Capturing explosive Indian economic and equity market growth with India Capital Growth Fund

Jeremy Naylor is joined by Gaurav Narain, Fund Manager of India Capital Growth Fund, to discuss the opportunity in India and the key factors driving the fund returns.

Find out more about the India Capital Growth Fund here.

Narain provides deep insight into the Indian growth story and why investors should choose the India Capital Growth Fund.

Discussion focuses on the key drivers of India’s equity market growth, including broader investment in mutual funds, favourable demographics, and strong economic growth.

The conversation touches on the cultural changes driving growth in India’s capital market and how the Investment Trust is benefiting from broader investment in Indian equities.

ITM Power reports record H1 revenue as European Hydrogen market accelerates

ITM Power shares have had a fantastic year so far, powered by a string of new contract wins across Europe as the adoption of hydrogen accelerates.

Today’s trading statement justifies this year’s gains, with the company posting record first-half revenue of £18.0 million for the six months ending 31 October 2025, as the British electrolyser manufacturer advances major projects and capitalises on accelerating European hydrogen infrastructure investment.

The Sheffield-based company is still loss-making, reporting an adjusted EBITDA loss of £11.9 million, but maintained a robust cash position of £197 million at the half-year mark. Thankfully, this is one company that UK investors can appreciate for its long-term value, rather than judging it by short-term profits.

“In the first half of the year, we again delivered our strongest ever six-month revenue performance. We continue to have a solid contract backlog and sales pipeline,” said Dennis Schulz, CEO of ITM Power.

“Our EBITDA losses have narrowed further, supported by strong manufacturing and project performance, as well as disciplined cost control and capital allocation. We look forward to providing our next update alongside our interim results in January.”

The strong performance comes as momentum builds in European hydrogen markets, particularly in Germany, which is making substantial infrastructure investments in pipelines, storage caverns, and hydrogen-ready gas power plants.

In the UK, the first projects under the HAR1 allocation are expected to reach final investment decision imminently, though US policy shifts have created uncertainty in that market.

ITM Power highlighted strong operational progress across its project portfolio. The company has fully delivered and installed its scope for the world’s first 100 MW PEM plant for RWE in Lingen, Germany. A second 100 MW Lingen plant and Shell’s Refhyne II 100 MW project are both progressing to plan.

The company’s sales pipeline remains strong, with particular demand for its NEPTUNE V containerised 5 MW plant and the new ALPHA 50, a 50 MW full-scope green hydrogen plant. ITM’s Hydropulse product has been well received, with multiple project opportunities advancing rapidly.

ITM Power maintained its full-year guidance, expecting revenue between £35 million and £40 million, an adjusted EBITDA loss of £27 million to £29 million. Year-end cash is expected to be between £170 million to £175 million.

AJ Bell revenues jumps as customer numbers swell

AJ Bell has delivered a record set of results for the year ended 30 September 2025, with revenue rising 18% to £317.8 million and profit before tax climbing 22% to £137.8 million.

Higher customer numbers and stronger financial markets drove revenue growth. The investment platform operator saw its customer base grow by 102,000 to reach 644,000, representing 19% year-on-year growth.

Assets under administration surged to a record £103.3 billion, up from £86.5 billion the previous year, driven by net inflows of £7.5 billion and favourable market movements of £9.3 billion.

Profit before tax rose to £137m from £113m last year.

The company has proposed a final dividend of 9.75 pence per share, taking the total ordinary dividend to 14.25 pence, marking the 21st consecutive year of dividend increases.

“Our highly-cash generative business model and strong capital position allow us to invest whilst also delivering excellent value for customers and increasing shareholder returns,” said Michael Summersgill, Chief Executive Officer at AJ Bell.

“We are pleased to recommend an increase to our ordinary dividend for the 21st successive year, alongside a new share buyback programme, returning up to £50 million to shareholders throughout FY26.”

The AJ Bell continued his commentary by lambasting the Labour government for its investment policies introduced at last week’s Budget.

“There was little to cheer in last week’s UK Budget. We have consistently advocated for ISA simplification, our views being backed by behavioural research showing how removing complexity can help to increase retail investment activity in the UK,” Summersgill said.

“However, the reforms proposed take the ISA market in the opposite direction. ISAs will now see complexities such as an age-specific annual allowance for Cash ISAs and HMRC levying a charge on cash held in Stocks & Shares ISAs. Despite these interventions in the market, we are confident we can continue to provide an easy-to-use service and help customers to navigate this additional complexity successfully.”

AIM movers: GENinCode New York approval and Physiomics boss to depart

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Health assessment technology developer GENinCode (LON: GENI) says the New York health authorities have approved CARDIO inCode-Score® Polygenic Risk Score for the prediction and prevention of coronary heart disease.  This enables state-wide coverage at an average reimbursement of around $500 per test. Additional data will be submitted to the FDA in the first quarter of 2026 as part of the De Novo assessment. This approval is required to sell the test so that it can be used by other laboratories. The share price recovered 27.9% to 2.75p.

Kazakhstan-focused Caspian Sunrise (LON: CASP) has been awarded an extension to the previous Yelemes Deep licence at the BNG Contract Area. This is southeast of the Tengiz oilfield and offers potential shallow structures, as well as deep structures. The share price continued to rise following the return from suspension and is 17.7% higher at 3p, which is two-fifths more than the suspension price.

Ariana Resources (LON: AAU) reports the first gold pour at the Tavsan gold and silver heap-leach, where it has a 23.5% interest. Production should ramp up over the coming months and each steady production rates in the second quarter of 2026. The share price gained 6.9% to 1.55p.

Barely more than two weeks after reporting its interims, musical instruments retailer Gear4Music (LON: G4M) says trading has been very strong over the past weekend. This means expectations have been raised and the full year EBITDA forecast increased from £15.2m to £16.7m. The share price increased 6.64% to 305p.

FALLERS

Physiomics (LON: PSY) chief executive Peter Sargent is leaving the company in May 2026. Dr Jim Millen will resume the position of executive chairman of the mathematical modelling and data science company after the departure until a replacement is appointed. The share price slipped 22.7% to 0.29p.

North Sea oil and gas company Deltic Energy (LON: DELT) recommended a 7.46p/share bid from Rockrose Energy, which is owned by Viaro Energy, at the end of June but completion is still dependent on the North Sea regulator NSTA. NSTA wants further information in order to reach a decision to grant the change of control of licences.  The long stop of the bid has been extended to the end of March 2026. The share price declined 13.4% to 5.5p.

Rockfire Resources (LON: ROCK) has temporarily ceased drilling of hole HMO-009 at the Molaoi zinc deposit in Greece because of difficult drilling conditions. It is moving to the next drill hole, where signs of mineralisation are good. HMO-009 will be redrilled at the end of the current campaign, where there are another 28 holes to be drilled. HMO-008 was also terminated early. The share price slid 12.1% to 0.1275p.

Alba Mineral Resources (LON: ALBA) is preparing to commence drilling and blasting at the Clogau gold mine, having undertaken work on shafts at the mine. Analysis of samples from the Aries deposit at the Motzfeldt critical metals project in South Greenland, where the explorer is acquiring a 51% interest, should start early next year with mineralogical test work results in the second half of January. Alba has completed a three hole drilling programme at Finnsbo copper gold rare earths project in Sweden, where it is earning an interest. The share price fell 10.7% to 0.0125p.

FTSE 100 slips as Sainsbury’s tumbles on stake sale

The FTSE 100 was marginally weaker on Wednesday as Sainsbury’s, banks, and other retailers weighed on the index.

London’s leading index had started the session broadly flat, but minor gains gave way to minor losses, and the FTSE 100 was down 0.2% at the time of writing.

“Miners did their best to prop up the FTSE 100, but opposing forces from the banking, pharma and utility sectors were too great to keep the index in positive territory,” said Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell.

“Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was a notable mover, falling 1.3% as nearly all sectors apart from basic materials and industrials were in the red. China’s CSI 300 index was also weak, with both indices hit by disappointing services data.”

China-focused banks HSBC and Standard Chartered were among the top fallers as sentiment took a knock.

Investors may have been surprised to see miners such as Anglo American, Antofagasta, and Glencore among the top risers, given their dependence on Chinese demand. Antofagasta was the top riser after Jefferies analysts raised their price target to 3,500p.

Sainsbury’s was the FTSE 100’s top faller after Qatar sold a £270m stake in the business. Sainsbury’s shares fell 3.7% with Tesco and Marks and Spencer falling between 1% and 2% in sympathy.

“The stock has enjoyed a good run since April, thanks to business progress. A food-first strategy has reaped significant rewards and Sainsbury’s has managed to breathe new life into the business,” Coatsworth explained.

“QIA might take the view that now is a good time to cut its exposure as Sainsbury’s regaining its mojo is one thing, taking it to another level is more challenging.”

US rate cut

US stocks were also relatively subdued overnight, with the S&P 500 gaining just 0.2% despite a strong run-up in tech shares.

Support is creeping back into US stocks as traders eye a possible US rate cut. But this has yet to translate to any meaningful optimism in UK and European shares.

That said, ff hopes of a rate cut solidify in the coming sessions, it wouldn’t be a surpirse to see global stocks melt up into the announcement next week.

“Recent data continues to support the narrative of a soft landing in the US economy – a delicate balance between slowing growth alongside resilience in the US labour market,” explained Oliver Faizallah, Head of Fixed Income Research at Charles Stanley, part of Raymond James Wealth Management.

“This backdrop has given the US central bank the Federal Reserve room to ease policy, with markets now fully pricing in a 25bps rate cut at next week’s meeting, a sharp shift from just 30% odds a month ago. The move reflects both supportive economic indicators, dovish Fed commentary, and speculation around future leadership.”

How Investors Can Leverage Smart Platforms to Boost Savings and Cash Flow

Financial independence remains a top priority for many UK investors. While traditional approaches to saving and investing still hold value, an increasing number of individuals are integrating digital tools into their financial routines. These platforms are helping people cut down on unnecessary spending, automate better habits, and ultimately build more freedom into their investment strategies.

The growing accessibility of smart platforms has made them a practical choice for anyone looking to take more control over their cash flow. With thoughtful use, they can supplement standard investment methods without adding complexity or risk.

Shifting Investor Behaviours Towards Smarter Tools

More investors are exploring services that simplify money management and add real value to their routines. It’s no longer uncommon to see budgeting apps, automatic savings tools, and cashback services used alongside brokerage accounts.

This shift is driven by practical considerations. When market volatility increases or costs rise, even the most experienced investors may seek tools to help preserve their capital. Smart platforms offer visibility into spending and can make it easier to allocate funds towards long-term financial goals.

Some investors use apps that categorise expenses automatically, flag subscription renewals, or offer insight into spending trends. These types of tools allow greater day-to-day control over finances and reduce leakage that could otherwise go unnoticed.

This shift isn’t limited to younger, tech-savvy individuals. Investors across age brackets are realising the benefit of having a set of digital tools that support their broader financial aims.

Increased Interest in Everyday Financial Apps

Apps such as budgeting trackers, roundup savings tools, and account aggregators are helping investors understand their financial position at a glance. These platforms promote awareness and enable better decision-making throughout the month.

They also reduce reliance on manual tracking, which saves time and improves accuracy. When combined with other digital tools, the benefits often extend beyond budgeting, supporting smarter allocation of income across savings, spending, and investing.

Digital Platforms That Directly Impact Cash Flow

Cash flow plays a central role in any investment plan. Regular contributions to ISAs, pensions, or equity portfolios depend on healthy, consistent income and manageable outgoings.

A growing number of services are helping people create more room in their budgets. Cashback sites, automated savings platforms, and subscription tracking tools are all being used by UK consumers to reduce waste and stretch income.

Combining Platforms for Greater Monthly Impact

Platforms focused on cashback and discount codes help users spend less on regular purchases without changing habits. Many allow users to activate offers while shopping online, quietly accumulating small returns that can be redirected towards savings.

Meanwhile, some investors are turning to automated savings tools. These services analyse user behaviour and make small transfers into savings pots based on what is affordable at any given time. Rather than setting a fixed amount every month, users benefit from the flexibility that adjusts to their lifestyle.

Another category includes subscription management tools. These notify users about recurring payments and flag services that are no longer being used. Cancelling or reviewing these payments often frees up extra funds each month that can go into more productive use.

When multiple tools are used together, the overall impact on available capital can be significant. Each platform targets a specific behaviour or expense area, allowing users to recover money they didn’t realise they were losing.

The Role of Cashback and Discount Platforms in Saving

Some investors are beginning to include cashback services in their broader financial planning, using them as tools to reclaim small costs and grow savings in parallel. These platforms often require little input beyond account setup and offer rewards for spending on items people already intended to buy.

One option available to UK users is Discoup.com/uk, a platform that helps people locate verified deals and discount codes across a wide range of retailers. For investors focused on preserving more of their income, this kind of service can be a helpful addition to their toolkit.

How Cashback Builds Long-Term Value

Cashback earned from platforms like this can be channelled towards other financial goals. Over time, the cumulative effect of these savings can contribute to a buffer fund, or boost deposits into other investment vehicles.

Small savings on everyday purchases, when reinvested, can lead to measurable financial improvements over the course of a year. These savings may not seem significant day-to-day but add up when applied with intention.

The key to success is using these tools consistently and tracking the difference they make. That visibility reinforces better choices and makes it easier to stick with a strategy.

Turning Everyday Savings into Investment Opportunities

Freeing up cash is only part of the process. Putting those funds to work creates opportunities for long-term growth. Some smart platforms now allow for direct transfers of savings into investment accounts, making the transition smooth and automatic.

Investors who manage to cut back spending using digital platforms often find they have more flexibility when making monthly deposits into ISAs or other accounts. Even small adjustments, repeated consistently, can create compounding benefits over time.

Turning Passive Savings into Active Contributions

Several services allow users to set custom rules. For instance, rounding up transactions and investing the spare change, or sending fixed amounts to stocks when certain savings milestones are hit.

When savings are automatically routed into investment platforms, users are more likely to maintain consistent contributions. That habit is often more effective than making large, irregular deposits.

Removing friction and making contributions part of a routine encourages long-term discipline. This approach supports steady portfolio growth without requiring large upfront commitments.

Take Charge of Your Savings Strategy

Smart platforms can help UK investors reduce waste, free up more income, and increase the amount they can put towards their financial goals. These tools are not meant to replace traditional strategies, but to complement them.

By combining consistent saving habits with tools designed to streamline and support them, investors can build a more efficient path to long-term financial health.

Tekcapital’s Guident files updated S-1 in preparation for NASDAQ IPO

Tekcapital portfolio company Guident has filed an updated S-1 form with the SEC, signalling preparations for its NASDAQ IPO are gathering pace.

The autonomous vehicle technology company filed its original S-1 confidentially towards the end of the summer, but was likely held up by the longest US government shutdown in history.

The SEC is reportedly facing a substantial backlog of filings, meaning a swathe of companies, including Guident, are waiting to progress with their listing plans.

Material details of the S-1 filed yesterday in the US were largely unchanged, with the indicative price range remaining at between $7.80 and $9.80.

While the delay will be frustrating for Tekcapital and Guident stakeholders, it may have been a blessing in disguise, as it means the firm has sidestepped market volatility during November.

Tekcapital holds around a 70% stake in Guident, which could be worth more than Tekcapital’s entire market cap when Guident lists.

The backlog at the SEC has created an opportunity for Guident to provide further details of commercial progress ahead of the IPO, such as the recent launch of a fresh MiCa autonomous shuttle deployment in Boca Raton.

“This launch marks a defining moment for Boca Raton and for the future of driverless mobility,” Harald Braun, Chairman and CEO of Guident at the time of the launch.

“The MiCa is managed by Guident’s RMCC platform, which bridges technology and human judgment, ensuring that every autonomous journey is monitored, secure, and safe.”

Occuity Builds Commercial Momentum as it Turns Innovation into Reality

Building on its groundbreaking work in Oculomics, UK MedTech innovator Occuity is now moving from concept to commercial success, turning its patented optical platform into real products, revenue and global partnerships. 

Founded with a mission to make health screening and disease monitoring simpler, faster and pain free, Occuity’s technology uses light to scan through the eye and analyse the reflections returned. This enables clinicians to take precise measurements or identify early biomarkers of disease without ever touching the eye. 

Real products, real markets 

Occuity’s first device, the PM1 Pachymeter, is now CE Marked and commercially available and generating revenue through a growing global network of 19 distributors. The PM1 enables fast, contact-free measurement of corneal thickness, a key parameter in the screening and management of glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. 

Building on that success, the company is advancing development of its next device, the AX1 Axiometer, designed for use in the rapidly expanding myopia management market, forecast to reach US $11.7 billion by 2030. With myopia soon to be affecting around half of the global population, the AX1 aims to provide eye-care professionals with a simple, handheld device for measuring axial length – the key biomarker in managing short-sightedness. 

A scalable platform for growth 

What sets Occuity apart is that all of these devices are built upon the same optical platform described in the company’s earlier feature. This shared foundation allows faster product development, more efficient regulatory pathways and a sustainable commercial model. Each new device strengthens the platform, widening its application across ophthalmology and systemic disease detection. 

This platform approach is key to Occuity’s long-term strategy, providing opportunities not only for device sales but also for future data-driven insights and diagnostics that could transform healthcare delivery. 

Global reach and strong IP 

Occuity’s technology has already attracted international attention, with partnerships across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Its 15 patent families – covering optical design, scanning systems and alignment methods – create significant barriers to entry and reinforce its competitive edge. 

As CEO Dan Daly explains: 
“Our goal has always been to make advanced diagnostic technology more accessible. The PM1 and AX1 are just the beginning. The same core technology will power our future devices for diabetes and Alzheimer’s, helping clinicians identify disease earlier, faster and without pain or inconvenience.” 

Building momentum and investor confidence 

Occuity’s transition from R&D to commercial traction comes at a pivotal time. With its Republic Europe crowdfunding campaign now live, investors have the opportunity to back a company that has proven its technology, established early revenue and built a clear roadmap to scale. 

For those seeking exposure to global healthcare markets and the growing field of Oculomics, Occuity offers a compelling combination of innovation, defensibility and purpose. 

With its crowdfunding campaign live on Republic, if you’re looking for an ethical investment opportunity which offers exciting potential returns, you can learn more about Occuity here

Disclosure: This article is for information only and does not constitute investment advice. Capital is at risk. 

YouGov: the votes are in or are they? Will tomorrow’s AGM count?

Early tomorrow morning, at 8.30am, should see the global pollster group YouGov (LON:YOU) hold its AGM covering the Report & Accounts for the year to end-July. 
It will be interesting to note whether there is a published AGM Trading Update, however the odds are against such an occurrence. 
That is a shame because investors need to see and hear as much corporate newsflow as is possible, thereby creating anticipation of beneficial progress, while pillowing against any shock developments. 
Whatever occurs I have to say that I do get a good feel for this £300m-capitalised group’s...

Bloomsbury Publishing partners with Google to integrate AI

Bloomsbury Publishing has unveiled a strategic collaboration with Google Cloud to integrate artificial intelligence into its operations and educational platforms.

The deal will see Bloomsbury combine its publishing expertise with Google Cloud’s AI technologies, including NotebookLM, Vertex AI, and Gemini Enterprise.

Gemini represents Google’s most advanced multimodal AI models, whilst LearnLM is specifically designed for learning applications.

Nigel Newton, founder and chief executive of Bloomsbury, said the collaboration would “demonstrate how cutting-edge technology can increase the discovery and sales of books, as well as transform engagement with content to improve learning outcomes.”

The partnership holds particular significance for Bloomsbury’s Academic Division. Bloomsbury Digital Resources, which leads the company’s digital innovation efforts, will deploy AI tools to enhance discovery and engagement as the educational sector increasingly adopts AI-powered platforms and personalised learning technologies.

Beyond education, the collaboration will target operational efficiencies across Bloomsbury’s entire business. For example, hopes are that advanced AI infrastructure will enable data-driven insights and semantic search, improving trend analysis and boosting book sales.

“This collaboration demonstrates how Google Cloud’s advanced AI capabilities, including Vertex AI and Gemini Enterprise, can empower leading organizations to transform their industries,” said Debbie Weinstein, President of Google in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

“We look forward to helping Bloomsbury revolutionise content discovery, enhance learning, and drive significant business growth through intelligent, scalable solutions.”