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One company to benefit from the rise in insolvencies has been FRP Advisory, the restructuring group, which expects its annual profits to rise to £37 million. The London-based company expects to record revenue of £128 million for the year to the end of April, up 23 per cent from the same period last year.

During the year the group’s restructuring division has handled well-known cases, including The Body Shop, the cosmetics and skincare company, Inland Homes, the property business, and the parent company of Reader’s Digest, the magazine.

FRP Advisory said that it had been “active nationwide” as company insolvencies rose and that it had increased its market share to 16 per cent during the year, from 14 per cent in 2023. The corporate and debt advisory team completed 76 transactions in the year to the end of April, with an aggregate deal value of £1.4 billion, down from £1.8 billion the previous year.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/company-insolvencies-rise-by-almost-a-fifth-6bwqcqqgx

David Horgan, Chairman, commented: "Bolivia offers potential for large volumes of high-purity, cleanly produced battery-grade Lithium for the European market.

We must go where the resources are: there are many sources of hard-rock Lithium worldwide, but their mining and processing is often dirty and expensive. Only Lithium brines offer the potential for clean, Green low-cost and high quality product."

"Europe needs offtake. Chinese dominance of Rare Earths, and graphite mining, together with Chinese control of Lithium and Cobalt processing, puts western supplies in jeopardy. We can no longer rely on free markets to ensure supply. European vulnerability is further exacerbated by protectionist moves in NAFTA, and Japan. The EU has little choice but to secure its lifelines."

"No one company or country has the weight to grapple with China and NAFTA - it must be a "Team Europe" effort. Accordingly, we sought EU institutional cover and, where possible, minority investments by Member States' entities to guard against expropriation."

"Finance is best linked to offtake. We are now cooperating on downstream and financing activities with Germany's leading Mittelstand representative body. All markets are important, but Germany's OEM market is critical."

"We have worked for many years on Bolivian brines. But the convergence of fast demand growth, rising standards and geopolitical imperatives now accelerates progress."

World’s Central Banks Buy $24,000,000,000 in Gold in Three Months, Setting New Record.

Central banks are in the midst of a gold buying spree, according to new numbers from the World Gold Council (WGC).

The organisation says central banks added $24 billion of gold, weighing 290 tonnes, to their coffers in the first quarter of this year.

That’s the strongest level of net demand for any quarter on record, using data that dates back to the year 2000.

The WGC says China, Turkey, India and Kazakhstan are driving much of the demand for the precious metal.

“Many have attributed central banks’ ongoing voracious appetite for gold as a key driver of its recent performance in the face of seemingly challenging conditions: namely, higher yields and US dollar strength. And despite the high bar set in the last two years, the voracious buying has continued into 2024 in the face of the renewed gold price rally…

Not only is the long-standing trend in central bank gold buying firmly intact, it also continues to be dominated by banks from emerging markets. Ten central banks reported increased gold reserves (of a tonne or more) during Q1, all of whom have been active over recent quarters.

The WGC says the previous quarterly record for net demand was set in Q4 of last year, weighing in at 286 tonnes.

The group says more data is needed to determine whether gold’s recent rise in price will have an impact on central bank purchases moving forward.

“While the recent price rally may have impacted trade execution, for those central banks that manage their gold reserves more actively, we do not expect it will derail any strategic gold accumulation plans they may have.”

Gold has moved from around $2,000 at the start of this year to $2,347

Thanks for that, snooz; much appreciated.

Saudi Arabia's budget airline Flyadeal is considering placing an order for more single-aisle Airbus aircraft and upgrading its existing order of 50 narrow-body jets, as it seeks to grow its international route network.

Flyadeal, an all-Airbus fleet operator, is looking into converting its existing order of A320 Neos and A321 Neos to higher specification aircraft, Steven Greenway, the new boss of the no-frills carrier, told The National.

The potential modification will increase the maximum take-off weight, improve the performance of the jet engines and secure the so-called ETOPS certification that allows for longer flights over water.

It is also considering increasing the number of larger A321 Neos in its existing order to deal with capacity constraints at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and limited landing slots at congested airports.

Once it finalises decisions about modifications of its current order book, Flyadeal may place a new order for Airbus A320 Neos and A321 Neos, with a decision to come in the next two months, Mr Greenway said.

https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/aviation/2024/05/06/saudi-arabias-flyadeal-mulls-new-airbus-jet-order-amid-route-expansion-plans/?utm_source=The+National+newsletters&utm_campaign=f02c5c7eef-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_01_18_11_48_COPY_08&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-53af5a22d1-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

Apologies.

Rns out

Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY) today announces IndiGo has agreed to place an order for 60 Trent XWB-84 engines. This is the first ever agreement for Rolls-Royce with this leading Indian airline.

As part of the deal, the health and maintenance of the engines will be covered by Rolls-Royce’s comprehensive TotalCare service.

Flying to more than 110 domestic and international destinations, IndiGo flew 100 million passengers in 2023 and is among the fastest growing airlines in the world. The new order will power the airline’s expansion plans, particularly its growing footprint on international routes.

https://www.rolls-royce.com/media/press-releases/2024/25-04-2024-poweroftrent-rr-announces-indigo-has-agreed-to-order-60-trent-xwb-engines.aspx

A friend has seen a target of 500+ on a tip site.

With this news, who knows? Possibly even higher?

DYOR.

What I fail to understand is why someone would spend their time trying to convince other people not to buy a share; it makes no sense whatsoever.

Proactive this morning:

Asiamet Resources has reported high grades from grab samples collected during due diligence site visits to the BKM project area in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Several visits were undertaken to the KSK licence area in recent months by prospective partners or acquirers, said Asiamet, with four surface grab samples collected for confirmatory analysis during one of these visits.

Two samples recorded grades at 24.0% and 23.3% copper while outcrops contained significant grades of other metals.

Asiamet added the results were consistent with previous surface sampling and reinforced the upside potential of both the BKM and BKZ deposits.

Darryn McClelland, chief executive, commented: "The recent due diligence site visits have been very positive with good feedback received from all groups.

"The assay results from these grab samples are outstanding and, specifically for BKM, provide encouragement for the company in the fact that samples of this grade are found at surface.

“ Our current mine plan targets mining of high-grade starter pits from the BKM resource delivering high-grade feed early in the life of the project allowing strong ramp-up of copper production.”

Artemis Resources Limited Gold Review in West Pilbara

16/04/2024 7:48am

RNS Regulatory News

RNS Number : 7740K

Artemis Resources Limited

16 April 2024

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the UK version of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended ("MAR"). Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

16 April 2024

Artemis Resources Limited

("Artemis" or the "Company")

GOLD REVIEW IDENTIFIES MULTIPLE TARGETS IN WEST PILBARA

DRILL ASSAYS INCLUDE 5m @ 6.23% Cu, 3.01 g/t Au & 45.32 g/t Ag

ROCK CHIP ASSAYS INCLUDE 23 g/t Au

· Internal review of historical data uncovers gold and copper targets

· Multiple prospects identified across Carlow, Silica Hills and Osborne tenements

· Peak rock chip assay results hit 23 g/t Au at Orpheus prospect

· Peak drill intercepts includes 5m @ 6.23% Cu, 3.01 g/t Au & 45.32 g/t Ag at the Chapman prospect

· Priority targeting currently underway to expand gold exploration program, in addition to drilling at the Lulu Creek prospect

Artemis Resources Limited ('Artemis' or the 'Company') (ASX/AIM: ARV) provides this update to shareholders on its Karratha Gold Precinct exploration program.

The Karratha Gold Precinct covers an area of more than 200km2 in the West Pilbara region of Western Australia. It is located ~20km from the main regional town of Karratha, which is only a 2-hour flight from Perth.

Executive Director George Ventouras commented "Through a recent internal review of Artemis historical tenement data, we have uncovered numerous prospects that display high prospectivity and compelling first pass results. Given the current gold price and market sentiment, we are very excited by the opportunity to explore these further. Given the Company's tenement locations and the dual streams of lithium and gold, we are confident that the pathway forward will be a positive development for the Company."

... as European defence spend continues upwards - analysts.

BAE was given a share price target upgrade by Deutsche Bank analysts on Friday as European defence spending looks to keep growing.

“BAE has more exposure to the Nordic, Baltic and Eastern European states, which are the fastest growing defence markets in Europe,” the bank said in a note.

Given the ongoing war in Ukraine, Deutsche highlighted plans from the likes of Poland, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden to boost defence spending.

“BAE could benefit in two ways, either via direct sales to these countries, or via foreign military sales via the US,” analysts added.

Indeed, Deutsche highlighted a series of high-profile contracts from the US so far this year, including for armoured multi-purpose vehicles, alongside M109A6 and A7 Howitzers.

Demand for military jets, such as the Eurofighter, could also be revived, according to the bank, as orders come through from Middle Eastern nations.

Deutsche lifted BAE’s share price target from 1,290p to 1,440p as a result, anticipating a 12% climb on Thursday’s close.

https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/1045188/bae-to-keep-benefiting-as-european-defence-spend-continues-upwards-analysts-1045188.html

This is NOT a Rolls Royce engine.

From Stockopedia:

The analyst consensus target price for shares in Helium One Global is 5.55p.

That is 403.28% above the last closing price of 1.10p.

https://www.stockopedia.com/share-prices/helium-one-global-LON:HE1/

There's a halwit by the name of halfpenny on ADVFN desperately... and pathetically trying to deramp... wonder why!

My only concern is:

In accordance with Rule 2.5(a) of the U.K. Takeover Code, International Paper reserves the right to make an offer for DS Smith on less favourable terms than those set out in this announcement: (i) with the agreement or recommendation of the DS Smith Board; or (ii) if a third party announces (after the date of this announcement) a firm intention to make an offer or a possible offer for DS Smith which, at that date, is of a value less than the value implied by the Exchange Ratio. International Paper reserves the right to introduce other forms of consideration and/or vary the mix or composition of consideration of any offer.

Https://www.chronicle.co.zw/matabeleland-fast-becoming-top-lithium-producer/

New business profit up 45 per cent (43 per cent) to $3,125 million. Excluding the effect of interest rate and other economic movements, new business profit up 47 per cent (45 per cent)

- Operating free surplus generated from in-force insurance and asset management business of $2,740 million (2022: $2,725 million ($2,760 million))

- Adjusted operating profit up 8 per cent (6 per cent) to $2,893 million

- EEV shareholders' equity is up 7 per cent to $45.3 billion, equivalent to 1,643 cents per share, on an AER basis.

19 Mar 2024, 03:07 AM IST

(Bloomberg) -- UK defense company BAE Systems Plc is sounding out investors for a corporate bond sale that could top $4 billion to help refinance a bridge loan it used to acquire Ball Aerospace, according to people familiar with the matter.

The firm agreed to buy Ball Aerospace in August in a $5.6 billion deal as a way to reach into space, a frontier the company predicts will become increasingly important in warfare. It marked the biggest purchase in the firm’s history. The final size of the bond offering will be determined on the day of the sale.

The bond sale will refinance a $4 billion facility taken out by the company in August. It’s the latest in a slew of deals earmarked for mergers and acquisition financings after the worst year in a decade for buyout funding.

BAE Systems and Bank of America Corp., which coordinated investor calls for the sale Monday, did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

https://www.livemint.com/news/bae-systems-eyes-at-least-4-billion-to-fund-ball-aerospace-purchase-11710797857178.html