SMALL CAP MOVERS: A global rare earths champion emerges from AIM
This group of 17 metals, with names like neodymium, dysprosium and lanthanum, might sound obscure, but they underpin much of modern life.
Their best-known use is in the magnets that power electric vehicles and wind turbines. Neodymium, for example, drives the tiny but powerful magnets found in everything from Tesla motors to iPhone speakers.
Lanthanum is used in camera lenses and hybrid batteries. Others are essential for polishing glass, refining oil and even colouring TV screens.
In the age of artificial intelligence, rare earths are increasingly strategic. Data centres and advanced computing systems rely on efficient cooling and high-performance hardware, both of which often use rare earth materials.
But the global supply chain is lopsided. China controls over 80 per cent of processing, giving it enormous geopolitical leverage.
Against this backdrop, a new international rare earths champion has emerged from AIM, though it won't remain on the junior market for long.
Mkango, which recycles rather than mines these elements, saw its shares jump 77 per cent this week after announcing a merger that will create a dedicated global rare earths company listed on Nasdaq, with a valuation of $400million.
In a flat week for blue-chip stocks, the AIM All-Share outperformed again, rising 1 per cent to 775.57.
Risk appetite can be gauged by the buoyancy of the small-cap index, but another measure is fundraisings, with investors showing confidence by putting up cold, hard cash.
It may be too early to declare AIM's renaissance, but green shoots are appearing in abundance.
Last month saw around 50 (modest) investment rounds in the form of share placings, retail offers, direct subscriptions and more exotic structures such as convertible loan notes.
The biggest beneficiary was The Smarter Web Company, whose backers got behind its Bitcoin treasury strategy with more than £70million of new investment.
July began with a bang, and Thursday, in particular was a big day with fewer than seven companies top up their coffers.
While crypto was inevitably a theme, the action spread across sectors. Miner Rockfire Resources and media tech firm Blackbird raised £2million each. Other beneficiaries were in oil and gas and gold.
Among the risers was something of a mystery (at least to this grizzled market reporter) as shares in 4GLOBAL soared 150 per cent.
The rally came despite the sports data firm confirming in June it would de-list from AIM on 7 July, citing rising costs, regulatory burdens and limited access to fresh capital.
The company, which helps plan large-scale sporting events using data analytics, has issued no updates to explain the spike.
Thruvision Group, the walk-through security specialist, ended the week a third higher.
The catalyst was a fundraiser set to bring in at least £2.5million, extending its cash runway from year-end to 2027 and giving it room to scale up commercial plans.
Now to this week's booby prize winners.
Versarien, the graphene materials specialist, is nearing the end of its cash runway.
It warned that without new financing it would be unable to pay its debts by August without taking 'additional restructuring action and raising further funds'. The shares tumbled 55 per cent.
Crism Therapeutics is bringing in fresh funding, but at a cost. Shares were heavily discounted to 12p, down from 21p a week earlier. The resulting dilution from the £870,000 equity raise saw the stock plunge nearly 48 per cent.
Finally, Solvonis Therapeutics has more than doubled in value since acquiring Canada-listed Awkn Life Sciences last month.
Under CEO Anthony Tennyson, the business has been transformed from a failing polymers firm into a vibrant life sciences group working on cutting-edge treatments for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Its chief scientific officer is Professor David Nutt, one of the UK's most eminent researchers.
There is an argument that the market is only just beginning to recognise Solvonis's true potential. It has a phase III asset developed to treat alcohol use disorder, one of society's most pernicious threats.
Watch this space.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Auto Blog
7 minutes ago
- Auto Blog
5 Best EV Lease Deals of 2025: Kia, Tesla, BMW, and Hyundai Under $500
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. You don't have to be rich to drive electric anymore. With federal tax credits evaporating by the end of September, carmakers are doing what governments won't: making EVs accessible. But not with boring government forms. With actual lease deals — real numbers on real cars, often cheaper than gas equivalents. The $7,500 federal credit, originally set to last through 2032, now sunsets early on September 30, 2025, due to budget reconciliation changes. But thanks to a leasing loophole, manufacturers can still apply it upfront — on cars that wouldn't otherwise qualify. This is not a drill. This is your moment. 2025 Kia Niro EV — Source: Kia 1. Kia Niro EV Wind – $129/month EPA-rated at 253 miles and riding on a 64.8 kWh battery, the Niro EV feels more like a midsize crossover than a budget eco-pod. Front-wheel drive, solid regen braking, and an honest layout make it a no-fuss, all-function urban runner. The cabin? More IKEA than Apple Store, but that's fine—this deal is about substance. Right now, several California dealers are quoting under $130/month with modest drive-offs. That's cheaper than most people's internet plan. 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric — Source: Hyundai 2. Hyundai Kona Electric SE – $169/month Hyundai's Kona Electric plays twin to the Niro under the skin but wears a sharper jacket. Inside, the tech is tasteful, and the ride tuned for calm, not cornering. It's the perfect commuter pod: quiet, simple, and cheap to juice. And for $169/month in many markets, it's the best answer to 'what EV should I get if I hate charging apps?' Just plug it into your wall and go to sleep. Tesla Model 3 — Source: Tesla 3. Tesla Model 3 Long Range – $399/month Tesla's way of doing discounts is not 'talk to your finance guy.' It's slashing the sticker in broad daylight. The Model 3 Long Range is leasing around $399/month in major metro areas. You still get the dual-motor setup, 300+ miles of range, and an ecosystem most brands still envy: Superchargers, OTA updates, and industry-leading resale. The vibe? Spartan and fast, like if Apple built a sport sedan on a dare. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. 4. BMW i4 eDrive40 – $479/month Rear-drive. 335 hp. Looks like a Gran Coupe, drives like an E46 whispering in your ear. The BMW i4 doesn't brag — it balances. You get a proper driving position, clean interior lines, and enough torque to make passing a reflex. At under $500/month, this is premium EV done right. No fake grills. No startup stunts. Just Munich precision with a cable in the wall. Source: Kia 5. Kia EV6 Light RWD – $199/month The EV6 doesn't just look fast — it feels expensive. It's the kind of car that makes you rethink what 'entry-level' means. The Light RWD trim still rides on Hyundai-Kia's superb E-GMP platform, with fast charging, strong regen, and roomy interior volume. Right now, several dealers are offering this spaceship lookalike for $199/month. No catch. Just timing. Bottom Line These aren't clearance-bin EVs. They're mature products getting one last price break before Uncle Sam stops pitching in. If you've ever thought, 'maybe next year,' this is the year. Indeed, this might be the month. Because in October, the lease math changes — and the best electric cars on the market may go back to pretending they're for someone else. About the Author Brian Iselin View Profile
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Boeing deliveries jump to 60 in June, including 8 to China
SEATTLE, July 8 (Reuters) - U.S. aeronautics company Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab said on Tuesday that it delivered 60 airplanes in June, a 27% increase compared to a year earlier, including eight to Chinese customers for the first time since a trade spat between the U.S. and China ended. Beijing had banned delivery of Boeing aircraft in April as a tariff dispute escalated between the world's two biggest economies, but in May, it removed that ban, as the two countries agreed to temporarily cut steep tariffs. Aircraft deliveries are closely tracked by Wall Street because planemakers collect much of their payment when they hand over jets to customers. The surge in deliveries comes as Boeing seeks to recover from years of production setbacks and crises that have left it burdened with debt, underscoring the critical importance of ramping up deliveries to stabilize its finances. Boeing delivered 42 of its best-selling 737 MAX jets, nine 787s, four 777 freighters and five 767s, including three to be finished by Boeing's defense division as KC-46 aerial refueling tankers. Southwest Airlines took delivery of 10 737 MAX aircraft. Five of the 737 MAX jets were for Chinese airlines. Boeing also delivered three other jets to Chinese customers, including a 787 and two 777 freighters. The company delivered 44 jets the previous month and 45 in June 2024. Through the first half of 2025, Boeing has delivered 280 jets, including 206 737 MAX aircraft, 37 787s, 14 767s, 20 777s and three older model 737s to be finished as P-8 Poseidons, a naval reconnaissance airplane. Boeing booked 116 gross new orders in June, including 54 737 MAXes and 62 787s. Alaska Airlines ordered 12 737s, and British Airways ordered 32 787s. Singapore Airlines also cancelled orders in June for three 737 MAX jets. June's order activity was a drop from May, when Boeing posted its sixth-highest monthly order tally in Boeing's history, according to company data. Through the first half of the year, the planemaker has booked 668 orders, or 625 net orders after cancellations and conversions. European rival Airbus ( opens new tab delivered 63 aircraft in June, the company reported Tuesday. Eight of those were widebody aircraft - three A330s and five A350s. Forty-three were single-aisle A320 and A321 jets that compete with Boeing's 737, and 12 were A220 regional jets.
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Trump has found a way to cut out China
Donald Trump is opening up a new frontier in his trade war. Despite striking a pact with China last month, the US president is threatening to reignite tensions with Beijing by entangling the entirety of Asia in a sprawling web of tariff deals. Even with fresh levies imposed on Japan and South Korea, Trump is racing to land a string of agreements across the continent, including with Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia. If he pulls that off, he will build a cage around Xi Jinping's ability to use Asian markets to prop up Beijing's strained export-driven economy. 'What we are witnessing is no passing trade war,' says Neil Shearing, an economist at Capital Economics. 'Rather, it is the manifestation of a deeper, more durable superpower rivalry between the world's two largest economies.' Already, Trump's trade pacts with Britain and Vietnam have set a template for his plan to weaken Beijing's trading power. The UK deal revealed tools for the White House to 'veto' Chinese investment in Britain, while the Vietnam agreement aims to stop Beijing from relying on a loophole to avoid US tariffs. Trump has achieved the latter by putting a 40pc levy on 'transshipments' – that is goods imported into Vietnam, mostly from China, and then re-exported to America. This new tariff is double the 20pc levy on Vietnamese-made goods, thereby sending a clear message to Hanoi. While Vietnam is welcome to export to the US if it can cope with a 20pc levy, Trump will come down on the country like a tonne of bricks if it replaces 'Made in Vietnam' stickers with 'Made in China'. The president has also since threatened other South East Asian countries with more aggressive tariffs unless they make a deal in the next three weeks. This includes a potential 25pc levy on Malaysia, 32pc on Indonesia and 36pc on Thailand and Cambodia. Trump's demands will certainly include Vietnam-style measures to increase the squeeze on China. Export-driven economy Trading figures clearly show why Vietnam has emerged as an early candidate for this strategy. Since Trump first came to power in 2017, China's machinery and electrical goods shipments to Vietnam have risen from about 17pc of its total exports to almost half. And since he returned to the White House this year, Vietnam's imports of these goods from China have jumped by almost a quarter. In the year to May, Vietnam imported $174bn (£129bn) of goods from China and exported $132bn to the US. The ebb and flow of these two figures tend to track each other remarkably closely. Exports to Asia are integral to Xi's attempt to keep China's economy expanding by at least 5pc a year. Beijing juices up GDP by pumping subsidies and investments into manufacturing. This is because Chinese households simply don't spend enough to allow consumption to power the economy. 'Whenever Chinese domestic spending growth sags, export growth accelerates,' says David Lubin, a senior research fellow at the think tank Chatham House. 'And that's simply because Chinese companies can't sell stuff domestically, so they sell it abroad.' At home, this economic model has led to overcapacity and oversupply, forcing businesses into damaging price wars. If these companies can't export their surplus to Asia, supply gluts appear inevitable. Yet, the escape valve remains open. Even though China's exports to the US have dropped more than 40pc from a year ago, its total exports worldwide have climbed by almost 5pc. That has included a 15pc increase in shipments to 10 countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. But the pressure is building on China, as revealed in Beijing's strident reaction to the US-Vietnam trade deal. He Yongqian, the commerce ministry spokesman, branded it 'a typical act of unilateral bullying' and vowed that hostile deals would prompt China to 'take resolute countermeasures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests'. This demonstrates the unenviable position that Vietnam finds itself in, particularly as the US and China are its two largest trading partners. Picking sides Soon, other Asian economies might face an equally painful choice between the battling behemoths. Trump this week has shown he is unafraid to wield a big stick, wherever he thinks it might work. On Monday, he posted on his Truth Social platform that he would slap a new 10pc tariff on 'any country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of Brics' – the ever-expanding group of countries led by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. This came in response to a Brics summit in Brazil, which included not only the wider membership of Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the UAE, but also a new set of 'partners' from Latin America, Africa and central Asia – as well as Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. In a statement issued after the summit, the participating countries attacked 'the proliferation of trade-restrictive actions'. They didn't name the US, but said 'unilateral' measures could 'reduce global trade, disrupt global supply chains and introduce uncertainty into international economic and trade activities'. Speaking after Trump's post, Mao Ning, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, said Brics was 'not a bloc for confrontation, nor does it target any country'. 'Tariffs should not be used as a tool for coercion and pressuring,' she said. 'Arbitrary tariff hikes serve no one's interest.' Beijing's approach is more carrot than stick. China presents itself, accurately or otherwise, as the friend of poorer countries and a defender of multilateral bodies such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation. 'As a developing country and a member of the Global South, China breathes the same breath with other developing countries and pursues a shared future with them,' China's state news agency Xinhua recently quoted President Xi as saying. The incentives for developing countries to take China's side in the trade war include the $1 trillion-plus Belt and Road Initiative, which bankrolls global infrastructure projects, and more recently the Shanghai-headquartered New Development Bank, also known as 'the Brics Bank'. In Indonesia, which is scrambling to secure a trade deal with Trump, Beijing has also been in love-bomb mode. Last week, President Prabowo Subianto was on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony on a $6bn Chinese-Indonesian joint venture project to mine nickel and make batteries for electric vehicles. He called it 'colossal, an extraordinary breakthrough', which was no doubt music to Xi's ears. Beijing's response But the Chinese also seem ready to play hard-ball. With India potentially lining up to replace China as the main supplier of iPhones to America, reports surfaced in recent weeks that hundreds of mission-critical Chinese engineers and technicians at Taiwanese firm Foxconn's iPhone plants in India had been recalled to China. Bloomberg has reported that this is part of a broader move: Beijing has informally told companies and regulators to stop exporting key equipment, personnel and know-how to India and Southeast Asia – seemingly to stop multinationals such as Apple being able to shift operations out of China quickly. The Foxconn gambit was less blustery than a Trump tariff, but it shows that Xi is playing the game. And he has a huge head-start, says Chatham House's Lubin. China has been building almost unassailable positions in industries such as solar panels, electric vehicles, batteries and, most importantly, rare earths and magnets. This already shored up Beijing's hand in the trade talks with Trump, forcing him to back down from his most aggressive tariff threats. And it might help mitigate the impact of Trump's iron cage of trade deals. Lubin describes Xi's strategy as an 'asymmetric decoupling' from the US. 'The result of establishing China as a manufacturing powerhouse is to make the world more dependent on China,' he says. 'And that gives China leverage.' The question now is whether Xi's leverage – monopolies in key sectors, plus a shower of money for his Asian partners – is enough to combat Trump's ever-toughening tariff threats. That's the call Asian countries will now have to make.
