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zoo digital steamed ahead in the AIM market to close nearly 25 percent higher over the weekly period.
The rally comes just after the streaming service provider signed a new contract with a “major Hollywood studio.”
Exactly which studio remains under lock and key for now, but CEO Stuart Green’s hint at a “high-profile streaming service” sent investors into a frenzy and pushed shares above the five-year high of 200p.
Streaming service provider Zoo Digital has signed a deal with ‘a major Hollywood studio’
Zoo already had a healthy portfolio of entertainment studios, to which the group provides a range of technology and localization solutions, but this latest deal is another step forward, Green said.
This secretive client becomes the second major entertainment company to use the ZOOstudio technology platform to streamline the thousands of outsourcing and localization items that must be considered when releasing globally focused entertainment content.
A significant number of revenue-generating projects are currently in talks with the new client, according to Zoo’s press release, though the company noted that longer-term contracts have yet to be finalized.
But with a new streaming service seemingly launching every other day, Zoo’s area of expertise offers limitless opportunities for customer growth.
As it turns out, there was more than a little action in the digital segment this week.
Market research agency System1 Group also performed well in the junior market, rising 9 percent on Thursday to take the share price above 184p.
System1’s third-quarter trade update underlined a strong performance in its data and analytics revenue stream, which grew 18 percent to £3.4 million, a much-needed quarterly record given the precipitous drop in consultancy revenue for the group.
Blank technologymeanwhile rose 10 per cent after the data erasure solutions provider posted double-digit revenue growth and underlying profit of £8.4m in its earnings call on Tuesday.
Turning to the broader junior stock market, the AIM All-Share Index slightly underperformed the FTSE 350 series, dropping 1.4 percent over the week against the latter’s 1 percent drop.
On the other hand, Kin and Carta took a nosedive of 30 percent on Friday after the digital transformation consultancy issued a profit warning in its latest trading update.
Citing the “impact of macroeconomic headwinds,” namely cautionary customer spending and extended sales cycles across the industry, the company now expects net sales growth of between 8 percent and 12 percent for the fiscal year compared to 38 percent in the prior year. albeit with more or less comparable operating margins.
Switching to the industrial sectors, Star PhoenixThe re-entry into the AIM market kicked off with a bang with a 600 percent rally.
The Australian-headquartered rig operator faced a suspension in January after removing its former accountant before its shares took significant losses in late 2022.
Conroy gold and natural resources also had a good week after the gold explorer announced a new discovery in Ireland’s Longford-Down Massif.
Chairman Professor Richard Conroy said it was “potentially a transformative event for gold exploration and development in this very large gold district,” and investors were inclined to agree, sending shares 18 percent higher to break above 20p on Wednesday.
Buy-and-build group of mined materials SigmaRoc added 8 per cent to 57 pence on Thursday following a successful £30 million share placement and retail offer.
The funds raised will be directed toward near-term strategic acquisition opportunities and four organic growth and carbon footprint reduction projects, according to SigmaRoc’s RNS statement.
There was less promising news in the energy sector, with stocks in it Verditek fell 31 percent on Monday after the British clean technology company revealed its distribution deal with roofing company Bradclad had ended.
Gas energy plummeted Thursday after reporting lower production volumes due to equipment breakdowns in the first half of the fiscal year.
Chris Hopkinson, interim executive chairman, noted the need to “optimize our existing onshore assets to better position ourselves for a lower carbon future” in the group’s trading statement on Thursday.
Meanwhile, investors sent shares 6 percent lower to 19.6p.
Finally, Spectral MD has largely flown under the radar so far with a 1.6 percent increase. But how long will it be overlooked?
An article in the prestigious journal Medical Technology praised the Dallas, Texas-based group’s new approach to assessing burns.
Spectral is using AI and machine learning techniques to develop an imaging tool, the DeepView system, that can accurately predict the severity of burns.
As the publication pointed out, one of the most critical decisions in treating burn victims is to assess how deep the burn is and whether surgery is needed.
The technology under development is being adapted for use in military environments and emergency rooms to quickly and clearly assess whether patients need treatment from a burn specialist or non-burn specialist.
So this is one to watch, especially in the context of the ongoing conflict raging on our doorstep.
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