Tomco (TOM) arrived on AIM via an RTO int a failed tech business just in time for Christmas 2006. Was that a White Christmas? I only ask because I am dreaming of one and the chap behind that RTO was Howard Crosby, nephew of Bing and cousin of Mary who shot JR.  More than £5 million was raised at 2.5p. Wind forward today and, accounting for a 2017 200-1 share consolidation, the shares at 0.335p, are 99.933% down. Can any AIM dog, still going, match that record of disaster?

Hello Share Wallowers. If you’ve never read Liar’s Poker and The Big Short may I seriously recommend you do so. We all have a tendency to think that every financial company employee knows their subject backwards and keeps on top of trends. But these two books don’t agree. However, one of the many financial outfits that does seem to keep on top of things is Just Group (JUST).

September-recommended at a 180p offer price manufacturer of collagen products for the food industry Devro (DVO) has issued an update including that “current trading and the full year outlook are slightly ahead of the board's expectations, underpinned by a robust performance and foreign exchange tailwinds”… but, more significantly, has also announced a recommended offer... at 316.1p per share!

Back in May I became mildly obsessed by Sam Bankman Fried (aka SBF), now a household name as the new Bernie Madoff. This was after I read a feature on him in the weekend FT, in its Lunch with the FT column in which celebrities from all walks of life who are newsworthy at time are interviewed over a meal at the FT’s expense. The Silicon Valley tech geeks in this series tend to order the most repulsive woke food and talk the most bullshit and generally be the most dislikeable but SBF really took the biscuit in this regard, and I spent several hours trying to find a way to short anything to do with him, unfortunately with no result. Since the implosion of FTX I have been addicted to following this lurid story and all students of fraud should spend time on this case study of folly, greed and incompetance. It has everything (certainly sex and drugs and maybe even rock and roll) and gives out a great many examples as to the crazy environment that we have been living in for so long.

‘Fast-moving consumer products’ company Supreme (SUP) has announced results for its half-year ended 30th September 2022 including emphasising “pleasingly, the business has delivered a solid trading performance in the period” and that the full-year is “now expected to be ahead of market expectations”. So what of a current share price response down towards 100p?

I refer, of course, to news today that  that Boohoo (BOO) has increased its shareholding in Revolution Beauty (REVB) from just under 13% to 26.4654% even though Revolution Beauty shares are suspended as it still cannot bottom out the size of a fraudulent accounting black hole. So is boss Mahmud Kamani mad or a genius?

Previously writing on ventilation systems and window and door hardware company Titon Holdings (TON), in July with the shares down to 75p I noted my prior caution justified; trading warning – concluding that uncertainties saw me continue to avoid. The shares last closed at 81p... but today another trading update.

Previously writing on windows and doors retailer and manufacturer Safestyle UK (SFE), in September as the shares fell to 21.5p I concluded that ‘its high household energy costs environment confidence for its products is versus the consumer spending pressures and “consumer confidence levels at a 40-year low”. As such, I remain highly cautious here at this juncture and continue to avoid’. The shares last closed at above 30p but are currently falling back below 25p following a “trading update”.

Gary Newman last tipped Petrofac (PFC) on this website on 6 September HERE at 112p. He can write what he wish, but I fear he is wrong – this is a stock for shorting -  and note comments from the great Waseem Shakoor today.

There has been a concerted attempt by Versarien (VRS) to ramp its shares in recent weeks. The reason, though it has yet to ‘fess to it is that it will be out of cash, burning cash and having stiff debts to support by Christmas. It clearly needs to do an emergency placing fast, hence the ramping.  Let’s start with the just released video below starring lovable scouse oaf Craig Phillips, the winner of Big Brother 2001.

As I discussed just over a month ago, I have fallen out of love a bit with easyJet (EZJ) as a customer. However, I do still own some shares, which means I was all over today’s full year to the end of September 2022 numbers like a rash.

AIM-listed Barkby has released a trading and strategy update. It reads quite well, but I wonder if beneath the surface there might be a nasty shock for shareholders on the way.

I start remembering a career moment of shame involving Colin Bird and that brings me to Xtract Resources (XTR) where for all Bird's dissembling surely a placing is underway? I look at the joke company eEnergy (EAAS) and the disgraceful antics of Justin the Clown.  I cover nanosynth (NNN) which I expect to go bust by New Year's Day and Argo Blockchain (ARB) which I think is already bust. I explain how it can avoid paying its bills for a while.  Then I look at "wonder stock" Atlantic Lithium (ALL), its £1 billion NPV and how robust that is, its management, the various red flags and the inevitability of a near term placing. There are bull points here as well as bear.

Ethernity Networks (ENET) has announced it has delivered its UEP2025 platform to a “prominent microwave wireless OEM customer”, noting that “the customer has indicated to Ethernity that it expects wireless internet service providers to find the product attractive due to its ability to transmit higher throughput over E-Band 10Gbps radio ports, while utilising existing microwave links as backup for continuous service”. So what of a current share price response up by 7.7% to 10.5p, to give an £8.2 million market cap?

Study showcases the potential superiority of LIGHT! Shouts today’s RNS from Advanced Oncotherapy (AVO). That would be the LIGHT Proton system that is not yet up and running? Yes that one. Great. So, who did the study? Er…

RM plc (RM.) has announced “Proposed sale of the RM Integris and RM Finance Business”, emphasising “continuation of RM's transformation strategy” and helping the shares currently higher to 45p, a £37.7 million market capitalisation. So what’s the latest detail here?

LiDAR wind sensors for wind turbines company Windar Photonics (WPHO) has announced restoration of trading in its shares following the publication of accounts and with a £1.8 million placing at 15p per share. So what of a share price up to 15.5p, a prospective £10.3 million market cap?

Back in July, I observed that “it is going to get busy, but Brickability (BRCK) is just one for the experts (even for brick and clay fans like me)” HERE. And since then, the stock has gone up and down a bit but is basically little changed. Are there any excitements then in its announcement today of results for the six months ended 30 September 2022?

Last week Condor Gold (CNR) announced that as part of a strategic review it was putting itself up for sale (again) which I warned was because it was out of cash and probably could not raise any. Guess what? Old Tom Winnifrith was right yet again.

Back in June of this year Justin the Clown told his followers, both of them, that he had filled his boots with eEnergy (EAAS) saying “My new investment that fits ALL my filters”. I am sure that is true, the shares were then c9p. They closed Friday at 6p before the company issued dismal results at 5.40 PM, nobody is watching O’clock. So yes, eEnergy does fit the classic Clown filters. But it gets worse.