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The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Monday. ---------- SMALL-CAP - WINNERS ---------- Altona Rare Earths PLC, up 65% at 2.15 pence, 12-month range 1.05p-2.76p. Says the US government, through the US Trade & Development Agency, confirms its intention to support the Monte Muambe rare earths project in Mozambique. The Africa-focused resource exploration and development says the support is intended to help define the technical and financial pathway for developing Monte Muambe, targeting rare earth elements used in permanent magnets, defence applications and energy transition technologies. The support remains subject to a formal grant agreement, which is currently being prepared. Altona CEO Cedric Simonet says: ‘This commitment of support from USTDA is a powerful external validation of the Monte Muambe project’s strategic quality and economic potential. It highlights the strong, high-level interest from a leading US government institution in developing a secure, alternative source of rare earths.’ Separately, Altona says it expects to receive assay results shortly from its recent fluorspar and gallium drilling campaign at Monte Muambe, with the company anticipating the results will underpin a mineral resource estimate and demonstrate the fluorspar component as a potentially viable standalone mining project. ---------- Chill Brands Group PLC, up 17% at 0.53p, 12-month range 0.35p-3.00p. Says demand for its Chill Connect platform continues to run ahead of supply, as strong momentum in UK convenience retail drives rapid growth. Chill Brands says product sales revenue averages more than 55% month-on-month growth between October 2025 and January 2026, with combined monthly revenues from product sales and service fees now materially higher than in the prior 18-month reporting period. The company says January alone generates more than £150,000 of combined revenue. The London-based consumer packaged goods distributor says the UK convenience retail sector is undergoing significant structural change, with independent retailers navigating increasingly complex and fragmented markets. Chill Brands adds that its product ranges are expanding rapidly across multiple categories, with retailers asking for more product lines and brands actively seeking its distribution reach. Chill Brands says demand regularly runs ahead of capacity, with growth constrained primarily by working capital rather than market opportunity. It adds that the market opportunity in convenience retail continues to grow larger, and the board says the opportunity ahead is clear as it expands beyond vaping into categories such as sundries, beverages and confectionery. ---------- Aterian PLC, up 10% at 29.13p, 12-month range 20.25p-58.00p. Agrees terms of a commercial and funding partnership to market and scale tantalum concentrate production from Rwanda, calling the deal a ‘decisive step change’ for the business. Aterian says the agreement applies to 100% of tantalum concentrate produced from the Eastinco operations in Rwanda and is expected to commence in February. The partnership provides funding support alongside marketing and offtake, aimed at accelerating sales volumes and improving cash generation. The London-based critical mineral exploration and development company with projects in Botswana, Morocco and Rwanda says the arrangement materially de-risks near-term operations by aligning financing with sales, while enabling production to scale without further balance sheet strain. Aterian adds that the deal strengthens its exposure to tantalum, a critical metal used in electronics and advanced technologies, and positions the group to capture growing demand. ---------- SMALL-CAP - LOSERS ---------- Quantum Data Energy PLC, down 23% at 2.65p, 12-month range 2.60p-213.50p. Raises £1.2 million to accelerate construction of a 5 megawatt project as it advances towards its initial 300 megawatt production target. The reserve power generation plants developer says it is close to financial close and commencement of construction at its 5 megawatt Bordesley flexible generation project. To fund near-term project capital expenditure, the company completes an acceleration capital funding, issuing 46.6 million new shares at 2.5 pence each to raise £1.17 million gross. The company says existing cash reserves remain sufficient for working capital, with the proceeds used solely to increase megawatts in production. Admission of the new shares is expected on February 12, taking total issued share capital to 223.1 million shares. Chief Executive Pieter Krugel says: ‘The acceleration capital has been undertaken solely to support the expeditious completion of an immediate growth opportunity that will make a meaningful contribution to QDE’s portfolio of MWs in production.’ ---------- Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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