1Spatial (SPA) has updated including with a disposal of a controlling interest in Enables IT and a trading update…

Another 'earnings Thursday'. I could write about Cineworld (CINE) again after my post deal announcement review but it really is all about the big US acquisition and I think it overpaid. Instead I turn to the consumer name PZ Cussons (PZC), which has had a slightly unpleasant share price fall today after updating the market with the observation that:

Today's related party deal is the final straw and I have to use a C word when it comes to Gary Ashworth & Interquest (ITQ). I also look at Forbidden Technologies (FBT) which - whatever the directors say - needs a placing. I discuss PZ Cussons (PZC), Vernalis (VER) and Paul Scott's woes at Conviviality (CVR) - Scotty that is the danger of reading broker notes you should speak to the company instead. Nudge Nudge, know what I mean. Wink, wink.Make sure you get your free ticket to UK Investor on April 21 using the promotional code WINNIFRITH when booking an investor class seat HERE - if only to hear a live 40 minute bearcast with myself & Paul Scott being recorded!

I’ve noted recent woes at Conviviality (CVR) HERE and HERE. Here follows a timeline (& boardroom remuneration) of woe…

The chart below says it all. Neil Woodford managed funds own 28% of Vernalis (VER). The shares were 50p when he filled his boots in a placing two years ago. They are now 4.5p as the company has started closing down its operations and has put itself up for sale. As ever, as the shares tanked, Woodford knew better....

Hello, Share Smackers. Operating profit for 2017 dropped by more than half at EMIS Group (EMIS). According to the figures just out, £11.2 million was used up covering service and reporting issues. That seems fairly remiss in a modern company which should always be equipped to pleasing its big customers.

Steve Moore has already covered the disaster story that is Conviviality (CVR) HERE. In essence it forgot that it has a tax bill (I assume PAYE) due on 29 March for £30 million and does not have the borrowing headroom to pay that. Uh Oh. As the BBC says about once a day we would not get amateurish corporate disasters like this if more companies were run by women. Like er....Diana Hunter the CEO of Conviviality. Anyhow...

A Customer Wins announcement from Corero Network Security (CNS). When I last updated in January it was “Significant Contract Wins”. Hmmm, what about the cash crunch ahoy?, so what now?...

A Trading Statement announcement from building products group Alumasc (ALU) was noted in Tom’s Bearcast today. What’s the detail and broker forecast response?...

I gather from Andrew Monk that ShareProphets is banned in China - what could they possibly not like about this website? I give my views on China and also on the way that poor BMD has been robbed today. News of a shock resignation just days before he faces rows of empty seats sees me enjoy a cup of Schadenfreude at the expense of my old friend Jim Mellon. I look at Andalas Energy (ADL), asking it to comment on new reports of internal woes. I look at Eqtec (EQT) and MySquar (MYSQ) and also at Alumasc (ALU) and Sportech (SPO). Make sure you get your free ticket to UK Investor on April 21 using the promotional code WINNIFRITH when booking an investor class seat HERE - if only to hear a live 40 minute bearcast with myself & Paul Scott being recorded!

A Trading update on Thursday from Conviviality (CVR) included that “following a review of current year projections, the company now expects that adjusted EBITDA for the current year will be approximately 20% below current market expectations”, but sought to reassure that “the company has not seen any material weakness in overall demand” and was followed by some director share buying. The shares though remained depressed... and there was then a 1:06pm Update to announcement. There's now a 'Further Update'...

Post last week's placing and acquisition of First Base, Falanx (FLX) has completed, what we hope will be, its last reshuffle at the top. The key men, executive chairman Mike Read and COO John Blamire stay in situe. And that is what really matters.

I have never had as many comments to an article as my piece on Dignity (DTY) back in January. It was a very good debate as picked up by Tom a few days later HERE, and different readers have very different views on the stock. The reality is we are back to around where we were - just sub 10 quid a share - after the shafting the company took after its 'we need to cut the prices of our funeral plans' comments back in January after today's full year numbers.

ADVFN (AFN) has today published its list of big advertisers on its website, oops I meant to say its awards for outstanding contributions to financial services. As ever I take the list of winners with the gravity that is merited. They really are the cornerstone of the financial calendar these days. But one fact screams out at me: BrokerMan Dan Levi was on a hat-trick as share blogger of the year - surely he had the title in the bank. But he's been robbed. 

Okay, Bluebird (BMV) is a corporate client of broker SP Angel so take this report with a pinch of salt but analyst John Meyer is no fool - although he sometimes lacks a sense of humour. And the 24 page report is very detailed. And of course we own the shares and I do think they are cheap at 3.8p although I'm not sure that i am as optimistic as Meyer. Anyhow, he is the expert and writes: 

As you know I do not always agree with Richard Jennings of Align Research but on the matter of Pathfinder Minerals (PFP) he is spot on and I support his efforts to oust CEO Nick Trew and toff Tory MP Sir Henry Bellingham, of 3DM infamy, 100%. Jennings has published a new letter with a dire warning to anyone prepared to back Trew & Sir Hal. Perhaps the campaign slogon for comrade Jennings should be "For the many not the Trew." Maybe that needs work?  Jennings writes:

Hello Share Pushers. Sure, Russia isn’t the flavour of the month following the hoo-hah about the allegedly poisoned ex-secret agent and his daughter. But my humble experience of companies operating in countries which are currently controversial is that the share price can be held artificially low. And the effects of all news stories don’t always last forever.

I am £155 and two teeth worse off after my encounter with Sir Laurence. I explain all. I am still not 100%. In the podcast I look at Milestone (MSG) where I have a hot rumour, Sabien (SNT), BlueJay Mining (BJAY), Tiso Blackstar (TBGR), Blenheim Natural Resources (BNR) and Telit Communications (TCM).

Cyber security services group ECSC (ECSC) has announced results for 2017 including noting “corporate decision-making cycles have been longer than anticipated”, but with CEO Ian Mann arguing “following a year of transformation, ECSC now has a platform to pursue the opportunity in the cyber security market”. Hmmm…

Wildwood and dim t UK restaurant company Tasty (TAST) has announced results for the 2017 calendar year – with “highlights” including; “Revenue up 9.7% to £50.3m” and “The financial performance of the group was in line with the board's revised expectation”. Hmmm, “revised expectation” hey…