BBC: Major US stocks see biggest losses since 2020 after Trump’s tariffs announcement. Trump announced 10% tariffs on most countries – including the UK – from Saturday, with higher rates on some of America’s biggest trading partners from 9 April.
Comment: Whether there will be a stock market “boom” as President Trump has suggested or not, the markets have collectively wet their pants, with even gold’s recent stellar run dented. The normal course of events in stock market shocks is that by end of the second day / beginning of the third, the bottom fishing comes in. That said, retaliatory tariffs could spoil such a scenario, as would a state of affairs where there is simply a tit for tat, or Mexican Standoff situation as far as the burgeoning trade wars.
CleanTech Lithium (CTL), a lithium exploration and development company operating in Chile, further to its announcement on 15 January 2025, provided an update regarding the Special Lithium Operating Contract (“CEOL”) application process for the Laguna Verde project. CTL said “”Clearly, the process is taking a little longer than we had initially anticipated but we look forward to the response when the Ministry has completed its review process.”
Comment: The good part of today’s news as far as CTL’s share price is that it has already more than factored in any delay / negative news. This should mean that when the CEOL comes in we should see a decent reaction.
Quantum Base (QUBE), the quantum science company focused on creating a new global standard in authentication, announced that the admission of its ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each to trading on the AIM Market will take place today. Admission follows the successful completion of a fundraising of £4.8 million.
Comment: Hallelujah, praise the Lord, the London stock market has a new entrant to make up for all the leavers. Even better QUBE is a tech focused company, and in raising nearly £5m has ensured that it has plenty of cash to not only fund the business but pay for the costs of being listed. The USP here is that the company is focused on creating a new global standard in authentication through its patented Q-ID solution; a near unbreakable and non-replicable authenticity tags that can be applied to a vast array of products, significantly mitigating counterfeiting.
GreenRoc Strategic Materials (GROC), a company focused on the development of critical mineral projects in Greenland, announced the launch of a new, interactive investor website. For both existing and prospective shareholders, the website brings all GreenRoc content into a single integrated platform to better inform and engage with investors and stakeholders.
Comment: It is interesting that companies are still launching new websites with the enthusiasm of the year 2000. All websites these days are interactive, just as in the way all mobile phones are smart. But then again, one would not want to curb anyone’s enthusiasm.
Bp (BP.) announced that the company’s board of directors has initiated a succession process to select a new Chair, after Helge Lund informed the board of his intention to step down in due course. The succession process is being led by Dame Amanda Blanc, in her capacity as Senior Independent Director, with support from the wider board.
Comment: The key to being a successful Chair / CEO of a leading blue chip company is that nothing bad happens on your watch, as bit like President Obama did during his tenure. Of course, it should be the case that with most large organisations even Coco The Clown could be placed at the helm and things should function normally, something we see both in the world of business and politics in a time of tokenism governing appointments.
Beowulf BEM) announced the final terms of its previously announced plan to conduct a capital raise comprising a conditional placing and subscription of 42,926,914 new ordinary shares of 5 pence each in the capital of the Company. BEM said “The Company has made significant progress across the portfolio over the last twelve months. Completing the PFS at the GAMP represents a major step forward in defining the technical and economic parameters of the project. Meanwhile at Kallak, we have substantially completed many of the workstreams required for both the PFS and the Environmental Permit application.”
Comment: Rather intriguingly, shares of BEM were up some 14%, despite yesterday’s carnage in the stock market as a whole. Clearly the GAMP PFS is something that the market believes will move BEM forward.
Kodal Minerals (KOD), the mineral exploration and development company, updated in relation to activities at the Bougouni Lithium Project, located in Southern Mali, including the status of the Mining Licence transfer and the ramp up of production. KOD said “I am pleased to confirm that the ramp-up and optimisation of the Project and DMS processing plant is progressing and, positively, we are seeing ongoing improvements through the modifications and adjustments to the DMS processing plant as advancements continues.”
Comment: KOD has proved itself to be a cut above analogous companies on the market, in both getting the funding, and moving to production. What is notable is how relatively speaking the investors have under-egged their enthusiasm for the company, given its achievements.
Narf Industries (NARF), a leading U.S.-based cybersecurity group specializing in advanced threat intelligence and software system security, provide an update on its progress in turning government-funded research into commercial products, integrating AI, and accelerating strategic growth through its Social Cyber product and emerging Software Supply Chain Security (SSCS) platform.
Comment: Although initial social media this morning might have been negative on today’s update from NARF, this perhaps does not take into account the fact that shares of the company have already been trading at record lows, so most bad news / delays are already assumed to be in the price.
THG (THG) announced the successful completion of its debt refinancing to 2029. As noted on 24 March 2025, THG has been undertaking a comprehensive refinancing exercise. To confirm, this includes: a partial Amend & Extend of the Term Loan B to extend the maturity of €445m to December 2029; a partial repayment of £74m of the Term Loan A and the remaining €155m of the TLB through a combination of cash on balance sheet and the Equity Contribution; and extending the maturity of the existing £150m RCF from May 2026 to May 2029.
Comment: While most of us who love the stock market wish as many companies as possible to say on it, THG may be one of the few where one really would be of the opinion that it should go private, given the torrid history thus far.
