- FTSE 100 index gains 42 points
- Incoming Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen’s confirmation hearing eyed
- US markets to return after MLK holiday
8.45am: Recovery from Monday’s weakness
The FTSE 100 opened firmly in positive territory on Tuesday amid hopes that US president-elect Joe Biden will push through a bumper stimulus package.
London’s blue chips opened 42 points to the good at 6,762.43, having shed 15 points on Monday.
Certainly, that appeared to be the implication of ‘prepared remarks’ attributed to incoming Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen.
According to the Financial Times, she is likely to tell her confirmation hearing that it is ‘time to act big’, suggesting she will push for a bail-out programme at the upper end of the US$1.4-$1.9 trillion scale suggested.
The new mood music prompted a surge in optimism (and share prices) in Asia earlier on Tuesday. It will likely give Wall Street, absent Monday for a public holiday, pause for thought.
On the market, there was a surge in love for stocks hit hard by severe international restrictions on travel.
Rolls Royce (LON:RR.), the jet engine maker for hundreds of the world’s airlines, was up 4%. Following in its vapour trail was British Airways owner IAG (LON:IAG), which advanced 2.2% in the early exchanges.
Experian (LON:EXPN) nudged 1.4% higher after the credit checking giant posted a solid if unspectacular third-quarter trading update.
“The performance of the business has meant that the company has comfortably kept its head above water during a challenging year, while any economic recovery should provide a springboard for further growth,” said Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor.
Among the smaller companies, OKYO Pharma (LON:OKYO) stood out with a 13% gain on news that one the key figures in the discovery of cancer blockbuster Avastin will spearhead the development of a drug for severe coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms.
Proactive news headlines:
IronRidge Resources Ltd (LON:IRR) has released the results of a scoping study for the Ewoyaa lithium project in Ghana. The group said the study supports the case for a two million tonnes per annum production operation with life of mine revenues exceeding US$1.55bn, and significant potential to extend mine life. During the eight year mine life the project will produce an average of 295,000 tonnes per year of 6% Li2O spodumene concentrate. The internal rate or return stands at 125%, while the capital cost estimate is USS$68mln. Average underlying earnings (EBITDA) will ring in at US$105mln per annum, the company added.
OKYO Pharma Limited (LON:OKYO) (OTCQB:EMMLF) said a scientist behind two blockbuster drugs will help spearhead the development of a treatment to tackle and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in people infected by coronavirus (COVID-19). Dr Napoleone Ferrara, head of the company’s scientific advisory board, will lead work on the chemerin molecule, which has also been earmarked for use in dry eye disease. The process has begun with the filing of patents covering the use of chemerin and lookalike molecules in the treatment and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Ferrara brings with him a track record of success and is noted in scientific circles as having isolated vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF.
Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd (LON:FOG) (CVE:FO) confirmed it has a new gas discovery on its hands, as partner and Beetaloo project operator Origin Energy submits a formal notification to the Australian authorities. The regulatory confirmation comes amidst further positive findings from the Kyalla 117 well, part of the Beetaloo shale project in Australia’s Northern Territory. Falcon noted that the Kyalla 117 well had flowed gas unassisted for a period of seventeen hours, following the introduction of nitrogen to lift fluids.
Evgen Pharma PLC (LON:EVG) said 56 people have been recruited to its phase II/III STAR trial assessing its drug in patients with acute respiratory infections, including those with coronavirus (COVID-19). Specifically, researchers will investigate whether SFX-01 can reduce the severity, or prevent the onset of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in pneumonia patients. SFX-01 stimulates, or ‘upregulates’ the Nrf2 pathway, which is part of the natural human defence against inflammatory and oxidative stress, such as the inflammation that occurs during severe viral infection. Preclinical work has shown this up-regulation of the Nrf2 pathway has the potential to reduce the severity of ARDS.
Corero Network Security PLC (LON:CNS) expects to report revenue for 2020 that is ahead of market expectations. The provider of real-time, high-performance, distributed denial of service (DDoS) cyber defence solutions said it had a strong second half to the year with increased momentum in order intake and revenue growth. Order intake for the year just ended is expected to be around US$20.9mln, up from US$13.0mln in 2019.
BATM Advanced Communications Limited (LON:BVC) said it has enhanced its NFVTime virtual networking solution to enable it to be deployed through public cloud networks such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. NFV, which stands for network function virtualisation, allows network functions to be run in software with a single piece of equipment, rather than requiring multiple pieces of physical hardware. More specifically, NFVTime is an operating system that is licenced by BATM to network operators to allow them to create these virtual networks for their customers.
Crossword Cybersecurity PLC (LON:CCS) has said it expects to report revenue growth and full-year results that are in line with market expectations despite what it said was a “challenging 2020”. In a trading update for the year to December 31, 2020, the company said overall revenues are expected to show an increase of 25% to £1.6mln, within which product and consulting revenues are expected to expand by 39% reflecting its shift to a core of products and consulting sales from software development services.
Anglo Asian Mining PLC (LON:AAZ) said it has made a new copper-gold discovery at Zafer, within the central region of its Gedabek Contract Area in western Azerbaijan. This discovery resulted from a regional exploration field mapping programme following the identification of structural trends by the ZTEM geophysics programme. Zafer is situated approximately 1.5 kilometres northwest of the Gedabek processing plant.
Ariana Resources PLC (LON:AAU) said it has received formal approval from the Competition Authority in Turkey for the completion of its joint venture agreements with Özaltin Holding and Proccea Construction Co, as ratified by shareholders on December 30, 2020. The joint venture with Özaltin and Proccea involves the partial disposal of the company’s interests in Turkey in exchange for up to US$37.75mln in cash before costs and taxation. Ariana and Proccea will retain a 23.5% interest each in the expanded joint venture.
Iofina PLC (LON:IOF) said it produced a record amount of crystalline iodine in 2020, despite being affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Full-year production clocked in at 609.9 tonnes of crystalline iodine, up from 602.7 tonnes in 2019, which itself was a record year. In the second half of 2020, 325.5 tonnes of crystalline iodine was produced, up 14% on the first half of the year.
Feedback PLC (LON:FDBK) said it has bolstered its data management security by securing the Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO 27001 certifications for its flagship medical messaging app Bleepa. The Cyber Essentials Plus audit is a UK government-backed scheme to enable organisations to guard against a range of common cyber-attacks and demonstrate a commitment to cybersecurity, while ISO 27001 is the international standard that sets out the specification for information security management systems. Feedback said the new certifications will “provide customers and clinicians with added confidence in the safety of Bleepa’s data security” and that it continuously reviews and updates its security to comply with international standards.
Genel Energy PLC (LON:GENL) has highlighted that it is positioned to grow in 2021, with a twelve-well drill campaign among the slated catalysts. The company said it expects production to be slightly above the 2020 average though there is potential for a higher exit rate and stronger volumes in 2022 subject to results in the appraisal campaign at the Sarta field. Sarta’s start-up was a key highlight of 2020 as it marked the company’s fourth producing operation.
Condor Gold PLC (LON:CNR) (TSE:COG) told investors it has mobilised a second rig for its new 4,000 metres infill drill programme targeting planned ‘starter pits’ for the La India gold project in Nicaragua. The drill campaign began in December 2020, the company noted in an update. It aims to tighten the drill hole spacing within the planned high-grade starter pits on the principal La India Vein. To date, six drill holes have been drilled in the programme and assay results are pending. The addition of a second rig will soon accelerate progress.
OptiBiotix Health PLC (LON:OPTI) has unveiled two new appointments to support the growth of its LPLDL product and its sales in the Asian market. The life sciences company, which is developing compounds to tackle obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and skincare, said Christopher Nother is joining the firm on a part-time consultancy basis to support the growth of LPLDL in pharma, either as an over the counter (OTC) product used by itself or in combination with existing treatments, or a drug biotherapeutic in markets outside the USA. Meanwhile, OptiBiotix said Taru Jain will join the company’s management team in March to focus on business development and growing sales in the “strategically important” Indian and Asian markets.
Xpediator PLC (LON:XPD), the freight management services provider, said it has appointed Michael Williamson as chief financial officer (CFO) of the group. Williamson, who is currently the global director of finance & controlling and the regional CFO of Northern Europe for Rohlig Logistics, an international freight forwarder, will join the Xpediator board on March 1, 2021.
Curtis Banks Group PLC (LON:CBP), one of the UK’s leading SIPP providers, has announced the appointment of Jill Lucas as a non-executive director of the company with immediate effect. The group said she has also been appointed chair of Dunstan Thomas, the leading FinTech provider acquired by Curtis Banks in August 2020. The company noted that Lucas is an experienced business leader with a background in technology, having spent over 30 years in various leadership positions.
Induction Healthcare Group PLC (LON:INHC) a leading healthcare technology company that helps achieve digital transformation for hospitals, announced that Shelley Fraser has resigned from her position as its chief financial officer and from the group’s board with immediate effect. The company said Fraser will leave the company following a short handover period to ensure an orderly transition of responsibilities to Olly Drake, former CFO of Zesty Ltd, who will be Interim Group CFO. Induction Healthcare noted that Drake previously worked at BDO and was UK Finance Director at Next Fifteen Communications Group PLC. The company said it will commence a search for Fraser’s successor during the current quarter.
Thor Mining PLC (LON:THR) (ASX:THR) said it has raised £750,000 via the placing of just over 88mln shares at a price of 0.85p per share. A London-based specialist resources investor will invest £600,000, while Artemis Resources Limited (ASX:ARV) will invest £150,000. Artemis has gold exploration and development projects in Western Australia’s Pilbara, and shares a director with Thor in Mark Potter. Each placee will receive one warrant for each two placing shares.
Emmerson PLC (LONEML), the Moroccan-focused potash development company, announced that it has received notice of the exercise of warrants from Optiva Securities Limited in respect of 389,333 ordinary shares of no par value in the capital of the company at a price of 3p per share. The aggregate gross proceeds of this exercise amounts to £11,649.99.
[email protected] Capital PLC (LON:SYME) has said that, following discussions with its advisors and auditors, it is changing its Accounting Reference Date from September 30 to December 31 to align its financial year-end with the Calendar Tax Year, a more standard accounting reference date and one which is more appropriate to the group’s current and future operating subsidiaries’ trading. It said this change of the Accounting Reference Date will greatly improve the efficiency of the financial reporting process going forward and as a result, the Group’s financial reporting calendar. Accordingly, audited accounts for a shortened nine-month period ended December 31, 2019, are currently being finalised and are expected to be published before the end of January 2021; unaudited Interim Accounts for the six-month period ended June 30, 2020, will be published shortly following the audited December 31, 2019 accounts; and audited accounts for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020, are scheduled to be published in April 2021. Thereafter, interim and annual accounts will be published each year for the six months to June 30 and twelve months to December 31 in accordance with the LSE Standard Listing Rules.
The Brunner Investment Trust PLC (LON:BUT) has announced that it has renewed its authority to repurchase a maximum of 6,399,639 of its ordinary shares (being its outstanding shareholder authority). Such authority lasts until the next shareholder authority granted, or where expressly revoked by shareholders. The buy-back may be funded from the company’s resources (including from sales of investments made by the Company and debt facilities). No maximum consideration payable has been determined by the company, but it is unable to pay a price for any shares pursuant to the buy-back which would equate to a premium on the net asset value. The company has appointed JPMorgan Securities to act as its broker in respect of the buy-back.
Powerhouse Energy Group PLC (LON:PHE), the UK technology company commercialising hydrogen production from waste plastic has announced that David Ryan, its chief executive officer, and Tim Yeo, its executive chairman, will be presenting at an investor webinar being hosted jointly by Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Ltd and Vox Markets. The event will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2021, at 5.30pm.
6.50am: Better mood predicted for London
The FTSE 100 is expected to be in better spirits on Tuesday morning as traders anticipate the return of their good old buddy, Wall Street, after an extra day’s holiday.
Like when your best friend is off school, London’s blue chips had a dull day on Monday falling 15 points or 0.2% to 6,720.65, but are predicted by spread-betters to bounce back with a 35-point gain
An example has been set by Asian markets, which headed higher on Tuesday, with the Hang Seng up 2.2% and the Nikkei rising 1.4%.
Giving them some impetus is a report that the incoming US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, feels that with interest rates at historical lows, now is the time to “act big”, as with US president-elect Joe Biden’s proposed US$1.4trn-US$1.9trn stimulus package, with the benefits outweighing the challenges of a larger deficit.
In prepared remarks to be delivered later today, obtained by the FT, the former Federal Reserve chief will state that the US risks a more prolonged recession and long-term scarring if it did not inject more government spending into the economy now.
“Yellen will also need to convince the more sceptical cohort of US lawmakers that the new Biden fiscal plan, where there is agreement on another $1,400bn stimulus cheque, but where the increases in the minimum wage and other safety net programs, are slightly more problematic, won’t cause an unsustainable rise in the US national debt,” said market analyst Michael Hewson at CMC Markets.
“This is the main concern of the more fiscally conservative US lawmakers, and something that Janet Yellen will have to use all of her political skills to convince is necessary in the short term at least. Her biggest problem will be arguing the case that further stimulus is required urgently to deal with a problem which to a large extent has been exacerbated by the very policies that the Federal Reserve has been at the forefront of over the last twelve years,” he added.
Around the markets:
- Pound: up 0.1% at US$1.3602
- Gold: up 0.1% at US$1,838.51
- Oil: up 0.6% at US$55.07
6.45am: Early Markets – Asia / Australia
Asia-Pacific shares were mostly higher on Tuesday as investors awaited remarks from US president-elect Joe Biden’s nominee for Treasury secretary, Janet Yellen.
South Korea’s Kospi led gains among the Asian markets as it jumped 2.67% while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index also saw robust gains, rising 2.16%. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 1.27%.
Mainland Chinese stocks were an exception with the Shanghai composite dipping 0.74%.
Australian shares saw gains, with the S&P/ASX 200 closing 1.19% higher.
Proactive Australia news:
Elementos Limited’s () () (FRA:9EM) drilling campaign aimed at converting existing inferred resources into indicated resources at its flagship Oropesa Tin Project in Spain has confirmed significant zones of mineralisation.
() () has received further strong, near-surface, high-grade aircore drilling results which extend gold mineralisation at Target 5 within the Cue Gold Project in Western Australia to more than 120 metres.
’s () (FRA:3MW) battery research and development subsidiary VSPC is set to capitalise on a lithium ferro phosphate battery market that is expected to expand by 500 per cent by 2030.
() has improved its cash position to A$5 million following the sale of 8 million of its shares in () () (FRA:COH) for proceeds of A$2,468,822.
’s () first pass and infill aircore drilling has confirmed highly encouraging significant intersections of bright white kaolinite across the area tested at its 100%-owned Noombenberry Project, east-southeast of Merredin in Western Australia.
() (FRA:PF8) (VSE:ELI) (NEX:EUR) has soared on receiving strong support from institutional and high net worth investors for a placement that will boost the company’s cash balance by A$7 million.
() has drilling underway at its high-grade Nepean Nickel Project, 25 kilometres south of Coolgardie, WA, to target a series of untested and highly prospective aeromagnetic targets to the north and south of the mine.
Auteco Minerals Ltd () () is confident that strong drilling results pave the way for an increase in the inferred resource at its Pickle Crow Gold Project in Canada, which currently sits at 1 million ounces at 11.3 g/t gold.
() has identified six high-priority drill targets at its 100%-owned Winjangoo Gold Project, north of Mt Magnet in WA, following the completion of a 749-sample auger drilling program.
Alkane Resources Limited () (OTCMKTS:ALKEF) (FRA:AK7) has set the stage for a strong year following a big December quarter of gold production, sales and exploration.
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