Wise Group plc (WISE), the global technology company building the best way to move and manage the world's money, today announces its Q2 FY27 results for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. Wise now expects FY27 net revenue growth to be in the upper half (17.5% - 20%) of our 15-20% medium-term target range on a constant currency basis. Wise continues to expect FY27 income before tax ('IBT') margin around the top of our 20-25% range. For H1FY27, we expect the IBT margin to be c.23%, including one-off expenses equivalent to c.2ppts. This includes c.$15 million relating to the dual listing of Wise. Further detail will be provided in our H1FY27 results, including the progress we are making in unlocking transactional efficiency and reinvesting these gains to drive future growth.
Comment: With the Budget later this month expected to pound banks with extra taxation, we are reminded that for socialists looking for money to confiscate, this sector which seems to be infinitely harvesting cash from customers is ripe for the picking. Of course, WISE dual listing on the Nasdaq rather reminds us how superfluous its London listing is. But don’t say that too loud.
Halo Minerals plc (HALO), the copper development company focused on recovering critical minerals from legacy mining waste, announces an updated Competent Person’s Report (“CPR”) for its Playa Verde copper tailings project in Chile. The CPR increases the Ore Reserve by 5.4% to 33.94 Mt and, on the Ore Reserve alone, supports an after-tax NPV10 of US$174.3 million and an after-tax IRR of approximately 46%. HALO said, “The updated CPR provides an independent reassessment of Playa Verde. The declared Ore Reserve has increased to 33.94 million tonnes and, on that Ore Reserve alone, the updated work supports an after-tax NPV10 of US$174.3 million and an after-tax IRR of approximately 46%. The CPR also sets out the potential beyond the current Ore Reserve. This includes the wider onshore Mineral Resource, identified capital and operating cost improvements, and the potential to convert further resources into reserves. These costed opportunities demonstrate the potential to deliver a project NPV10 in the orders of magnitude of around $300 million. The project also has a longer-term ambition to incorporate the surf and bay zones, which host the potential to significantly increase the project resource base, and will be modelled at an appropriate time in the future. With the updated technical work substantially advanced, Halo is focused on completing the remaining optimisation, commercial and financing work required to progress Playa Verde towards a final investment decision.”
Comment: First mover advantage is not only a concept which is big in tech, it is also applicable to mining. This is very much the case as far as HALO is concerned and today we are reminded that it is not just the speed to production, but that the size and profitability of the production to come which are noteworthy. In the wake of today’s hefty update one would expect the shares to finally build a lasting home on the right side of double figures.
Panther Metals (PALM), the exploration company focused on mineral projects in Canada, announced the closing of the Canadian flow-through share offering announced on 9 October 2026. The Flow-Through Placing has raised gross proceeds of GBP£2,220,000/CAD$4,158,064 through the issue of 980,398 units (the "FT Units") at an issue price of CAD$4.24 (£2.26) per FT Unit. PALM said, "The successful completion of this flow-through financing represents a significant milestone for Panther Metals and, we believe, establishes a new funding pathway for UK-listed exploration companies operating in Canada. This is a remarkable achievement for the Company, demonstrating what can be accomplished through innovation, determination and a willingness to challenge established financing conventions. I have always been prepared to challenge accepted norms where there is a clear financial benefit to doing so, and this transaction is a perfect example of that approach. The benefits are clear: access to a highly attractive source of exploration capital for the Company, enhanced funding efficiency for shareholders and tax advantages for eligible Canadian subscribers.”
Comment: As the Hot Chocolate song alluded to: “Everyone’s A Winner.” And it would appear that in this situation Darren Hazlewood is cast as a latter day Errol Brown, in singing the praises of the latest fundraise, and the advantages it has for his company and shareholders. On this basis alone one would expect the shares to remain near recent highs through 190p.
African Pioneer Plc (AFP) , the exploration and resource development company announced that drilling as part of the mine development programme has commenced on the Ongombo Project in Namibia under the terms of the conditional financing and technical services agreement signed between the Company and Hong Kong Xinhai Mining Services Limited and announced on 30 July 2026. Colin Bird, Chairman of African Pioneer, commented: “I am pleased to be able to confirm that work is underway that will lead to the development of a new mining operation at Ongombo – Ongeama. Our partners at Xinhai have been working closely with our Namibian-based team and we are providing the in-country technical skills required to manage the drilling programme including logging, sampling and sample custody for certified assays. We will keep shareholders updated with progress as we increase the number of drill rigs on-site to fast-track the programme”.
Comment: While it may be difficult for AFP to catch up with the current leader in the London listed Colin Bird stable – Kendrick (KEN), which is up 20x so far this year, AFP up nearly 100% is not shabby. Indeed, the progress at Ongombo should / could at least be enough to get AFP shares up towards last month’s and the year’s best levels at 3p plus by the end of 2026.
Iofina (IOF), specialists in the exploration and production of iodine and manufacturers of specialty chemical products, today provides an update on its activities during Q3 2026. In the Period, Iofina made significant progress in executing its growth strategy. The additional brine supply pipeline at IO#11 was completed during the quarter, with the plant performing well, while IO#12 has been turned over to our operations team and should be producing iodine soon. The Company also announced agreements to start builds for IO#13 and IO#14, further strengthening its production growth pipeline, with ground to be broken shortly. During the Period, Iofina Resources produced 205.2 metric tonnes ("MT") of crystalline iodine (Q3 2025: 215.8MT), which was lower than anticipated due to lower-than-expected total water volumes at our plants, plant maintenance, and delays in the completion of the IO#11 pipeline and in the commissioning of IO#12.
Comment: With addition supply due to be on tap it may be that the market can look beyond any production retracement, and operational bumps in the road, to the way that IOF remains a classic, scalable growth story, with a strong foothold in an important niche area. All of this should easily be enough to maintain the extended rally in the shares since the spring which leaves IOF up over 100% this year.
Further to the Company's announcement on 3 September 2026, Helix Exploration PLC (HEX), the US-focused helium producer and liquefier, provides the following update on commercial operations at the Rudyard facility in Montana following the hearing held on 15 October 2026 before the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation. The MBOGC has granted an exemption, subject to standard periodic gas composition review, allowing the Company to vent waste gas (which at Rudyard is primarily nitrogen) and therefore restart Rudyard operations with immediate effect.
Comment: There may be one or two slightly sleepy observers / shareholders of HEX, who were not aware that operations at Rudyard had been stopped. However, today’s news is certainly a shot in the arm for the shares, and they have gapped up towards the key 200 day moving average on the daily chart at 31p. Above this one would suggest that the shares are back in business.
Ajax (AQSE: AJAX), the natural resources investment company, announces that its Chief Executive Director, Ippolito Ingo Cattaneo, has purchased additional ordinary shares of 1 pence each in the capital of the Company. Mr Cattaneo has purchased 450,000 Ordinary Shares and his total interest is now 20,650,000 Ordinary Shares, equivalent to 17.19% of the issued Ordinary Shares.
Comment: Aside from being a large shareholder in his own listed company, we have seen the CEO be very keen to dip his hand in his pockets to buy more shares when necessarily. That he is doing this now is a decent fundamental thumbs up for the company, especially after the shares broke key 7p resistance yesterday.
ECR Minerals plc (ECR), the gold exploration and development company focused on Australia, provided a further operational update on the Maddens Flat Group of Mines in North Queensland, Australia, in which ECR holds a 50% interest. ECR said, “We are very pleased with the continued progress at Maddens. Having the processing plant commissioned and operational is an important milestone, while underground development is advancing strongly through the planned turn. With material already stockpiled at surface and targeted for completion of processing by the end of October, we are entering an increasingly active period for Maddens. This will be followed by our targeted progression to commence processing of the main production ore during November.”
Comment: Another decent “we are getting there” RNS from ECR, with the only missing ingredient being that the share price continues to slide. Clearly, the market has the company in something of a pincer manoeuvre, taking the view that the better the news, the more likely a fundraise. This may be the case, even though such harsh treatment seems a tad unfair.