A brutal profit warning from AB Dynamics set the tone for small-cap trading, dragging the testing specialist down sharply and reminding investors that mid-cap industrials remain exposed to China-linked cost overruns. Elsewhere, the mood was more constructive: Luceco, Essentra and Flowtech Fluidpower all delivered upbeat trading updates that lifted shares, while a cluster of resources names, from Gem Diamonds to Georgina Energy, reported operational progress even as Ferrexpo flagged a much darker liquidity crunch following an attack on its Black Sea shipping route.
AB Dynamics slashes revenue guidance, quits China
Ab Dynamics (LSE:ABDP) shares collapsed 22.89% to 822.0p after the testing and simulation specialist cut its full-year revenue guidance to £90-95m from continuing operations and confirmed it is exiting its loss-making Chinese testing business. The group also flagged a tougher trading backdrop in the second half, compounding investor concern about the scale of the downgrade.
Luceco lifts FY27 outlook above market forecasts
Luceco (LSE:LUCE) shares fell 5.8% to 240.2p despite the electrical products group raising its 2027 profit outlook above current market expectations. Revenue climbed 13%, driven by surging sales in its Energy Transition division, with the guidance upgrade underscoring the strength of underlying demand even as the shares slipped on the day.
Essentra returns to organic growth, targets 2028 margin milestone
Essentra (LSE:ESNT) jumped 12.57% to 108.627p after reporting first-half revenue up 9.8% at constant currency, marking a return to organic growth. The company reiterated unchanged full-year expectations and set a new target of a 14% adjusted operating margin by 2028, giving investors a clearer medium-term profitability path.
Ramsdens investor backing slips slightly ahead of FirstCash vote
Ramsdens Holdings (AIM:RFX) edged down 0.17% to 664.8401p after disclosing that share sales by two investors have trimmed the stake formally committed to backing FirstCash's cash offer for the pawnbroking and jewellery retailer. The shareholder support base for the takeover remains largely intact despite the modest reduction.
Oxford BioDynamics lands first paid Orion platform deal
Oxford BioDynamics (AIM:OBD) rose 8.5% to 0.1302p after signing its first commercial agreement for EpiSwitch Orion, its 3D genomics platform, as part of a UK-funded psoriatic arthritis biomarker programme. The deal marks a step toward monetising the Orion technology beyond research collaborations.
Everplay reiterates guidance on in-line first-half trading
Everplay Group (AIM:EVPL) gained 3.98% to 235.0p after confirming first-half trading matched Board expectations, with the video games group reiterating full-year guidance in line with market consensus. Management expects growth to be weighted toward the second half of the year.
Portmeirion holds guidance as US sales surge
Portmeirion Group (AIM:PMP) slipped 1.07% to 48.97p even as the homewares group reported US sales up 17% and maintained full-year guidance. "Thanks to the support of shareholders, our balance sheet has been transformed," said chief executive Michael Scheepers, pointing to a strengthened financial position underpinning the outlook.
Frontier IP's Pulsiv signs exclusive manufacturing deal
Frontier IP Group (AIM:FIPP) climbed 4.73% to 13.72p after its portfolio company Pulsiv appointed Delta Matrix as exclusive manufacturer and wholesaler for USB power modules built on its OSMIUM technology, bringing the product to market for the first time.
Kistos holds 2026 production guidance as cash builds to $259m
Kistos Holdings (AIM:KIST) advanced 3.88% to 268.0p after reporting first-half pro forma production of 20,500 boepd and reiterating full-year guidance. The energy group's cash holdings climbed to $259m, reinforcing its balance sheet as it continues to grow its production base.
Shield Therapeutics pediatric trial data published
Shares linked to Seagate Technology (LSE:STX) fell 4.07% to 816.99p as peer-reviewed publication confirmed the safety and effectiveness of ferric maltol in children as young as two months, supporting plans to extend ACCRUFeR into younger age groups.
Defence Holdings reports pre-revenue year as Whitespace tie-up beds in
Defence Holdings posted a pre-revenue year following its August 2025 binding strategic partnership with Whitespace Global, with the company continuing to build out the commercial relationship as it works toward generating revenue.
NIOX confirms in-line trading, plans capital return
NIOX Group (AIM:NIOX) dropped 4.18% to 61.8986p despite confirming first-half trading in line with expectations and setting out plans for a capital return. "We expect the second half of the year to be stronger than the first, supported by the commercial rollout of NIOX PRO and the implementation of higher pricing in Japan," said chief executive Jonathan Emms.
Gem Diamonds sees prices firm at Letšeng despite lower output
Gem Diamonds (LSE:GEMD) rose 8.5% to 3.7p after saying all operational and financial metrics remain within 2026 guidance, with strong demand lifting prices at its Letšeng mine even as carat recovery fell in the first half.
ECR Minerals redeploys resources from Raglan to Maddens
ECR Minerals (AIM:ECR) fell 8.83% to 0.1869p after the Australia-focused gold company said it is redeploying personnel and a mobile wash plant to trial alluvial mining at Maddens, following a portfolio review that flagged the site as its highest-priority development asset.
Premier African delays Zulu restart pending Canmax talks
Premier African Minerals (AIM:PREM) dropped 10.0% to 0.0171p after confirming it will not resume plant operations at its Zulu lithium project this month, pushing the restart back until an extension to a key offtake deadline is agreed with Canmax Technologies.
Ajax to swap Eureka portfolio for Argentine copper-silver projects
Ajax Resources (AQSE:AJAX) fell 3.58% to 4.2p after the AQSE-listed explorer signed a binding preliminary deal to trade its Puna Metals assets for two Argentine copper-silver projects, Rachaite and El Salto, with no cash changing hands in the transaction.
Georgina Energy advances Hussar drilling with rig mobilisation
Georgina Energy (AIM:GEX) rose 9.3% to 7.76p after mobilising a water well contractor to its 100%-owned Hussar EP513 site in Western Australia, clearing the way for the Ensign 970 rig ahead of a third-quarter drill test funded entirely by partner Harlequin.
Active Energy defends UAE strategy ahead of AGM
Active Energy Group (AIM:AEG) gained 1.62% to 0.094p after setting out the reasoning behind its United Arab Emirates expansion, tying power-backed digital infrastructure plans to the region's water and energy security priorities ahead of its annual meeting.
GreenRoc begins Phase III drilling at Amitsoq graphite project
GreenRoc Strategic Materials (AIM:GROC) rose 3.57% to 2.9p after intersecting graphite ore at its first drill hole of the phase, with depth and thickness matching expectations at the Amitsoq deposit in Greenland.
Tern boosts Talking Medicines stake, lifts distribution pledge
Tern (AIM:TERN) climbed 5.08% to 1.55p after investing £117,195 in new convertible loan notes carrying an uplifted principal of £234,389. The investment company separately raised its minimum shareholder distribution commitment from qualifying exits to 70% of net proceeds.
Flowtech Fluidpower guides in-line H1 as acquisitions lift revenue
Flowtech Fluidpower (AIM:FLO) jumped 8.47% to 64.0p after the hydraulics and pneumatics specialist reported first-half trading in line with expectations, with revenue up 24% driven by recent acquisitions.
Potentially AI joins Google and ByteDance partner networks
Potentially AI (AIM:AGI) slipped 0.33% to 7.475p after securing up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits and preferential access to ByteDance's BytePlus models, as the AI platform scales its operations through both partnerships.
Helium One delivers second sale from US project
Helium One Group Di (AIM:HE1) fell 0.61% to 0.4075p after completing its second trailer delivery under the Colorado offtake agreement, marking further progress toward regular cash-generating sales from the Galactica-Pegasus project.
Allergy Therapeutics names new executive chairman
Allergy Therapeutics (AIM:AGY) rose 5.56% to 5.7p after installing Chief Strategy Officer Helge Weiner-Trapness as Executive Chairman, as the allergy immunotherapy specialist weighs a dual listing in Hong Kong.
Dotdigital confirms FY26 in line with expectations
Dotdigital Group (AIM:DOTD) rose 1.8% to 48.865p after confirming revenue and profit in line with market forecasts for the year to 30 June. Contracted annual recurring revenue grew 18%, boosted by its Alia and Social Snowball acquisitions.
Berkeley Energia appoints former Endesa chief to board
Berkeley Energia (AIM:BKY) traded at 25.0p after naming José Bogas Gálvez, who led Spanish utility Endesa for 12 years, as a non-executive director to help unlock permitting for its Salamanca uranium project.
Gaming Realms grows core business despite UK duty hike
Gaming Realms (AIM:GMR) gained 1.33% to 30.4p after reporting core content licensing revenue up 9% and Adjusted EBITDA growth of 16% in the first half, with the board reiterating full-year expectations despite the impact of a UK duty increase.
