Traders Cafe with Zak Mir: Argo Blockchain, Catenae, Chill Brands, Cornish Metals, Eve Sleep, Feedback, Kistos, Ormonde, Rockfire, Tomco, Zaim

Digital technology group Catenae Innovation (CTEA) said it will be attending UK Construction Week, at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, from the 5th to 7th October, 2021. During the event, Catenae and CHL will be showcasing Skillflow, a digital solution developed using Catenae's digital wallet technology and leveraging the insights and learnings achieved through Catenae's participation in the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport's consultation on Digital Identity and Attributes.

Somewhat put upon CBD group Chill Brands Group (CHLL) announced the launch of a new range of Tobacco-Free Nicotine flavour pouches. The company said its use of Next Generation Labs TFN® complements its existing lineup of CBD products which remain an anchor for its growth strategy. The global nicotine pouches market is projected to grow to US$32 billion by 2026. This launch is intended to pave the way for Chill to become a market leader through the sale of desirable CBD and TFN® nicotine alternatives.

Sleep wellness brand Eve Sleep (EVE) issued its results for the six months ended 30 June 2021, illustrating that it has not taken the pandemic lying down. UK&I revenue increased 19% year-on year and 15% on H1 2019. Average order value in the UK grew 31% as mattress purchases were increasingly accompanied with bedroom furniture, bedding and other sleep accessories from the growing range. Since the period end, July saw the successful launch of the 'Sleep Away' sleepover mattress with strong early sales. In September the new premium foam mattress range goes live. The company said it is starting to reap the benefits of our three year rebuild strategy.

Specialist clinical communication company, Feedback (FDBK) announced that following the success of the store and forward concept delivered in partnership with the equine division of CVS Group plc it is officially launching Bleepa Box, a specialist tool to enable image transfer from remote settings to the Bleepa platform. Bleepa Box is a small tablet device that connects to imaging machines in order to securely push images to Bleepa over a mobile network from remote locations.

Cryptocurrency mining group Argo Blockchain (ARB) once again underlined the way that Stateside investors appreciate tech rather more than perhaps more cynical players in the UK. Argo announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 7,500,000 American Depositary Shares, representing an aggregate of 75,000,000 ordinary shares, at a public offering price of $15.00 per ADS. The company has raised aggregate gross proceeds of $112,500,000 – a hefty figure by any standards.

Russian focused fintech group, Zaim Credit Systems (ZAIM) announced a trading update for the second quarter of the financial year ended 31 December 2021. The company unveiled another record-high quarter with £6.3m loans issued - business growth of 24% vs. Q1 2021. Mobile application launched in July 2021 created a new distribution channel to complement the online desktop channel and existing offline stores.

Mineral exploration and development company Cornish Metals (CUSN) released its interims for the six months ended July 31, 2021. The company said its capital structure has been simplified through the conversion of the Osisko loan note into royalties and the restructuring of the deferred consideration payable in respect of the acquisition of the Cornwall mineral properties into fixed payments linked to project related milestones. After the commencement of the exploration program at United Downs in April, it reported “promising” results from the first 3,000 meters of drilling, with further drilling planned to fully determine the extent of mineralization at United Downs. It has also reported a substantial increase in mineral resource for South Crofty with further potential with the major lode structures remaining open along strike.

Emulsion technology group Quadrise Fuels (QFI) provided an update on the testing of a produced oil sample taken from the Petroteq Oil Sands Plant from the Greenfield Energy LLC's Utah operations team. An extensive programme of testing on the Greenfield oil sample was completed at the Quadrise Research Facility in Essex on schedule. The testing programme at QRF has confirmed the ability to produce commercial MSAR® and bioMSAR™ fuels from the sample of heavy sweet oil provided and a report of the testing results has now been issued to the client. Tomco (TOM) said it noted the update on its testing of a produced oil sample supplied by TomCo's 100% owned subsidiary Greenfield Energy LLC taken from the Petroteq Oil Sands Plant during Greenfield's operation of the POSP.

One of the most stunning stocks of the year to date has been Kistos (KIST), the low carbon intensity energy producer, headed up by Andrew “Rockrose” Austin, who continues his walk on water performance in terms of the stock market. The company said that following a planned four-week maintenance shutdown, the TAQA operated P15-D platform has resumed normal operations. In turn, this has allowed the resumption of gas export from the Q10-A gas field, which is operated by Kistos with a 60% working interest. Kistos is clearly in positive focus given the soaring price of gas currently.

Ormonde Mining (ORM) announced its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2021. At the Salamanca and Zamora Gold Projects applications to extend each permit for a further three years have been submitted to the mining authorities where they are currently being processed. At La Zarza the company continues to hold discussions with interested parties with a view to disposing of its data and land assets relating to the La Zarza copper-gold project in the Iberian Pyrite Belt.

Gold and base metal exploration company, Rockfire Resources (ROCK) announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2021. Post period diamond drilling is in progress at Copperhead. During the preparation of tracks, pads and infrastructure for drilling, Rockfire geologists continued to observe weathered sulphides in fractures and veins. As the access tracks advanced towards the drill site, zones of malachite and azurite (copper carbonate) were mapped, as well as occasional fresh chalcopyrite (copper sulphide) in veins.