London’s FTSE 100 ended Friday marginally higher as strong gains for AstraZeneca and BT Group offset heavy losses in NatWest and technology-related stocks, while Wall Street suffered a sharp sell-off amid growing concerns over the cost of artificial intelligence investment.
The FTSE 100 closed 7.71 points higher, up 0.1%, at 10,729.78, after a volatile session in which the blue-chip index moved repeatedly between positive and negative territory. The broader UK market performed less favourably, with the FTSE 250 falling 220.80 points, or 0.9%, to 24,453.36, while the AIM All-Share declined 1.4% to 753.08.
Despite Friday’s weakness among smaller companies, the FTSE 100 gained 0.4% over the week, while both the FTSE 250 and AIM All-Share recorded weekly advances of 0.9%.
Energy B (LON: NRGB) led the gainers, climbing 19%, after investor David Lenigas increased his shareholding through several market purchases. Lenigas acquired 30,000 shares at 16.5p, 50,000 shares at 15p and a further 65,000 shares at an average of 14.1p, representing a combined investment of approximately £21,165 across 145,000 shares.
Ethtry (LON: ETHY) rose 17% after acquiring the remaining 10% interest in McKean Natural Gas Company for $300,000, securing full ownership of the business. McKean holds deep natural gas rights in Pennsylvania, where existing pipeline infrastructure could support plans to generate electricity for a data centre development.
Uranium exploration company Reveille Resources (LON: REV) gained 5.56% to 16.625p following admission of its shares to the OTCID quotation market in the United States. The move provides an additional trading venue for US investors without issuing new shares or changing the company’s existing Aquis listing.
Shepherd Neame (LON: SHEP) advanced 1.13% to 446p after announcing plans to invest £15 million over three years in modernising its Faversham brewery. The brewer intends to reduce its reliance on larger third-party brewing contracts, including the Singha agreement, which ends next April and is expected to remove approximately £10.3 million in annual revenue. The investment will be partly funded through property disposals, with management expecting improved operational efficiency to help offset lower revenue.
Catalyst Media (LON: CMX) rose 5.88% after confirming that it will receive a £1.54 million dividend from Sports Information Services (SIS), in which it holds a 20.5% interest. The payment represents a substantial increase from the £354,000 dividend received last year and is expected to lift Catalyst Media’s cash balance to approximately £1.89 million. The company indicated that it will announce its own dividend arrangements alongside its annual results for the year ended June 2026, raising expectations of a potential shareholder distribution.
Kazera Global (LON: KZG) advanced 5.45% after its Chief Executive purchased an initial 2.13 million shares at 1.4p each, representing an investment of approximately £29,820. The director’s purchase attracted investor interest as the company continues developing its mineral resource interests.
Ariana Resources (LON: AAU) gained 3.85% following encouraging progress at its flagship Dokwe Gold Project in Zimbabwe. The company has advanced several technical workstreams supporting the project’s feasibility study, with recent drilling identifying potential extensions to gold mineralisation at Dokwe North.
This weeks fallers
Eight Capital Partners (LON: ECP) was the session’s biggest faller, plunging 28% following publication of its interim results. Revenue declined to £37,000 from £70,000, although the company recorded investment income of £1.25 million, compared with a £1.19 million foreign exchange gain in the corresponding period. Pre-tax profit remained broadly unchanged at £904,000, while net assets stood at £36.8 million at the end of June 2026, including an SFE Bond valued at £33.6 million.
IntelliAM AI (AQSE: INT) fell 13% as the industrial analytics company prepared to transfer its listing from Aquis to AIM during November. The business has raised £6.4 million at 70p per share, including £169,000 through a retail offer, to support its next stage of development.
Ubuntu Mining and Metals (AQSE: UNTU) declined 12.5% after confirming delays in obtaining mining licences for the Dilotiko Iron Ore Project in Kenya, in which it holds a 25% interest. Management continues working through the regulatory process while assessing additional iron ore investment opportunities elsewhere in Africa.
Coinsilium (LON: COIN) dropped 9.52% despite reporting progress across its investment portfolio. Yellow Network is increasing trading activity on the XRP Ledger, while AI-powered advertising and content production platform BeatingHeart remains on track for a public launch by early December. The company also confirmed that Wayne Almeida will move from Non-Executive to Executive Director, bringing more than 20 years of experience in Gibraltar’s financial services industry.
Ajax Resources (LON: AJAX) fell 9.37% after appointing Temeraire Partners as its broker and issuing 1.39 million warrants exercisable at 8p each. The company also issued shares at 8p to settle approximately £75,000 owed to creditors, reducing outstanding liabilities through an equity transaction.
Wishbone Gold (LON: WSBN) declined 9.09% after announcing plans to raise £500,000 at 9p per share. The proceeds are intended to fund drilling at the Red Setter gold-copper project in Western Australia.
Valereum (LON: VLRM) declined 5.56% before trading was suspended, following the resignation of Guild Financial Advisory as the company’s corporate adviser. Guild has notified Aquis Regulation of its decision, with the suspension following the disclosure of information about the resignation before the formal announcement.
