for fresh capital. In that environment, balance-sheet strength and evidence of funded execution are likely to remain major differentiators across smaller UK-listed companies.
