FTSE 100 gains on hopes of a Middle East peace deal

The FTSE 100 was higher on Friday as hopes of a peace deal between Iran and the US boosted sentiment going into the bank holiday weekend.

But we’ve been here before and traders didn’t get ahead of themselves with the FTSE 100 adding just 0.5% as of the time of writing.

“The market, having been burned before, is not getting too carried away on speculation about a US-Iran peace deal but the reports did lead to a higher open on Friday,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

“Brent crude oil prices remain choppy amid claims and counterclaims between Washington and Tehran. Any deal will not restore a pre-war situation overnight, as fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz and getting regional energy infrastructure back on stream will take months.”

Oil remaining above $100 will act as a warning signal to equity investors not to get overly excited.

Bond yields were another detractor from any enthusiasm about a deal between the US and Iran, with the US 10-year hovering around 4.5%.

“Government bond yields remain elevated to reflect ongoing fears about the inflationary pressures unleashed by the situation in the Middle East, with gilts affected by weak UK retail sales and higher than expected government borrowing,” Russ Mould said.

“Miners, retailers, travel stocks and housebuilders were among those to make gains in London, while energy stocks and defensive sectors were on the back foot. This follows a pattern which has become familiar since the conflict started and hopes for a resolution have waxed and waned. Separately, data and software groups bounced back from the latest bout of AI disruption jitters.”

The lion’s share of FTSE 100 companies were higher on Friday as most sectors enjoyed an uptick in sentiment.

Croda was the FTSE 100’s top riser, with a 3.9% gain. A trading statement highlighted rising revenues and profits, helping boost Games Workshop, which added 3.5%.

ConvaTec was at the bottom of the leaderboard after Barclays and JP Morgan slashed their price targets on the stock.

How Forex Robot Platform Supports Data‑Driven Forex Trading Decisions

Currency trading now moves at a pace that leaves little room for instinct alone. In many cases, success depends less on bold predictions and more on disciplined execution backed by data. Through structured analysis, traders can stay more consistent in a market where conditions change quickly and timing often matters.

The global foreign exchange market operates 24 hours a day and constantly produces new information, including price movements, economic releases and breaking news. For one person, keeping up with that flow can be difficult.

Fatigue, distraction and information overload are common challenges. Trading often requires more than simple market access. You need a system that can process available data and act without the emotional bias that can affect manual decisions. With the right structure, you can apply strategies that would be hard to manage on your own.

The Evolution of Systematic Trading

Traditional trading methods often rely on subjective judgment, which can break down during periods of volatility. Hesitation, rushed entries or impulsive exits are common when markets move sharply. Systematic trading takes a different route. It uses predefined rules to enter and exit positions based on technical or fundamental triggers.

When you move from manual oversight to algorithmic execution, much of the psychological pressure is reduced. Instead of constantly second-guessing yourself, trades are executed according to the model you created and tested. By prioritising objective data over gut feeling, you create a framework that may hold up better against short-term market noise.

Overcoming the Human Element

For many traders, psychology remains one of the biggest barriers to long-term consistency. Fear can cause early exits, while hope can keep losing positions open for too long. These reactions often damage otherwise sound strategies.

Automation can act as a neutral decision-maker. It executes orders exactly as programmed, regardless of stress or excitement. That means the risk controls you set during planning are more likely to remain in place during live conditions. You become the designer of the strategy rather than the person reacting emotionally to every price tick.

Scaling Through Sophisticated Infrastructure

Meaningful market opportunities rarely come from one indicator alone. They often require several data points across multiple timeframes and regions. When using a forex robot platform, you can test strategies against years of historical data before risking real capital.

That creates a practical testing ground for adjusting entry rules, stop-loss levels and trade filters. It also helps you understand how a strategy may behave in changing economic environments. Rather than relying on assumptions, you can use measurable evidence to refine your approach.

Enhancing Execution Speed and Accuracy

In fast-moving markets, the delay between spotting an opportunity and placing an order can matter. A few seconds may change the entry price or remove the setup entirely. Algorithmic systems can react far faster than manual input, placing trades as soon as predefined conditions are met.

You are no longer tied to a screen waiting for a candle to close or a headline to break. By automating the move from signal to execution, you reduce the mental strain that often leads to hesitation during volatile sessions.

This can be especially useful for strategies such as:

  • Scalping: Targeting small price movements over short periods.
  • Arbitrage: Using price differences for the same asset across venues.
  • Trend Following: Holding positions that move with longer-term momentum.
  • Mean Reversion: Identifying when the price has moved too far from historical averages.

Removing manual lag may also reduce slippage, the gap between the expected trade price and the executed price. Just as importantly, it helps preserve the logic of the original trading plan.

Integrating Resilient Risk Frameworks

Long-term success in trading usually depends not on any individual win but on risk management. There are automated systems that can incorporate boundaries to protect your account, for instance, by using position sizing based on volatility and stop-losses to avoid major risks from a move against your position.

Certain automated systems also allow the use of correlation filters to prevent overexposure to correlated instruments during stressful market events. This is important because sometimes several positions may seem diverse, yet in reality, they will behave similarly, as they will all respond to the same trend.

Thanks to this system of boundary checks, you will be able to focus on the strategy’s overall performance rather than getting distracted by every minor fluctuation in its outcomes. The metrics you need to pay attention to include the drawdown level and the strategy’s consistency.

A More Analytical Approach

Technology does not remove uncertainty from currency markets, but it can improve how traders respond to it. Structured systems replace many emotional reactions with repeatable processes, helping traders stay aligned with their original plan.

In a market shaped by speed, global news and constant change, disciplined execution has become increasingly valuable. For many participants, that is where automation now plays its most practical role.

Tekcapital launches geothermal AI data centre portfolio company

Tekcapital has formed its fifth portfolio company, Vesari Inc, to acquire and commercialise generative AI intellectual property focused on geothermal-powered hyperscale data centres.

It makes Tekcapital one of the only AIM-listed companies with direct exposure to the booming AI infrastructure industry.

The US-incorporated business was launched on the premise that reliable, scalable power, rather than chip supply, is the primary constraint on AI infrastructure growth.

The company is setting about establishing data centre campuses powered by geothermal sources to alleviate the power bottleneck and meet the burgeoning demand for AI compute.

With data centres already accounting for an estimated 4-5% of US electricity use and grid connection queues in major markets often exceeding five years, Vesari intends to co-locate AI compute directly alongside geothermal generation in a behind-the-meter configuration that runs independently of the grid.

The model would rely on low-Earth-orbit satellite connectivity rather than terrestrial fibre, and is designed to deliver round-the-clock, carbon-free baseload compute without adding to public grids.

Tekcapital said 11 patents address inefficiencies in converting geothermal energy into scalable compute, with a prototype architecture that integrates power generation, cooling, compute orchestration and monetisation into a single closed-loop system.

Louis Castro, Director of Tekcapital, said: “We are delighted to announce the formation of Vesari which has been created to address what we believe is becoming the defining constraint on the AI economy, not semiconductors, but power.”

“By co-locating AI compute directly with geothermal power generation, behind the meter, and connecting it via LEO satellites, we believe, that if successful, Vesari can enable more efficient, 24/7 carbon-free compute capacity. This resource will largely be insulated from grid constraints, power price volatility and should not impact the cost of electricity to individuals, communities and municipalities.”

Games Workshop revenue set to rise with profits flat

Games Workshop has flagged another year of growth, with the Warhammer maker estimating core revenue of not less than £625 million for the 52 weeks ending 31 May 2026, up from £565.0 million the previous year.

Licensing revenue is expected to be at least £30 million, down sharply from the £52.5 million recorded in 2024/25. The Company estimates profit before taxation of not less than £265 million, edging ahead of the £262.8 million reported last year.

The figures point to continued strength in Games Workshop’s core business, with the fall in licensing income, often lumpy from year to year as deals are signed and recognised, the main drag on the wider profit growth picture.

Games Workshop has signed an agreement with Amazon for the production of films and television, which should boost revenue as they are delivered.

VCT fundraising edges higher as SEIS investment rises 14%

The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) has emerged as a winner from changes to investment schemes designed to incentivise investment in early-stage start-ups, with the amount companies raised through SEIS rising 14% in 2024/25.

Venture Capital Trusts raised £881 million through new share issues in 2024/25, a slight rise on the £872 million secured the previous year. Fundraising through VCTs has now more than doubled since 2009/10.

The number of VCT investors claiming income tax relief fell 8% over the year to 22,430, though they claimed relief on £825 million of investment.

The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) saw 3,735 companies raise almost £1.6 billion in 2024/25, while 2,430 companies raised £276 million under the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme.

A total of 33,220 investors claimed income tax relief on EIS investments over the year, with a further 11,200 claiming relief under the SEIS.

SEIS is designed to support the UK’s earliest companies, providing investors 50% income tax relief on the money they invest, among other benefits, to reflect the inherent risk of investing in early stage firms.

“The 2024/25 tax year was a relatively strong year for venture capital fundraising, but Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) and Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS) suffered to some extent from higher interest rates on offer elsewhere and a decline from the post-pandemic peak of interest,” said Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at AJ Bell.

“Higher limits introduced for Seed Enterprise Investment Schemes (SEIS) also diverted some money from EISs to SEISs.

“VCTs, EISs and SEISs aren’t right for every investor, so before you take the plunge you need to appreciate the nature of the investment and the level of risk involved. In the case of VCTs, with some investment platforms this could mean completing a test to ensure you understand what you’re getting into. In the case of EISs or SEISs, investing may involve going through specialist venture capital platforms.

“It’s also vital not to jump into anything purely for the tax breaks. The tax treatment is a generous bonus, but should never be your reason for investing.”

RUA Life Sciences expects improved EBITDA as revenues rise

RUA Life Sciences, the medical device business built around the long-term implantable biostable polymer Elast-Eon, has issued a trading update for the six months to 31 March 2026, saying it expects to report revenue growth of around 6%, rising from £2.6m to £2.8m.

The UK-based contract development and manufacturing business was the key driver of growth with revenues rising 32% to £1.3m on the back of new development contracts, while the biomaterials business rose 41% to £0.5m, partly reflecting historical royalty underpayments uncovered during a licensee audit.

These gains were partially offset by the Abiss group, where a major customer reduced its inventory position, resulting in an anticipated 23% fall to £1.0m despite 3% growth in direct own-product sales.

Gross margin is expected to edge up from 74% to 75%, while continued cost discipline should cut administrative costs 8% from £2.5m to £2.3m.

Notably, RUA anticipates reaching EBITDA breakeven for the period on an adjusted basis, an improvement of around £0.4m year on year.

The first half is traditionally working capital intensive, and the business consumed £0.9m over the period, leaving cash of £2.4m at 31 March 2026; this is expected to normalise in the second half as accrued income is billed and R&D tax credits are received.

Bill Brown, CEO of RUA Life Sciences, said: “RUA has achieved a great deal over the past two years with the development of the CDMO business, funding of RUA Structural Heart and the acquisition of Abiss. Despite lower trading levels over the past six months, Abiss remains a major opportunity, to not only deepen relationships with customers but develop independently to commercialise its own product base.”

The RUA Structural Heart unit recently raised £3m through a convertible note issuance, so one would expect this to power the top line in the coming periods.

Zinc Media Group acquires Qatar-based events group

Zinc Media Group plc, the award-winning content, IP, brand and event production group, has agreed to acquire William Martin Qatar LLC, trading as WMP Qatar, a leading event production business, for an initial net consideration of £0.4m satisfied through the issue of new ordinary shares.

Founded in 2010, WMP Qatar is an award-winning creative agency specialising in events, film and design production across the Middle East, serving a loyal blue-chip client base across science and technology, education, healthcare and government.

In the year ended 31 December 2025, the business generated revenue of £3.3m, profit before tax of £0.3m and net assets of £0.5m, with net profits averaging £0.4m per annum over the past five years. It is forecast to deliver £3.4m in revenue and £0.3m profit before tax in 2026.

Zinc said that the acquisition is highly complementary to Zinc Media’s existing Qatar operations, which trade as The Edge, Qatar. Zinc recently made the final payment for The Edge, another acquisition.

Maximum consideration is up to £1.12m on a cash-free, debt-free basis, payable to William Martin Ltd. This comprises initial consideration of £0.4m in new ordinary shares, plus contingent consideration of up to £0.75m linked to EBIT targets in FY26 and FY27.

Zinc Media recently posted a 28% increase in revenue and 27% increase in EBITDA for the year ended 31st December.

FTSE 100 falls as oil prices spike to $107

The FTSE 100 was weaker on Thursday, with the focus firmly on rising tensions in the Middle East and political instability in the UK.

Markets were driven by the familiar concerns around oil prices, inflation and what the next UK Prime Minister will do to the UK economy on Thursday. The FTSE 100 was down 0.4% at the time of writing as a result.

A sharp rally in oil prices in the midmorning trade on Thursday weighed on equities after Brent surged $3 in a matter of minutes, trading at $107 heading into the afternoon session.

Global equities have shown a degree of resilience during the extended period of posturing by the US and Iran, but this is starting to fray as the prospect of a hiking cycle to manage inflation becomes real.

“There’s a realisation that even if the Strait of Hormuz were to fully reopen next week, supply snarl-ups will continue for many months,” explained Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist, Wealth Club.

“Extensive damage to facilities will take much longer to repair, with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company warning that a full recovery in flows of oil is unlikely before late next year.”

Investors were also digesting Nvidia earnings. The chipmaker beat expectations, but there was some nervousness about guidance, and shares slipped in the premarket before rebounding to trade flat at the time of writing. US futures were lower as global stocks moved lower in unison on Thursday.

Fresnillo and Endeavour Mining were among the worst performers of the day as gold prices slipped.

Autotrader was the FTSE 100’s top faller, as full-year profits missed expectations. Shares were down 8% at the time of writing.

Some positivity could be found in ICG Group, which posted a 13% increase in management fees and 11% increase in assets under management. ICG Group was the top riser, gaining 3%.

AIM movers: MP Evans share price recovery and ex-dividends

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Invinity Energy Systems (LON: IES) has won a project through FlexBase to design a GWh-scale vanadium flow battery to be deployed at the Technology Centre Laufenburg, Switzerland. This datacentre and technology campus required up to 1.5GWh and it could be expanded to 2.1 GWh. There should be phased manufacturing of the batteries. The share price is two-fifths higher at 31.5p.

Commodity export controls announced in Indonesia hit the share price of palm oil producer MP Evans (LON: MPE) yesterday, but there has been a rebound today. The company’s palm oil will have to be sold through state-owned enterprises. This is to boost the country’s tax revenues. MP Evans is not a direct exporter, but it will be affected, but the initial reaction appears overdone. Statements by the government suggest that the focus is companies that use transfer pricing to avoid tax and not companies like MP Evans. Demand for palm oil remains strong, particularly for biodiesel. The current palm oil price is higher than the one used in forecasts for 2026. Singer suggests the maximum earnings risk is 10%. The share price recovered 10.3% to £15.11.

TV programmes producer Zinc Media (LON: ZIN) has won a $6m contract to produce an entertainment series in the Middle East. The international distribution rights should add extra income. The series has already been broadcast for 17 seasons, and it follows inventors developing ideas. Zinc Media has been brought in to refresh the format, and the programme will be shot in Arabic and English. The share price increased 12.1% to 46.5p.

Mkango Resources (LON: MKA) subsidiary Mkango Rare Earths has filed a registration statement in the US concerning its merger with Crown PropTech Acquisitions. This helps to progress the proposed Nasdaq listing for Mkango Rare Earths. The share price rose 10.1% to 49p.

FALLERS

Gaming hardware and software supplier Nexteq (LON: NXQ) says global political uncertainty and higher memory prices has hit demand for its products. This means that 2026 revenues could be 15% below expectations. Revenues had been expected to be slightly lower, but it is currently forecast to fall from $90.2m to $73m and this means that there will be a fall into loss. The share price fell 21.4% to 51.5p.

Energy efficiency technology developer Sabien Technology (LON: SNT) is entering into an agreement for a proposed strategic commercial partnership and financing that will help tot accelerate commercial deployment of the M2G technology. The partnership with Haydale (LON: HAYD) and SaveMoneyCutCarbon (SMCC) means that SMCC will be the M2G distributor in agreed commercial, industrial and public sector markets. Haydale would also help with improving manufacturing efficiency. Non-core investments are being reviewed, and additional opportunities will be assessed. A strategic investor group could acquire the 26.7% stake held by executive chairman Richard Parris and restructure the debt owed to Parris Group. A convertible loan note could raise up to £2m. Final terms have to be agreed. This announcement follows the settlement of a historical contract for £40,000 in cash and £50,000 in shares at 5.71p each. The share price declined 13% to 5p.

AI-driven technology consultancy GenIP (LON: GNIP) has gained new orders. The clients include universities and high schools in North America, Hong Kong and UK, as well as a company in South Africa. The share price slipped 11.8% to 5.6p.

Scientific instruments manufacturer SDI Group (LON: SDI) says trading was strong in the second half, which is in line with expectations. Higher margins offset slightly lower than anticipated revenues. Organic growth improved. Forecast pre-tax profit is maintained at £9.8m and the 2026-27 figure is unchanged at £11.2m. The share price lost 6.88% to 74.5p.

Ex-dividends

Andrews Sykes (LON: ASY) is paying a final dividend of 14p/share and the share price slid 2.5p to 515p.

Burford Capital (LON: BUR) is paying a final dividend of 4.65p/share and the share price rose 1.9p to 332.5p.

Everplay Group (LON: EXPL) is paying a final dividend of 1.9p/share and the share price declined 6.75p to 271.75p.

Fevertree Drinks (LON: FEVR) is paying a final dividend of 11.34p/share and the share price slipped 5.25p to 772.75p.

Micon Group (LON: MCON) is paying a final dividend of 1.05 cents/share and the share price is unchanged at 59p.

Midwich Group (LON: MIDW) is paying a final dividend of 3.5p/share and the share price fell 6.2p to 149.8p.

Nexus Infrastructure (LON: NEXS) is paying an interim dividend of 1p/share and the share price is unchanged at 111p.

Niox Group (LON: NIOX) is paying a final dividend of 1.55p/share and the share price dropped 1.8p to 59.8p.

Science Group (LON: SAG) is paying a final dividend of 10p/share and the share price dipped 3p to 582p.

Winking Studios (LON: WKS) is paying a final dividend of S$0.02/share and the share price is unchanged at 15p.

Invinity Energy Systems lands design contract for world’s largest flow battery in Switzerland

Invinity Energy Systems shares soared on Thursday after announcing it has been selected to design a GWh-scale vanadium flow battery for what is set to become the world’s largest flow battery installation, in a significant strategic win for the AIM-listed storage manufacturer.

The company has partnered with Swiss developer FlexBase to design the system for its Technology Centre Laufenburg, a combined AI datacentre and technology campus on the Switzerland-Germany border.

Invinity beat off competition from flow battery makers around the world in what FlexBase described as an in-depth competitive selection process.

Marcel Aumer, Group CEO, Chairman of the Board and Founder of FlexBase Group said: “Invinity has proven to be the strongest partner by presenting the most compelling overall package with the lowest life-cycle costs (LCOS). Invinity’s vanadium flow technology is perfectly suited for our project due to its safety – particularly its non-flammability – its cycle stability, and its flexibility in application.”

Invinity Energy Systems shares were 50% higher at the time of writing on Thursday.

This is a major project. The battery will launch at up to 1.5 GWh of capacity, believed to be the largest flow battery built anywhere to date, with scope to expand to 2.1 GWh in later phases. The system will help integrate renewable energy at the site and provide stability to the grid, a natural fit for vanadium flow technology’s long-duration, heavy-cycling strengths.

Today’s news follows the delivery of a 0.7 MWh Vanadium Flow Battery system in Sussex earlier in May. Invinity Energy Systems is emerging as a dominant force in European power storage. Increased revenues and profits will surely follow.