Ocado Group PLC (LON: OCDO) have seen their shares sink on Monday morning, after the firm announced a bond issue following a week of positive news.

Ocado had seen its shares in green over the last few days, as the firm had reported that it was set to open a robotic warehouse in Bristol.

Additionally, the firm saw its share spike further following an announcement that the firm had struck a deal with Aeon to implement its robotic warehouse.

However, shareholders have seen their shares sink as the firm announced its plans to fund these projects.

The FTSE 100 listed firm announced announced a £500m bond issue as it seeks cash to fund tech arm Ocado Solutions’ commitments.

The company added that the guaranteed senior unsecured convertible bonds, which are due in 2025 re expected to carry a coupon of between 0.75 per cent and 1.25 per cent a year.

Ocado uses robot technology in its customer fulfilment centres (CFCs) to automate many processes.

It said it would supply Aeon with CFCs and end-to-end software applications to serve millions of customers across Japan.

The full terms of the deal with Aeon have not be disclosed as of yet, but it seems that Ocado have had to find a way to raise funds for these projects.

The offering comes after Ocado had been in the news having agreed deals with rivals such as US firm Kroger and high street retailer Marks and Spencer.

On Ocado Retail, the group also announced that it expected revenue growth of 10-11 per cent, with growth in orders including those for Ocado Zoom slightly higher than retail revenue growth.

Ocado have not been hit by the apparent slump that competitors such as Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury have been hit by, however after a positive week for the online grocery retailer this will leave a sour taste.

Shares of Ocado sunk 7.4% on Monday morning, trading at 1,228p. 2/12/19 10:53BST.

Four in ten SME owners believe that they are currently going through the most unstable period they’ve ever experienced as a business owner. The findings were revealed in a study of 500 business owners, commissioned by Xero, as part of a report which explores the future of small businesses. According to the report, 54% of owners believe that the biggest threat to small businesses is receiving payments late. Tax rates came next, and the prevailing uncertainty surrounding Brexit came third. The nation was supposed to depart from the European Union at the end of October, but it was granted yet another extension to its departure deadline. Uncertainty prevails among the UK’s political climate as parties prepare for a general election later on this month. The report found that other challenges include the cost of staff recruitment, maintaining or increasing levels of productivity and cyber attacks. “The ways small businesses work now are dramatically different from the 1980s when the first personal computers arrived,” Gary Turner, MD and co-founder of Xero, said. “But business needs to adapt to greater changes coming their way,” Gary Turner continued. “New technologies will hasten a far greater consciousness towards the biggest killer of small businesses.” “Cash flow problems will decline as instant payment technologies take root as a cultural norm.” Gerd Leonard, business futurist and contributor to the report, added: “Humanity will change more in the next 20 years than in the previous 300.” “We will see the biggest technological transformation in human history – impacting where, how and why we work,” Gerd Leonard said. “Automation is reducing the need for humans to undertake routine tasks and the world of work is heading towards a dramatic reset.” “Everything we assume about work, jobs, training and education is being challenged by exponential scientific and technological progress.” “Whether you’re a small business owner, an accountant, bookkeeper or advisor, these emerging trends will affect you very soon.”

Botswana Diamonds PLC (LON: BOD) and Vast Resources PLC (LON: VAST) have announced a deal to replace the Heritage concession agreement between the two firms.

Botswana Diamonds PLC is a diamond exploration and project development company that holds exploration licenses in Botswana and South Africa.

Vast Resources is focussed on the rapid transformation from exploration company to mining company and delivering multiple revenue streams.

This will be driven by the advancement of its two primary value drivers, the Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine in Romania, and the Chiadzwa Community Concession in Zimbabwe, into near term production.

As a result of the announcement, both firms saw their shares in red.

Shares of Botswana Diamonds fell 1.7% to trade at 0.81p, whilst Vast Resources slipped 3.52% to 0.32p. 29/11/19 13:43BST.

In October 2018, Botswana Diamonds concluded an agreement with Vast to develop Vast’s Heritage concessions in Zimbabwe’s Marange diamond fields. At that time, it was decided that a separate agreement would be reached covering joint development of diamond properties outside the Marange fields.

After this, Vast entered a joint venture with Chiadzwa Mineral Resources Private Ltd which covered the Chiadzwa Community diamond concession, also located in the Marange fields.

A new company, Katanga Mining Private Ltd (TSE: KAT), was created in order to operate the Chiadzwa joint venture. Katanga is intended to conclude a joint venture agreement with Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Co for the exploration and mining of the Chiadzwa concession and the marketing of diamonds from the operation.

The new agreement outlines the formation of a new company which holds the interest of Vast Resources,the Chiadzwa Community joint venture and Katanga.

Additionally, the agreement expresses the intent to issue new shares representing 2.5% of the newly formed company to Botswana Diamonds once the detailed agreement between Katanga and Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Co becomes effective.

Botswana Diamonds Chair John Teeling said: “Zimbabwe is opening up to investment. The country is rich in resources and has significant diamond potential. Vast Resources is at an advanced stage in finalising an agreement with the Central Authorities on a package of ground in the Chiadzwa / Marange area. This is a revised package from that on which Botswana Diamonds and Vast Resources had previously agreed to cooperate. In the light of this development, our previous agreement with Vast has been revised on new terms acceptable to the board.

“We look forward to the diamond agreement being concluded and to work starting on what is highly prospective ground. Botswana Diamonds is also studying additional opportunities in Zimbabwe.”

In the mineral and mining sector, there have been updates as firms have been busy. Antofagasta (LON: ANTO) and Hochschild Mining (LON: HOC) have seen their shares in red after their respective announcements.

Firms in the industry such as Thor Mining (LON: THR) Amur Minerals (LON: AMC) who made share placing announcements a fortnight ago, in order to raise funds for new discovery operations.

Both Santander (LON: BNC) and HSBC (LON: HSBA) have been ordered to issue refunds to customers after the global banks broke watchdog orders.

Shares of Santander trade at 304p (-0.066%), whilst HSBC shares are trading at 578p. (-0.33%) 29/11/19 13:10BST.

Both banks have experienced different trading periods over the last few months.

HSBC fell victim to the global banking decline in a similar fashion to Lloyds (LON: LLOY) where both firms experienced a decline in third quarter profits.

Santander however, have seen shares rise after the firm invested into trade and foreign exchange facility Ebury.

Britain’s competition watchdog said that the firms had broke a legal order that ensures customers receive text alerts before banks before banks charge them for going into an unarranged overdraft.

HSBC was found to have broken a part of the Competition and Market Authority’s (CMA) Retail Banking Market Investigation Order twice and is refunding 8 million pounds to 115,000 customers, the CMA said on Friday.

Santander broke the order six times and has agreed to issue a refund, but has yet to confirm the number of customers affected and how much it will refund, the watchdog added.

The CMA told the market that the breaches first occurred in February 2018, and the refunds paid by the banks will cover all fees incurred by customers.

The watchdog said it was also directing HSBC and Santander to do an independent check of their compliance with the legal order between February 2018 and December 2019, to send the text alerts on time.

The order came into full force in 2018m after the CMA identified a number of problems in personal current accounts and small- and medium-sized enterprise banking markets.

Both these banks will be put into the bad media spotlight following the investigation, and certainly the firms will have to recover in order to ensure that the media puts them back in favorable light. Notably, the CEO of Westpac Banking Corp in Australia (ASX: WBC) was forced to resign following a scandal allegation involving money laundering.

ADES International Holding PLC (LON: ADES) shares have been boosted on Friday afternoon after the firm maintained its 2019 expectations, which came as a relief to shareholders.

ADES International Holding extends oil and gas drilling and production services through its subsidiaries and is a leading service provider in the Middle East and North Africa, offering onshore and offshore contract drilling as well as work over and production services.

ADES shares received a boost of 2.88% to $12.50 on Friday afternoon. 29/11/19 12:39BST.

In the gas and oil sector, the industry has been hit by internal and external shocks.

Firms such as Antofagasta (LON: ANTO) who are a FTSE100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) listed mining company, have seen their shares crash following political hostility.

Additionally, firms such as Bluejay Mining (LON: JAY) and Thor Mining (LON: THR) have switched to share placing plans in order to raise funds to expand capital projects.

For the three months to the end of September, the Middle East & North Africa-focused oil & gas services provider reported revenue of $121.8 million, more than doubled from $47 million a year before.

The nine month period also saw revenue double from $127 million to $341.7 million.

Profit margins in the quarter were in line with the first half as well, which appeased shareholders which was reflected in the share price movement this morning.

“ADES’ year-to-date performance remains in line with the trends witnessed during the first half of the year. Thanks to optimal utilisation rates and the growing contribution of recently acquired rigs, we continue to deliver significant top-line growth. Our expectations for 2019 are unchanged,” said Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Farouk.

“Overall, I am very pleased with the progress we are making against our strategic objectives and expect the benefits of the recent acquisitions to be more clearly reflected in 2020 as we continue to work towards realizing synergies. ADES is well-positioned to meet future growth opportunities and generate ever greater value for shareholders,” Farouk added.