29th Oct 2026 11:12
(Alliance News) - The following are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-cap and AIM stocks on Thursday.
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MAIN MARKET SMALL-CAP WINNERS
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capAI PLC, up 27% at 0.425 pence
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Nostrum Oil & Gas PLC, up 13% at 0.90p
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Hamak Strategy Ltd, up 11% at 0.45p
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Critical Metals PLC, up 8.2% at 92.00p
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Solvonis Therapeutics PLC, up 7.9% at 0.103p
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MAIN MARKET SMALL-CAP LOSERS
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Vanquis Banking Group PLC, down 37% at 45.83p, slashes its profitability guidance
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Bluebird Mining Ventures Ltd, down 8.2% at 0.05p, signs AI capacity streaming agreement
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ACG Metals Ltd, down 8.1% at 1,580.00p
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S4 Capital PLC, down 6.7% at 40.35p, Barclays cuts price target to 45p
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Panther Metals PLC, down 6.4% at 147.50p
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AIM WINNERS
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Blue Star Capital PLC, up 21% at 4.25 pence, secures German R&D tax certification for two projects
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Mothercare PLC, up 15% at 0.23p
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ImmuPharma PLC, up 13% at 4.14p
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Empyrean Energy PLC, up 12% at 0.04p
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Great Western Mining Corp PLC, up 11% at 3.05p
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AIM LOSERS
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Zinc Media Group PLC, down 25% at 32.50p
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Ethernity Networks Ltd, down 11% at 0.0025p
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Physiomics PLC, down 11% at 0.425p
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Fusion Antibodies PLC, down 9.6% at 5.65p
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Acuity RM Group PLC, down 8.8% at 1.55p
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Small-cap and AIM movers in focus:
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Vanquis Banking Group PLC, down 37% at 45.83 pence, 12-month range 45.00p-132.00p. The specialist lender slashes its profitability guidance for 2026 and 2027 after reporting a small third-quarter loss, as cost-of-living pressures drive higher credit card charge-offs and impairment provisions. Vanquis now expects negligible statutory return on tangible equity in 2026, down from previous guidance of a low-single-digit percentage, and low-single-digit returns in 2027, compared with its previous expectation of low-double-digit returns. It also cuts its 2028 guidance to low-double-digit returns from mid-teens, assuming weaker credit performance persists. Gross customer interest-earning balances rise 21% year-on-year to GBP3.21 billion at September 30, while net receivables increase 23% to GBP3.09 billion. However, the year-to-date net interest margin falls to 14.8% from 17.0% a year earlier, while the risk-adjusted margin declines to 8.5% from 11.6%. Vanquis lowers its year-end customer interest-earning balances forecast to around GBP3.3 billion from more than GBP3.3 billion, and its 2027 forecast to around GBP3.4 billion from more than GBP3.7 billion. It also cuts its risk-adjusted margin guidance to around 8.0% for 2026 and 7.5% for 2027, from more than 8.5% and 8.0%, respectively. The lender says it is tightening underwriting and moderating growth ambitions as household financial pressures persist, while targeting GBP30 million to GBP35 million in cumulative transformation cost savings between 2026 and 2028. Its common equity tier 1 capital ratio stands at 14.8%, down from 17.4% a year earlier, and Vanquis lowers its 2026 CET1 guidance to above 14.0% from above 14.5%.
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Bluebird Mining Ventures Ltd, down 8.2% at 0.05 pence, 12-month range 0.04p-0.50p. Signs a strategic agreement with US-based PrimaLabs.AI Inc to explore investment in artificial intelligence computing infrastructure. The proposed programme involves up to 240 Nvidia B300 GPUs, representing an indicative investment opportunity of up to USD24 million. Under the agreement, Bluebird could fund computing capacity through its affiliate FRAME in exchange for operating profits attributable to its investment, after agreed costs. Proposed minimum capacity charges of USD2 per GPU-hour would equate to around USD4.2 million annually at full deployment, although this is not a revenue forecast for Bluebird. The company intends to receive or convert distributions into bitcoin but has made no binding capital commitment.
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Blue Star Capital PLC, up 21% at 4.25 pence, 12-month range 3.00p-15.00p. Says investee company SatoshiPay has secured certification for German research and development tax credits worth more than EUR900,000, with proceeds expected in early 2027, subject to approval. Blue Star agrees to provide SatoshiPay with an unsecured convertible bridge loan of up to EUR50,000 to support working capital. Meanwhile, SatoshiPay's Vortex payments platform signs a new international payments client, with potential transaction volumes of tens of millions of dollars per month, subject to onboarding requirements. Blue Star also confirms advanced discussions over a potential minority investment in a decentralised browser business, funded from existing cash resources.
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By Eva Castanedo, Alliance News senior economics reporter
Comments and questions to [email protected]
Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Related Shares:
CapaiNostrum Oil&gasHamak StrategyCritical MetalsSolvonis TherapVanquis BankingBluebird Mining VenturesAcg MetalsS4 Cap.Panther MetalsBlue StarMothercareImmupharmaEmpyreanGreat Western Mining Corporation PLCZinc MediaEthernity NetPhysiomicsFusion AntibodiesAcuity RM Group plc