The FTSE 100 dipped early on after a bullish post-budget performance on Wednesday.

Grabbing headlines was Nationwide, which unveiled a deal to take over Virgin Money in a move which would create a group with combined assets of £366.3 billion.

Elsewhere, Aviva shares jumped in early trading after the insurer unveiled a 9% increase in full-year pre-tax profit to £1.47 billion and hiked its dividend by 8% to 33.4p.

ITV also enjoyed a strong start, after announcing solid growth in its production and streaming wings had largely offset a wider downturn in advertising spend last year.

And finally, Halifax said 2024 had so far brought relative stability for the housing market, as the lender reported prices had climbed by 1.7% in February.

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Oliver Oxenbridge, chief executive officer of Top End Energy Ltd (ASX:TEE), joins Proactive’s Jonathan Jackson to discuss the company's strategic direction following its recent acquisitions in the Northern Territory. Oxenbridge outlines the company's exploration strategy, emphasising a focus on identifying and developing resources that align with global energy demands and sustainability goals.

The CEO shares the rationale behind the recent acquisitions, explaining how the selected ground possesses significant potential for gas exploration. These new tenements complement Top End Energy's existing gas projects, enhancing the company's portfolio and strategic position in the energy sector.

Oxenbridge also provides insights into the current helium and hydrogen markets, noting the growing demand for these gases in various industries and their importance in the transition to cleaner energy sources. Finally, he outlines what investors and stakeholders can expect from the company moving forward.

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Astral Resources NL (ASX:AAR) managing director Marc Ducler sits down with Jonathan Jackson in the Proactive studio to highlight recent assays from its Feysville Gold Project, 14 kilometres south of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Ducler talks through the latest gold intersections from the project's Kamperman prospect.

The initial four holes in a recent 19-hole reverse circulation drilling program have demonstrated significant gold mineralisation. The standout result from hole FRC267 showcased the most substantial high-grade gold intersection at Kamperman to date, reporting 35 metres at 3.81 g/t from 86 metres.

These findings not only affirm Astral Resources' confidence in Kamperman's potential but also hint at its capability to serve as a high-grade satellite ore source for the Mandilla Gold Project.

Ducler expressed satisfaction with the consistent quality of mineralisation across the length of the mineralised zone, underscoring the prospect's potential. With results from 15 more RC holes anticipated, he hinted that the best outcomes may be yet to come.

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Botala Energy Ltd (ASX:BTE) energy development manager Dr Steve Lennon joins Proactive’s Jonathan Jackson to share his extensive expertise on the pressing gas supply and demand challenges facing Botswana.

With a distinguished career in energy management, Lennon brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership experience to the table, emphasising the critical role Botala Energy plays in addressing these issues.

Botswana's gas market is at a pivotal point, grappling with the growing energy needs of its economy and the complexities of securing sustainable gas supplies.

Dr Lennon outlines the intricate dynamics of the local gas market and elaborates on Botala Energy's strategic position in this landscape.

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Hydrix Ltd (ASX:HYD) executive chairman Gavin Coote joins Jonathan Jackson in the Proactive studio to discuss the company’s latest financial results. Hydrix, known for its innovative solutions in the health and wellness space, has seen a significant increase in its services sales opportunity pipeline, now exceeding $300 million.

Coote breaks down this achievement, highlighting $18 million in sales during the half-year and pointing to a potential future revenue of $30 million from existing contracts. A key factor in this growth has been Hydrix's successful expansion into Europe and the US, which has increased international revenues.

Coote emphasised that 55% of revenues now come from international clients, a 90% increase over two years, demonstrating the company's growing global footprint. Furthermore, 85% of the sales pipeline comprises international client opportunities, indicating robust future growth prospects.

Hydrix Medical has also developed a $3 million sales opportunity pipeline, with potential annual recurring revenues from products under distribution arrangements. Discussions are underway to distribute a new outpatient ambulatory cardiac wearable patch device, recently approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in February 2024.

Looking ahead, Coote expressed optimism for the next half, indicating that Hydrix's strategic initiatives and focus on health and wellness innovations are set to drive further growth and success.

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Cloud DX CEO Robert Kaul joined Steve Darling from Proactive to unveil an exciting development: a new Master Deployment Agreement with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI). As an academic health research institute located in Ottawa, OHRI serves as the research arm of The Ottawa Hospital and is affiliated with the University of Ottawa. With approximately 2,200 scientists, clinician investigators, students, research fellows, and support staff, OHRI is dedicated to studying a wide array of diseases, conditions, and specialties, with a primary focus on translating discoveries into improved health outcomes.

Kaul explained to Proactive that researchers at OHRI will leverage Cloud DX Connected Health products and services to facilitate remote patient monitoring, communication via video and text, schedule and compliance management, and enhanced clinical study efficiencies. By utilizing Cloud DX technology, researchers aim to conduct higher quality clinical studies, streamline subject recruitment processes, and gather more comprehensive data from each participant. Each order for Cloud DX technology will be accompanied by a separate Statement of Work, with plans in motion for projects involving over 1,000 patients.

Cloud DX boasts a successful track record of academic partnership, having collaborated with esteemed institutions such as McMaster University, University of New Brunswick, University of Waterloo, and Simon Fraser University. This new agreement with OHRI further solidifies Cloud DX's commitment to advancing healthcare research and innovation, empowering researchers with cutting-edge technology to drive improved patient outcomes and clinical study efficiencies.

With this partnership in place, Cloud DX is poised to continue its mission of revolutionizing healthcare delivery through innovative solutions and strategic collaborations with leading academic and research institutions.

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Far East Gold Ltd (ASX:FEG) CEO Shane Menere sits down with Proactive’s Jonathan Jackson to shed light on the start of a scout drilling program at the highly prospective Victory Vein at the Aloe Rek prospect in Indonesia, which was initially identified by Barrick in 1997 as a critical target. The decision to initiate this diamond drilling follows comprehensive soil sampling and trench assays, further bolstering the company's understanding and optimism towards the Victory Vein's prospects. Menere discusses the drilling, highlighting the vein's potential with bonanza gold grades reported up to 76 g/t and significant widths up to 70 metres, based on surface sampling, mapping and subsurface work.

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Iain Macpherson, managing director and CEO of Tolu Minerals Ltd joins Jonathan Jackson in the Proactive studio to share significant developments in the company’s exploration activities in Papua New Guinea. Macpherson provides an overview of the maiden drilling program at the Taula prospect within the Tolukuma Project, emphasising its accelerated pace and objectives. The program aims, among other things, to expand the Mineral Resource Estimate. A notable strategic move by Tolu Minerals was the purchase of its own drill rig, a decision aimed at expediting exploration. Macpherson is optimistic about the potential to accelerate the project's development timeline. Assays are expected to be announced shortly. Macpherson also highlighted the company’s efforts in engaging with local stakeholders, an essential part of conducting exploration in such a region. This engagement underpins the project's sustainability and community integration. Further good news came with the Papua New Guinea Mineral Resources Authority confirming the extension renewal of Exploration License EL2531 for an additional two years.

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Fenix Resources Ltd (ASX:FEX) executive chairman John Welborn joins Proactive’s Jonathan Jackson to share insights into the company's robust half-year financial results and strategic developments. Welborn highlights the establishment of an independent logistics and port services business, integral to Fenix's fully integrated mining, haulage and port operations, marking a significant step forward in enhancing the company's operational efficiency and service delivery. Fenix reported a strong financial performance, with revenue rising 49% and EBITDA soaring 110%. The key drivers behind this performance were strategic initiatives that bolstered the company's integrated operations and leveraged market conditions favourably. Additionally, Welborn discusses Fenix's strategic investment in Athena Resources, acquiring a 31.8% shareholding. This investment is seen as an attractive opportunity to diversify and strengthen Fenix's portfolio, aligning with its growth strategy and leveraging potential synergies. Looking ahead to the second half of the year, Welborn shared an optimistic outlook, suggesting that Fenix is well-positioned to continue its growth trajectory and build upon its half-year achievements. The company aims to further integrate its operations, explore new opportunities for expansion, and deliver enhanced value to its stakeholders.

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Percheron Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:PER) managing director and CEO James Garner sits down with Proactive’s Jonathan Jackson for a comprehensive update of the company and its focus on treating rare diseases, including the advancement of its lead program, ATL1102. Percheron is dedicated to developing therapies for conditions with high unmet medical needs, particularly emphasising its efforts on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a rare and severe muscle-wasting disease.

Garner provides an update on ATL1102, highlighting its promising progress in clinical development and the commercial opportunity presented by the need for effective DMD treatments. Percheron is well-funded for its upcoming initiatives, with a strong focus on advancing its pipeline towards market readiness.

Garner also outlines the company’s strategic path to market, which includes ongoing development work and the exploration of partnership opportunities to enhance ATL1102’s commercial viability and accessibility.

The company’s participation in the Annual Clinical and Scientific Conference of the Muscular Dystrophy Association was marked by three poster presentations. Garner highlighted the importance of this involvement, detailing the significant findings presented and their relevance to the broader scientific and medical community’s understanding of DMD and potential treatments.

Finally, he outlines the investment case for Percheron, emphasising the company’s unique position in addressing rare diseases with significant unmet needs.

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