Suddenly everybody sees the markets heading ever higher. China and the USA are apparently on the cusp of signing something which would at least mark a truce is the trade spat, central banks are again joining the feeding frenzy and life is good. UK markets are up, Asian markets are up and the USA is posting yet more records. And with all this uber-happiness, gold and gold stocks are also pushing higher. It is all good, but I thought that gold was supposed to be an asset of last refuge: why is it heading higher if stockmarkets in general are riding high? Surely it should be heading in the opposite direction.

I jest. The death of Qassem Soleimani sees one more evil bastard heading to hell. While those with #TrumpDerangementSyndrome will shed tears for this Jew hating, terror loving mass murderer, I do not but discuss the impact of this latest Trump triumph on the region, on the oil price and on oil stocks. I look at Anglo African Oil & Gas (AAOG) and at Zenith Energy (ZEN) whrre I am contacted by material shareholders who want regime change something that makes Anglo's desire to own Zenith shares even more bonkers. Finally I suggest that unless Bidstack (BIDS) clarifies three matters urgently its shares will continue to collapse.

We review monthly the performance of the top shorted London-listed shares as at the start of each year. For 2019 the final review is HERE and, from the FCA's spreadsheet of short positions required to be disclosed to it, we now have the top shorted London-listed shares as at the start of 2020 (those in bold remain from 2019)...

As the markets start to recover from their holiday slumber and consider what a new decade could bring, at least something in the corporate world has remained a constant: a solid set of numbers from clothing retail behemoth Next (NXT)…

I exposed the material non-compliance of Big Dish (DISH) with respect to its interim financial statements published on 30 December 2019 - so what happens next?

Previously writing on Wildwood and dim t restaurants company Tasty plc (TAST), I concluded in September, with the shares currently further down to around 3.5p, the market cap is circa £5 million. As such, I’ll continue to monitor how the asset value holds up but the noted trading numbers and environment still currently see me avoid. The shares have gone on to slide below 3p, but are currently up to 3.85p on the back of “Property Disposal and Trading Update”…

For some reason I found myself cc’d in on an email thread last night between Sarah Cope the utterly useless chairperson of Anglo African Oil & Gas (AAOG), Richard Jennings, the company’s advisors and some investors. It was bonkers but it is clear that Ms Cope is doing all she can to steamroller through the crap deal with Zenith Energy (ZEN) without giving shareholders the chance to consider what looks a far better deal from team Jennings. For that and for many other reasons Cope should be fired and cast into the corporate wilderness. The thread starts with Jennings responding to an RNS issued late in the day by Anglo:

Hello Share Makers. When I suggested a month ago that you take a closer look at Ceres Power (CWR), the share price was 210p. Today it’s 270p. That’s not far off a 30% hike. And yet there is still no sign of this remarkable progress coming to an end. The share is up again as I write...

Early in 2019 we showed the Shorted AIM shares at the start of 2019. How did they perform? (those in bold remain from 2018)...

KEFI Minerals (KEFI) is “pleased to announce” financial and Tulu Kapi project moves...

In today's podcast I start with a bit of abuse for the welfare junkies of the Greece of the North as they enjoy yet another day of idleness. Then I look at G3 Energy (G3E), Nostra Terra Oil & Gas (NTOG),  Sound Energy (SOU), Anglo African Oil & Gas (AAOG), Big Dish (DISH), RedX pharma (REDX) and Bidstack (BIDS)

Having asked for readers tips for 2020 for the prize of 1/2 litre of Tom Winnifrith's Greek Hovel olive oil (2020 harvest), the following are the entrants (to be eligible needed to have selected, on a per username basis, a buy & sell pick from the LSE or AIM casino and the stocks not to have been suspended at the commencement of 2020). The results of last year’s competition are HERE and I'll once again report back monthly on how this year’s competition is progressing. Good luck all...

Early in 2019 we showed the top shorted London-listed shares at the start of 2019. How did they perform? (those in bold remain from 2018)...

I have commented over the last 6 months about my crap quartet of oilers – the “special ones” - a group of losers not winners in my view. To follow the tradition of other oily commentators I am going to expand and re-name my Crap Quartet, as the Vomit List. I would rather hold a bucket of puke than shares in these companies. 

During the first seven days of Christmas each of the team will serve up two share tips (buys or sells). I will serve up 4. That makes 20 in total. Enjoy our share tips of the year 2020. Twentieth up is a BUY from myself, Tom Winnifrith. I  own shares in the company below.

Columbus Energy (CERP) has announced “drawdown of an additional US$1.5 million under the convertible loan agreement… announced on 11 November 2019”. We noted then the agreement is for an up to $4.5 million facility, conditionally available for drawdown in three $1.5 million tranches and with the first tranche being drawn-down immediately...

We started the Festive Break with the view of a lush rainforest suburban back garden in British Columbia. We'll end it with my current view in Eastern Canada.

Hello, Share Pickers. Primary Health Properties (PHP) is an outfit which develops and improves the rental income of buildings used for first-stage health care. What excites me about this line of work is the fact that an aging population which refuses to adopt simple methods to stay more healthy, will increase demand for years to come...

During the first seven days of Christmas each of the team will serve up two share tips (buys or sells). I will serve up 4. That makes 20 in total. Enjoy our share tips of the year 2020. Nineteenth up is a BUY from myself, Tom Winnifrith. I  own shares in the company below.

Happy New Year. I explain the Christmas Present reference. Then I discuss the post election idea that there is a new can do buzz and that everything will be fabbo for owners of all asset classes in 2020 Britain. I say Bah Humbug to this idea and explain why.