Alliance News: The Lloyds house price index shows that UK house prices fall 0.6% month-on-month in October, following a 0.1% decline in September, with the average property price dropping to GBP296,285 from GBP298,167. On an annual basis, prices decline 1.2%, the steepest fall since October 2023, while quarterly prices are down 0.5%. Lloyds mortgages director Andrew Asaam says elevated borrowing costs and renewed inflationary pressures linked partly to the Middle East conflict are weighing on housing demand and household finances. Northern Ireland records the strongest annual price growth at 4.4%, followed by Scotland at 2.8% and Wales at 1.6%. In England, the North West leads gains at 2.2%, while Greater London records the sharpest decline at 3.1%. Looking ahead, Lloyds expects subdued market conditions in the near term but does not anticipate a sustained period of falling prices, with wage growth expected to gradually improve affordability.
Comment: While the Bank of England’s motive to raise interest rates yesterday was ostensibly to control inflation, it is evident that there is no inflation in the main real estate areas of the UK, in fact quite the opposite. Therefore, it is wrong, apart from to cause more distress to mortgage payers, already struggling with record levels of taxation and ripoff Britain cost of living.
Rightmove (RMV), the UK's number one property portal, provides the following update on trading for the period from 1 July 2026. Unless otherwise stated, figures relate to the four-month period ending 31 October 2026, compared to the equivalent period in 2025. Highlights: Revenue and profit growth is in line with our previous guidance for 2026, and we are upgrading guidance for underlying earnings per share from at least 5% to at least 7%. We are delivering our fastest-ever pace of product innovation, with leading solutions for consumers and partners driving increased engagement. While near-term revenue growth remains affected by UK end-market headwinds and the interest rate environment, Rightmove continues to grow revenue, profits and free cash flow through strong execution, targeted investments and rigorous cost discipline.
Comment: While RMV may huff and puff regarding how well it is doing, and we know that it is very much the picks and shovels of the ailing real estate area, it is difficult to believe that current conditions are a purple patch. That said, there has been a tentative recovery for RMV shares, which today’s brave talk does underpin.
Roundhouse (RHAI) , a company building the trusted data layer for the autonomous AI agent economy, announces that its Dashboard now records x402 payments from more data sources, adding Solana alongside Base and Ethereum. x402 payments settled on Solana are now recorded on the Roundhouse Dashboard alongside payments on Base and Ethereum, both of which are already live. Matthew Lodge, Chief Executive Officer of Roundhouse AI, commented: "AI agents pay for services wherever those services live, so a record of what they have paid has to follow them across networks. We already cover Base and Ethereum. Adding Solana is the next big step towards a more complete picture of the market. It brings more of the AI agent economy into one place - Roundhouse."
Comment: It would appear that the market has both welcomed and understood the niche that RIAH occupies in the new economy, something which the healthy initial premium on AIM that the company recently achieved underlines. What is pleasing today is the way that the company is consolidating its place in the market.
Georgina Energy Plc, (GEX) , a helium, hydrogen and natural gas exploration and development company with strategic permits in Australia, announces further progress towards drilling at its Hussar EP513 project in Western Australia, including the procurement of wellhead equipment from Cactus Wellhead and notification to Ensign regarding mobilisation of the contracted Ensign Rig 970. GEX said, “We continue to work closely with our contractors to progress the safe mobilisation of the Ensign 970 rig. Drilling Hussar and evaluating its significant helium, hydrogen and natural gas potential into a full field development remains our priority, and we look forward to providing further updates as mobilisation arrangements progress."
Comment: The question currently is whether after the shares have been toppled from the dizzy heights of 16p in August, whether at 5p they have found the floor? The answer to this is whether those who keep throwing mud at the company have finally had their fill? Probably not is the unfortunate answer, despite today’s constructive announcement.
Reveille [AQSE: REV], a uranium exploration and development company with a primary focus on Italy's largest uranium deposits, announced that, further to its announcement of 28 October 2026, its ordinary shares of 1 pence each (“Ordinary Shares”) have been approved for trading on the OTCID Basic Market (“OTCID”) in the United States.OTC Markets provides access to a broad US and international investor audience. According to OTC Markets Group’s Q3 2026 trading update, more than 12,300 securities were actively traded across its markets during the quarter, with total trading volume of US$203.5 billion.
Comment: Another day, another significant announcement from REV, after recent high level appointments. At least in today’s RNS we are told of the merits of the OTCM Market, where $200bn a quarter is certainly nothing to be sniffed at. Indeed, this may be something that the LSE, AIM and Aquis can learn from. Oh yes, and how much stamp duty to US investors pay, and does anyone think this affects trading volume?
Strategic Minerals (SML) , an international mineral exploration and production company, announced the current resource infill drilling programme has passed 7,500 total metres drilled across 13 completed drillholes and provides an update on the ongoing infill resource drilling programme at its Redmoor Tungsten-Copper-Tin Project, located in Cornwall, UK. Redmoor is being developed by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Cornwall Resources Limited. The Company is moving firmly toward publishing a new Mineral Resource Estimate (“MRE”) update and initiating its advanced metallurgical testwork programme that will support a future Feasibility Study.
Comment: SML has been one of the few “celebrity” investor backed stocks that has maintained its positive trajectory, and in difficult markets. This is especially significant given the way that as 2026 has progressed it has not been merely enough for a company to announce it is drilling for the shares to rise 10% plus. The run up to MRE is still a strong driver here.
Fusion Antibodies plc (FAB), a specialist in pre-clinical antibody discovery, engineering and supply for therapeutic drug and diagnostic applications, announces it has been awarded a new affinity engineering project using its proprietary Rational Affinity Maturation Programme (“RAMP”) technology (the “RAMP Project”) for a European listed global pharmaceutical company (the “Client”). The project, which involves affinity engineering of the Client’s lead antibody, has been awarded under an existing master services agreement. Fusion has previously undertaken similar project work in the past, and the new award represents renewed engagement with an established pharmaceutical partner. The RAMP Project is expected to generate revenues in excess of £45,000 for the Company.
Comment: I have to admit that I was initially quite thrilled that FAB has managed to get a new contract under its belt, albeit with an existing client. Of course, the contract only being £45,000 in revenues takes off some of the sizzle of today’s news. It is also not likely to reverse a disappointing year to date so far for the company.
Record plc (REC), the specialist asset manager, today announces its unaudited results for the six months ended 30 September 2026. Revenue increased by 19% to £22.8 million (H1 FY26: £19.2 million). Management fees increased by 6% to £18.6 million (H1 FY26: £17.5 million), with growth across all three product pillars. Strong performance fees of £2.2 million (H1 FY26: £0.8 million). AUM increased to a new high of $130.3 billion (FY26: $114.6 billion), including net inflows of $12.7 billion. Operating margin increased to 32.3% (H1 FY26: 23.4%) in line with higher-margin growth and continued cost discipline. Profit after tax attributable to Record plc shareholders increased by 49% to £5.6 million (H1 FY26: £3.7 million).
Comment: An excellent all-round performance and improvement at REC, with the only real negative being that not enough people are as familiar with the company as they should be. Indeed, the shares have fallen in three out of the past four year, being down 17% so far in 2026.