Quantum Blockchain Technologies (LON: QBT) reports that its predictive Bitcoin Artificial Intelligence model mining tool, Method C, has been implemented on hardware. The performance increased from 30% to 50% at lower mining difficulty. Method C can predict an input to the core algorithm to produce a winning hash. A patent application will be filed. The share price increased 18.5% to 0.8p.
Digital advertising services provider Silver Bullet Data Services (LON: SBDS) achieved record monthly revenues in September and it is on course to be EBITDA positive from October. A new working capital facility will help to finance growth. It is initially £2m but can increase to £4m depending on eligible receivables. The share price rose 14.1% to 52.5p.
Subsea equipment rental company Ashtead Technology Holdings (LON: AT.) is acquiring subsea electronics and tooling rental companies Seatronics and J2 Subsea for £63m in cash. They generate annualised revenues of £51.5m and operating profit of £9m. Ashtead Technology’s revolving credit facility will be increased by £70m. The deal increases the capability in the rental of survey and robotics equipment. There will be mid-to-high single digit earnings enhancement in the first full year. The share price is 9.85% higher at 596.5p.
Ariana Resources (LON: AAU) has reviewed the data for the Dokwe gold project in Zimbabwe. There are several zones of potential extensions to mineralisation. There are also gold-in-soil anomalies to follow up and drilling is planned. The in-pit resource is 1.2moz in two open pits at Dokwe Central and Dokwe North. Measured and indicated resources are 30Mt at 1.3g/t gold. Ariana Resources believes there could be annual production of up to 100,000 ounces of gold for up to 15 years. A revision of the pre-feasibility study is underway. The share price improved 6.38% to 2.5p.
Construction products supplier Alumasc (LON: ALU) announced at its AGM that trading is in line with expectations, and it continues to outperform the sector. Overall demand remains weak, but management is confident that Alumasc will continue to grow. Operational efficiencies will help to improve margins. Pre-tax profit is forecast to improve from £13m to £14.2m. The share price is 4.83% ahead at 271.5p.
FALLERS
Global Petroleum (LON: GBP) says Zhizhu Yu has resigned from the board after she was declared bankrupt on 21 October. The share price dipped 11.3% to 0.215p.
Specialist recruitment firm Gattaca (LON: GATC) reported an underlying 2023-24 pre-tax profit decline from £3.7m to £2.9m on 5% lower net fee income of £40.1m. There was a 3% increase in net fee income for contract work, but permanent income dropped by one-third. Despite the decline, Gattaca is gaining market share. Costs have been reduced and the US business has been sold. There could be a modest improvement in profit this year. The share price is 6.74% lower at 83p.
Aura Energy (LON: AURA) has updated its production target for the Tiris uranium project by 44% to 43.5Mlbs and the mine life to 25 years. Life of mine post tax cash flows are estimated to be $1.5bn, while NPV8 is $499m. The share price fell 5.26% to 9p.
ECR Minerals (LON: ECR) has been analysing rock chip samples from the Lolworth project in Queensland and there are some high grades of gold and silver identified. Trenching has identified broader zones of gold mineralisation and there are also newly discovered gold-bearing veins. The share price has slipped 4% to 0.3p.
Ex-dividends
Sanderson Design Group (LON:SDG) is paying an interim dividend of 0.5p/share and the share price is unchanged at 67.5p.
Serica Energy (LON: SQZ) is paying an interim dividend of 9p/share and the share price declined 8.7p to 134.8p.
FW Thorpe (LON: TFW) is paying a final dividend of 5.08p/share and the share price slumped 15p to 299p.
Touchstar (LON: TST) is paying an interim dividend of 1.5p/share and the share price fell 2.5p to 105p.