Synthetic binders developer Aptamer (LON: APTA) has signed a licensing agreement with Alphazyme, a Maravai LifeSciences company that supplies speciality enzymes to the life sciences sector. The non-exclusive deal is for a developed Optimer® for use in hot-start PCR applications – when the enzyme switches on when heated. The original development deal was signed in June 2024 and another development project has recently completed.

Checkit (LON: CKT) chief executive Kit Kyte bought 22,935 shares at 21.8p each, taking his stake to 1.73%.

Quantum Helium (LON: QHE) published a year-end update rounding up previous announcements. Priorities for 2026 include receipt of 3D seismic results and integrating this into drilling plans, commencement of flow test at Sagebrush-1 and advancing commercial discussions.

FALLERS

Premier African Minerals (LON: PREM) says it has been issued with a writ of execution of movable property at the Zulu project by a creditor seeking $2.2m. Discussions continue with the creditor, which is JR Goddard Contracting.

Wind turbine monitoring technology developer Windar Photonics (LON: WPHO) expects record revenues of between €6.5m and €6.8m in 2025. It could reach EBITDA breakeven. There was a delay to an order in China, which will move into 2026.

Store closures and exiting Boots meant that Mothercare (LON: MTC) interim revenues fell by one-quarter to £90.7m. Like-for-like revenues were 6% lower. The pre-tax loss declined from £1.4m to £1.1m due to lower interest charges. The new South Asia joint venture made a positive contribution. Net debt was reduced from £17.1m to £5.8m.

Kefi Gold and Copper (LON: KEFI) raised £774,000 from a retail offer at 1.3p/share, taking the total funds raised to £6.9m with a further £8.9m subscription offsetting outstanding liabilities. The full launch of the Tulu Kapi gold project has commenced now that funding of $340m is in place.  

Packaging manufacturer Robinson (LON: RBN) says trading is in line with expectations and it expects to complete one previously announced property disposal in January. Two more properties are being sold for £2.13m, which is £610,000 more than book value. Cavendish has reduced its 2026 pre-tax profit forecast to £2.7m because of lower property income and the tough outlook in Poland and Denmark.

Alliance Lithium (LON: ALL) has revised and resubmitted its mining licence application for the Ewoyaa lithium project in Ghana. The royalty rate will be between 5% and 12% depending on the spodumene price. Canaccord Genuity assumes 10% in its forecasts suggesting a price between $2,501/tonne and $3,000/tonne, but the price is currently lower. The new lease requires government ratification. The share price jumped 23.5% to 9.76p.

Artemis Resources (LON: ARV) has signed a joint venture deal with Red Metal for the Sharon Dam copper target in Western Australia. It can earn 80% by spending at least $5m over three years. The shae price roe 16.7% to 0.35p.

Professional services provider Christie Group (LON: CTG) is selling visitor attraction software business Vennersys for an initial £500,000 in cash. There is also up to £900,000 of retained consideration subject to performance conditions. The sale should be completed by the end of January. Vennersys is loss making and the disposal could add around £500,000 to 2026 pre-tax profit – £2.8m is the current forecast. The share price gained 7.5% to 107.5p.

Eco Animal Health (LON: EAH) has been granted EU marketing authorisation for ECOVAXXIN® MS, the company’s poultry vaccine against Mycoplasma synoviae. The share price increased 6.67% to 104p.

Naked Wines (LON: WINE) has launched a share buyback of up to £2m via a reverse accelerated bookbuild closing at 4.35pm today. The share price improved 6.43% to 72.8p.

FALLERS

Indus Gas (LON: INDI) is proposing to shareholders that it should leave AIM. A general meeting will be held on 8 January. There is a limited free float, and it has been difficult to raise funds or use shares for acquisitions. Gynia Holdings owns 82.7%. Interim figures show an improved pre-tax profit of $1.93m, up from $1.24m. Indus Gas is awaiting a production sharing contract extension so a new gas sale and purchase agreement can be signed. The share price slumped 58.4% to 4p.

Pantheon Resources (LON: PANR) is suspending flow testing at the Duhle-1 well in order to save costs of around $150,000/day in the winter period. Costs will be lower in the spring. Results have been disappointing so far. The company will analyse data and assess opportunities in other parts of its oil and gas portfolio in Alaska. There is $27.2m in the bank. Zeus has cut its total risked NAV from 73p/share to 53p/share. The share price dived 43.3% to 10.32p.

Mobile Streams (LON: MOS) shares returned from suspension down 35.8% to 0.395p following publication of an admission document and results for the year to June 2025. June 2025. The company, which is changing its name to Gana Media Group, is acquiring the shares it does not own in two Mexican sports betting and media companies. It already owns 28.7% to Estadio Gana, plus convertible loan stock, and 22.5% of Capital Media Sports. Buying the rest of Estadio Gana will cost £31.9m in shares at 0.625p each, while 584.2 million shares a 0.495p each will be issued for Capital Media Sports. Investment in existing Mexican operations enabled full year revenues to rise from £436,000 to £1.41m. Net cash was £1.52m at the end of June 2025 and by the end of September available cash was £991,000.

Enwell Energy (LON: ENW) says that on 18 December the gas processing facilities at its Vasyschevskoye gas and condensate field in Ukraine was attacked by Russian drones. There were no active operations and damage is being assessed. The share price declined 21.4% to 16.5p.

MHA has agreed to acquire Moore Stephens’ UAE operations for £7.4m, marking a strategic push into the Middle East market.

The AIM-listed professional services firm will acquire two businesses, Moore Stephens LLC and Moore Stephens Consulting LLC, which generated £6.5m revenue in 2025. The deal reflects MHA’s strategy of pursuing selective cross-border opportunities to strengthen its international footprint.

MS UAE, established in 1999, operates from Dubai with branches across Abu Dhabi, ADGM, JAFZA, Sharjah and Hamriyah Free Zone. All three partners, led by Managing Partner Farad Lakdawala, will remain with the 95-strong team following completion.

MHA hopes MS UAE to capitalise on the continued influx of high-net-worth individuals, family offices and international businesses relocating to the region.

The £7.4m consideration will be split equally between cash and new MHA shares priced at 154.5p. An initial payment of £6.1m will be made at completion, with the remainder following agreement of completion accounts.

“Strategic M&A continues to be a key enabler of our growth aspirations,” said Rakesh Shaunak, CEO of MHA.

“Following the acquisition of BTSEE, the intended acquisition of MS UAE is another step forward in building a larger organisation and an international platform that enhances client service, strengthens our sector capabilities and creates opportunities for our people.

“MS UAE is a high-quality, well-established practice with strong cultural alignment, and we look forward to updating the market as we progress toward completion.”

Arc Minerals (LON: ARCM) appointed Remy Welschinger as chief executive from 2 January 2026. He is currently a non-exec of Arc Minerals and President of Viridian Lithium. The executive chairman Nick von Schirnding will become non-exec chairman. The share price jumped 66.7% to 0.625p.

hVIVO (LON: HVO) chief executive and finance director each bought shares in the contact research business early in the week. Yamin Khan bought 3.31 million shares at 6.04p each, taking his take to 1.21%, and Stephen Pickerton acquired 520,000 at 5.5p each. The share price recovered 39.7% to 7.35p.

Offshore energy market services provider Tekmar Group (LON: TGP) has won a contract with an existing customer worth €8m. There is existing infrastructure and potential for near-term production. This for a major UK offshore wind farm. Revenues should be recognised this year and next year. The share price rebounded 39.7% to 11p.

Quantum Helium (LON: QHE) says an independent resource report has been published and the best estimate for the Coyote Wash project in Colorado is 0.97bcf of gross recoverable helium. This takes the gross recoverable resource of the company’s projects to 1.1bcf, which have a gross value of $330m. There are also potential oil resources of up to 750,000 barrels. The company also has a 90% working interest in the Sagebrush helium project which has 2U helium reserves of 101MMscf net.  The share price improved 33.9% to 0.0375p.

FALLERS

Bars operator The Revel Collective (LON: TRC) is in discussions with potential acquirors of its businesses and they would not lead to any return for shareholders. There is no likelihood of raising money through a share issue. Trading in the shares will be suspended on 29 December because the 2024-25 annual report will not be published by the end of the year. The share price dived 76.7%% to 0.035p.

Red Rock Resources (LON: RRR) raised £250,000 at 0.021p/share and an existing shareholder invested £200,000 at 0.025p/share, while another shareholder is converting £200,000 of loan notes into shares at the latter price. The share price declined 35.7% to 0.0225p.

Shares in Polarean Imaging (LON: POLX) declined 35.5% to 0.1p following shareholder voting in favour of leaving AIM on 23 December. JP Jenkins will provide a matched bargain facility.

Virtual product placement services provider Mirriad Advertising (LON: MIRI) says second half revenues are expected to be £200,000, so 2025 revenues will be £400,000. At the end of November, cash was £1m. The cost base is £220,000/month. There will be a trading statement in January. The share price fell 31.6% to 0.0065p.

The FTSE 100 crept towards the 10,000 mark on Friday, buoyed by interest rate cuts by the Bank of England and the Federal Reserve earlier in the week.

London’s leading index staged a late rally yesterday afternoon and added another 0.1% on Friday to trade less than 2% away from the key psychological level for the index.

But the gains were less than convincing with fresh concerns about the pace of rate cuts next year putting a dampener on lower borrowing costs announced yesterday.

“The FTSE 100 ticked higher in early trading after lower-than-expected inflation in the US helped lift shares on Wall Street and across Asia overnight,” said AJ Bell head of financial analysis Danni Hewson.

“The knife-edge nature of yesterday’s rate decision by the Bank of England is keeping UK stocks in check and stalled the FTSE 100’s push towards the 10,000 mark. Investors have responded to the reality that we could be approaching the end of the current rate-cutting cycle.

“This saw housebuilders lose momentum as hopes for a significant drop in mortgage costs in the coming months begin to fade away. An unexpected drop in retail sales only added to the gloom around the consumer backdrop in the UK.”

Barratt Redrow was the top faller at the time of writing, losing 2.4%, while Persimmon gave up 1.9%.

JD Sports was also among the faller after Nike shares sank on US trading. JD Sports relies heavily on Nike as a supplier and its struggles with innovation has dogged JD since the start of the year.

“Nike shares fell nearly 11% in after-hours trading after a sharp decline in Chinese demand and the impact of tariffs on margins took the shine off the fact that second quarter revenue had beaten expectations: earnings fell 32% year-on-year,” explained Derren Nathan, head of equity research, Hargreaves Lansdown.

DCC was the top riser, adding 2%, after announcing the results of a tender offer.