The X Milestone
I can barely remember when I started tweeting on what was then known as Twitter, now X. Apparently, it was February 2009, and I started in that painful way all social media feeds start, with following some people, and hoping they would follow back.
In fact, what seems to be the key, is attempting to write / produce content that stands out from the crowd. This is not as easy as it may appear, especially with anything related to the stock market. There are dozens of people and sources of financial information, more by the day, and with no real barrier to entry apart from how great you say you are. Indeed, while I bemoan the used car salesman and cowboys in the financial services area, and PR / IR, what is interesting that they rarely get significant traction. Instead, they merely tell unsuspecting CEOs that they do.
Therefore, the past few weeks have been something of a lap of honour after 16 years of tweeting, to note that Zaks Traders Café is now neck and neck with the Investors Chronicle, still the bible of the stock market. Indeed, I was so proud to be able to write an article or two for the IC in the noughties. Presumably, 20 years later, I am not good enough anymore!
What is interesting is the type of people who write about / comment on the stock market these days. There are the commentators from the large investment houses / stockbrokers, who are quoted when the market or individual stocks do something special. There are the journalists who just tend to be factual, largely through a lack of knowledge, or just to play it safe. “BP produced record Q1 results, the shares were down 3%.” Obviously, I could fulfil both of these roles in my sleep. The third category, which is big on social media / fintwit, is the “successful” investor”. Or should I say, the alleged successful investor. One of the wonders of the way that X has developed is that we do have a handful of really good UK professional investors. I have met or messaged all of them. They are the rock stars of the small cap area, and I have learned a lot from following them over the years. If anyone wishes to know their handles, just in case they do not already know who I am referring to, just drop me an email, or DM @ZaksTradersCafe.
The AI Bubble
One of the issues with journalists writing about the stock market is that most of them really do not like the stock market, and especially the people in it. The assumption is of course that even in the 21st century it is occupied by posh, arrogant people, who make money all too easily by trading stocks and shares. Yes, you could almost say that there is a class war / socialism driven envy in there. This is typified by Gary Stevenson who described himself as “Inequality Economist. Former Trader. Other Economists make predictions, but my ones are actually right.” He studied at the LSE, so obviously is to the left of Karl Marx, which rather hamstrings you in understanding the way wealth works. Apart from taxing the rich until everyone is equally poor, his ideas are great. It is the same with most financial journalists. Their job is not an interesting one. They might as well be reporting on the opening of a supermarket, as what everyone wants to know on the stock market is what will happen next. This is the one thing they are unable to provide. Cue this week’s stories, in The Telegraph and beyond, that AI is in a bubble. It may turn out to be the case that this is merely a bump in the road (share price dips this week), or the end of the line. Whatever the case, like sex, bad news sells. If you listen to the ACF / ZaksTradersCafe weekly videocast, you will hear that while AI may not actually be as good as it is touted to be, it is actually further along the line that was expected even a couple of years ago. So the jury is still out.
Stocks Rising On News
The star of the show by some distance this week was Greatland Gold (GGP), oh I mean Wishbone Gold (WSBN). This is now seemingly generally accepted as being the next GGP, being just a hop, skip and a jump (15km) from where its rather large neighbour operates. All of this may suggest to some that WSBN’s £40m market cap is something of a bargain as compared to the company’s “big brother.” There are some points associated with this development. First is that I have not interviewed Chairman Richard Poulden for quite some time. It would be good to do so soon, if he is not too busy signing autographs, and generally soaking up the adulation of having a hot penny stock. What was interesting for me during the week with reference to the WSBN rebound is that despite the 6x rebound since the start of the year, and near 3x this week, there have been one or two grumpy observers of the situation. They have sought to remind us that while there has been a rebound of late, a lot of investors are still underwater. This seems unfair, and actually the trolling not helpful at all. One should rejoice whenever a minnow comes back from the brink, if only because it rarely happens.
Speaking of coming back from the brink, this would appear to be precisely what is happening with Cloudbreak Discovery (CDL). This company used to be a mining royalties – something fashionable a few years ago, until it did not really work. Now it would appear that CDL is going for being a straight gold mining company. This week the company announced that it was selling its US oil assets, raising £300k and said,“ The sale of these assets and the new funds raised will allow the Company to focus on its very exciting gold exploration activities in Western Australia at its new Darlot West gold project, where we recently announced some excellent gold grades from its initial exploration programme. Western Australia is a Tier-1 gold exploration jurisdiction, and we are focused as a Board to leverage off our exciting Darlot West assets to grow a portfolio of significant gold related projects in the state.” With a market cap of less tha £4m this sounds like this could be the next Wishbone Gold…
Mast Energy (MAST) has been busy spending the year ramping up its energy production capacity, this week mentioned the fully funded Hindlip 7.5 MW flexible generation power site. While the shares are already through the roof this year, up 22x, the added sizzle is the demand AI powered computing needs and how the services of MAST will fit into this demand. MAST was up another 100% this week.
For some reason I have been including Shield Therapeutics (STX) like a broken record in the Bulletin Board Heroes charting video. Given that the shares were up another 42% on the week, this was more than justified. The news to accompany this was that the commercial-stage pharmaceutical company specialising in iron deficiency, announcing its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2025. It reported a substantial increase in Group revenues, ACCRUFeR® prescription sales and average net selling price. The Company said it remains on track to achieve its prior guidance of turning cash flow positive by the end of 2025.
There was an almost identical share price rise for Alien Metals (UFO), as the minerals exploration and development company, reported that its joint venture partner, West Coast Silver Limited (ASX: WCE) revealed further outstanding assay results from the maiden diamond drill programme at the Elizabeth Hill Silver Project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. UFO looks like it will be another great turnaround story, as long as the share price is not hammered by too many fundraises.
At the other end of the scale in terms of market sentiment is Guardian Metal (GMET), where the Nevada focused tungsten group was able to reveal possibly one of the best RNS’s ever: that the family office of Stanley Druckenmiller, had bought out the holding of Power Metal (POW) in the company. Only Warren Buffet, George Soros, or god, would perhaps have been more significant. Shares of GMET were up another 37% this week, and up over 8x since they came to market a couple of years ago. One would guess that with Druckenmiller on board, we may only be at the foothills of what is to come.
It has been a rather volatile time since the start of the year for AI, data and marketing services group, Pri0r1ty Intelligence Group (PR1). The original manifestation was a little tight on cash, and understanding of the strategy. But courtesy of an acquisition (Halfspace), a little BTC Treasury Strategy, BTC integration, and almost everything else on the zeitgeist, there is a decent share price fightback. This week the company announced the launch of Metr1c, a brand partnerships and growth solutions agency at the intersection of data analytics, creativity and AI. PR1 said, “Metr1c is set to redefine how brands in entertainment use data and AI to grow revenues and engagement with fans, creating a bridge between sponsorship and digital advertising.” While most of us approaching 60 may not be fully au fait with the tech, it all sounds promising, especially the revenues part.
Although it may appear to be the case that Premier African (PREM) delivers fundraises more frequently than most people change their underwear, this is not the case. In the recent past the average time between cash calls has been between 1-2 months. So about the time that men living on their own change their bed sheets. The latest fundraise for the Zulu project, of £1.38m saw the market give the share price the thumbs up, by 30% over the past five sessions. Of course, Zulu has taken so long to get over the line, we may have a cure for cancer courtesy of Avacta (AVCT) by the time it does, that even CEO George Roach is leaving the party on August 31. It is hard to imagine the world of small caps without him.
I have been impressed by Defence Holdings (ALRT), if only on the basis that it is unique in its focus, as a defence technology platform. This week it announced announce that it has completed a binding Strategic Partnership with Whitespace Global Limited, a leading UK deep-technology company specialising in AI infrastructure for defence, national security, and regulated public sector operations. Obviously, this all sounds rather hush-hush. But in the world of defence, hush-hush is good. ALRT was up nearly 30% this week.
Also worth a mention as an improving situation is Cadence Minerals (KDNC). Last year an improved NPV for the flagship Amapa iron ore project in Brazil. This summer we are looking an significant cost reductions, something which has boosted the stock by some 20% this week, and 30% over the past month. The trigger for this has been a 36.7% mining cost production, something which really helps KDNC’s stake in the project.
Stocks Rising On No New News
As I often say, the stocks rising on no new news are the most interesting, as one assumes are well informed / inside trading, great gut feel, or more money than sense as far as companies that rise without the help of a RNS. This is particularly the case given that almost anyone who is a taxpayer in the UK is hardly going to be flush with cash. Therefore, to just buy shares off the back of no fresh news, when you could spend the money on say, food, petrol, council tax, children, the wife, or a couple of pints of lager, is quite a commitment. This has been illustrated at Mila (MILA), where the “post-discovery gold exploration accelerator” rose 57%, a month since the last RNS at the end of July, which referenced the company’s Phase 2 exploration programme that had commenced at its flagship Yarrol Gold Project in Queensland, Australia. Presumably, one or two Mila fans are expecting solid news from the company just round the corner.
The last time we heard from Tower Resources (TRP), the AIM-listed oil and gas company focused on Africa, was at the beginning of last month when it said it had agreed to expand its Bridge Loan by £250,000, from £500,000 to £750,000. This does not sound like it could set the world on fire. But it has been enough to cause a nearly 40% in the share price over the past week. Of course, given the recent example of Oracle Power (ORCP) one hopes this rise is not the prelude to a placing.
Ghana focused (tiny amount) of gold producer GoldStone Resources (GRL) managed a chunky 30% share price rise this week. This came after the AGM result earlier this month after which it was noted by GRL that a former Chairman of the Company, Bill Trew, disclosed certain confidential information regarding the Company, in relation to an offer received by the Board in April 2025, which had been unequivocally rejected by the Board for a number of reasons. Sometimes it really can be the case that the smaller the company, the greater the intrigue.
As far as BSF Enterprise (BSFA), an innovator in tissue-engineered materials, last month it announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Kerato Limited has signed an exclusive worldwide option agreement with Université de Montréal for the intellectual property supporting LiQD Cornea, a novel dropwise treatment for corneal damage (LiQD Cornea). This obviously has rather little to do with the BSFA’s day job in engineered tissues. That said, the shares were up 23% without new news.
There was a 22% rise in Distil (DIS) this week, a month after the premium drinks brands company announced that Ardgowan Distillery opened to the public on Friday 20 June, and celebrated its first casks having been filled. This was presumably by then unfilling them.
Finally, for this section, it is always satisfying when a new issue comes to market, and not only sees its shares hold steady, but actually rise. This is what we have been treated to at First Development Resources (FDR). The Australian focused exploration company with mineral interests in Western Australia and Australia’s Northern Territory, announce that the drilling platform and site access has been established, to facilitate the Company’s Phase I diamond drilling programme at its Wallal Project in the Paterson Province of Western Australia. We have an 11p technical target on the shares for by the end of next month. Oh yes, and another company which could be the new GGP!
You May Have Missed
Given that presumably everyone and their month is away / out of the country this Bank Holiday weekend, trying to enjoy the last part of the summer ahead of being hammered in the budget, one would guess that not everyone is fully in tune with or wants to be regarding the stock market. But there were some bits and bobs. For instance, ACG Metals (ACG) received one of the better accolades, as Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation has initiated equity research coverage on the company with a “Buy (Speculative)” rating and a 900p price target versus the current 647.5p. “This recognition reflects growing international interest in our strategy and the quality of our first asset,” said Artem Volynets, Chief Executive Officer of ACG Metals.
One of the big needs in the market given all the BTC and ETH Treasury Strategy companies is advisory and skills in the space. Enter the likes of Appold, which has been hired by Catenai (CPAI), as well as part of the remit of NYCE (AQUIS:NYCE), operating as a premier marketplace for gaming technology and services. Last month it branched out via a new Crypto advisory arm, “primarily focused around the iGaming industry. Advisory areas include but are not limited to strategy, product design, infrastructure, content and tokenomics.” This week the company announced a £150,000 fundraise, with the CEO leading from the front in the funding exercise.
Finally, I do know quite a few people in the public markets, largely because I have interviewed quite a big chunk of them over the years. That said, for private companies my Rolodex is not quite so extensive. But news from BritNRG did catch the eye. Here I am familiar with Executive Director, CEO Pierpaolo Rocco (having previously interviewed him) and other directors at the energy producer and energy services provider. It was also pleasing to see Craig Heeley being appointed as Senior Independent Director of group company, EOS Energies. Having known Craig for a number of years, it can be said he is very much a force of nature for anyone he works with, be it as current co-treasurer of the Conservative Party, or an International Advisor to Hamilton Reserve Bank. I wish him all the best at BritNRG, a company in a space which as we are in an era of Net Zero, is very much in focus. It is also regulated by the North Sea Transit Authority, an organisation recently in the headlines with reference to EnergyPathways (EPP), and its gas storage license application.
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.
