Ascent Resources (LON: AST) says the arbitration tribunal for its Energy Charter Treaty claim against the Republic of Slovenia has no further questions and it has to announce its award decision by the end of the first quarter of 2026. The share price jumped 58.3% to 0.475p, having been around 0.575p earlier in the day.
Digital finance hub Tap Global Group (LON: TAP) says revenues were 30% higher at around £3.44m in the year to June 2025. There will be £420,000 of other income from the recovery of Bitcoin. This will enable the company to be EBITDA positive this year, excluding costs of the move to AIM. The share price rebounded 42.9% to 2p.
Capital equipment supplier Mpac (LON: MPAC) has gained orders in the second half, but North America remains subdued as companies are cautious about investing with the current uncertainties about US tariffs and he economy. The interims were flagged in the summer and were in line with expectations. Revenues were 41% ahead at £84m, but that was because of the contribution of last year’s acquisition CSi Palletising. Like-for-like revenues fell by one-fifth. Underlying pe-tax profit was one-quarter higher at £5m, but earnings declined by one-fifth because of shares issued for last year’s acquisitions. That does not include a large write-off relating to consolidation of US operations. Net debt was £43.2m and should come down in the second half. The latest orders mean that Mpac is on course to achieve expected full year pre-tax profit of £13.5m. The share price increased 6.84% to 312.5p.
Legal services provider Keystone Law (LON: KEYS) added 30 additional lawyers during the first half and trading is ahead of expectations. Interim revenues increased from £46.5m to £54.2m, while underlying pre-tax profit is one-fifth ahead at £7.3m. The interim dividend was raised 21% to 7.5p/share. Net cash was £6.5m at the end of July 2025, following payment of a special dividend. Panmure Liberum has raised its upgraded its 2025-26 earnings forecast by 13% to 33.1p/share. There have also been upgrades for other years. The share price is 5.77% higher at 660p.
Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB1) had a strong fist half adding more advisers to the network and the average income from each adviser rising. Market share rose from 5.4% to 6%. Interim revenues were one-fifth higher at £148.2m, while underlying pre-tax profit improved 18% to £14.5m. The dividend has been reduced from 13.4p/share to 7.2p/share and this will provide additional funding for expansion. A move to the Main Market is planned for next year. Trading continues to be strong in the second half. The share price rose 8.09% to 735p.
GB Group (LON: GBG) expects to move to the Main Market on 30 October. Trading is in line with expectations. The share price improved 3.39% to 229p.
FALLERS
Market research services provider System1 Group (LON: SYS1) says trading conditions are becoming more difficult with major customers spending less. Currency movements have also hit revenues. First half revenues are likely to be 5% lower and Canaccord Genuity has cut the full year revenues forecast from £42.9m to £37m and next year’s figure from £50.2m to £39.1m. This means that full year pre-tax profit is likely to drop from £5.2m to £2.1m, before a potential recovery to £2.7m next year. The share price slumped 34.5% to 262p.
North America continues to be a drag on the performance of media investment analysis provider Ebiquity (LON: EBQ). Clients there are cautious about advertising spending. There is growth outside of North America. Forecast full year revenues have been trimmed by 7% to £74.5m and pre-tax profit slashed by 90% to £500,000. There was £8.9m in cash at the end of June 2025. The share price dived 23% to 14.25p.
Measurement technology developer Transense Technologies (LON: KOO) increased full year revenues by one-third to £5.55m, while pre-tax profit was 8% higher at £1.55m. Net cash was £1.1m at the end of June 2025. There will be a 40% reduction in iTrack royalties this year. Revenues should rise, but the margin will be lower. Pre-tax is forecast to decline to £1.3m, but cash should improve to £1.8m. The share price slipped 8.23% to 111.5p.
Gold explorer Oriole Resources (LON: ORR) has completed phase 1 drilling at 90% owned Mbe gold project and 344 gold mineralisation zones were reported. A maiden pit-constrained JORC mineral resource estimate is being prepared for the MB01-S target. There was £530,000 in cash at the end of June 2025, and it has subsequently improved to £680,000. The share price declined 8% to 0.3475p.