Small-cap movers: Mercantile Ports & Logistics gets Trump trade boost

So, hands up—who had an AIM-quoted Indian port operator on their list of Trump 2025 trades?

No, me neither.

Yet Mercantile Ports and Logistics Ltd, which is developing a new shipping facility south of Mumbai, soared 17% after hiring President Trump’s former ethics counsel and campaign supporter.

Washington DC lobbyist Stefan Passantino has joined the MPL board as a non-executive director.

“I am excited to see how Stefan's experiences and contacts can help MPL create value for shareholders,” said chair Jeremy Warner Allen.

Passantino served in Trump’s administration during his first term as deputy counsel for ethics. He later formed Elections LLC to support Trump’s 2020 campaign before being hired by the Trump Organization in 2023.

His political connections include former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Republican presidential nominee Ted Cruz and Trump’s ex-Energy Secretary Rick Perry.

Not a bad name to have at the table when negotiating new deals—particularly in the US.

Mercantile’s news was one of the few bright spots in another dour week for small caps.

Tough week for AIM

The AIM All-Share, a barometer for the sector, looked set to close around 1.8% lower at 704.17. By contrast, the FTSE 100 edged up 1.2%.

The week’s biggest casualty, down 68%, was CMO Group PLC, which joins the growing exodus from AIM after failing to raise funds as a public company. Biome Technologies PLC, which last week announced plans to retreat from the junior market, took another 17% hit.

Seeing Machines (down 28%), a specialist in eye-tracking used in vehicles, had a difficult week following a trading update showing it held its own financially and operationally despite a tough year for the auto industry.

What’s more, the group, whose technology is installed in around 3 million cars, expects to break even this year. Tie-ups with Mitsubishi and Valeo will undoubtedly help.

Other movers

Now, onto more uplifting matters.

Great Southern Copper PLC led the pack with a 52% gain after reporting “tremendously significant” high-grade assay results from its Cerro Negro project in Chile.

The first drill hole at the Mostaza Mine intersected 20 metres at 3.31% copper and 269.89 grams per tonne of silver. Peak grades hit 6.79% Cu and 583 grams of silver.

These results far exceed previous drilling and are world-class in concentration.

Staffline Group PLC surged 39% after unveiling a £7.5 million share buyback following the sale of its PeoplePlus subsidiary.

Meanwhile, ATOME Energy PLC (up 11%) turned heads after potentially securing up to $115 million investment from Hy24, the world’s largest hydrogen private equity manager, for its green fertiliser project in Paraguay. The deal values ATOME’s stake at $60 million, with a total funding package of $625 million in the works.

Arkle Resources PLC enjoyed a 9% rally midweek after confirming lithium and magnesium deposits in its Botswana exploration project. While lithium levels were modest, every sample tested positive, and some revealed significant magnesium content.

Retail software specialist itim Group PLC rose 33% after a strong trading update driven by new contracts.

The upsurge in interest in defence and security stocks has seen a flurry of buying interest trickle down to the market’s lower echelons.

Westminster Group PLC, up 14% on Friday and ahead 8% over the week, found some love from bargain-bin bottom-scrapers.

A look at the one-year and five-year share price chart will tell you this is far from a one-way bet. So, caveat emptor.

Finally, Ariana Resources PLC's shares have climbed 20% in the past month, but at 1.94p, they remain well below last year’s 3.05p peak.

Analysts at Panmure Liberum believe there’s more value to uncover after visiting the company’s Dokwe gold project in Zimbabwe.

Ariana acquired Dokwe in 2024, boosting the resource estimate by 40% to 1.8 million ounces. A definitive feasibility study is due in early 2026, with a pre-feasibility update coming first. Analysts think the mine plan could push annual production beyond 60,000 ounces.

Panmure says Zimbabwe’s mining sector is more supportive than many expect, with permitting potentially faster than in other regions where Ariana operates. First production is targeted within three to four years.

Ariana’s Newmont Mining partnership is also advancing, with the gold giant investing $871,000 in Kosovo and North Macedonia. Its Asgard Metals Fund could bring further upside.