Yesterday the good professor Conroy’s elder child, AIM-listed Conroy Gold and Natural Resources (CGNR) released its interims to last November and it needs cash. Today it is the turn of little brother, Karelian Diamonds (KDR) and the picture is no better. And as you shall see, there is an air of one insolvent partner funding the other. At least, that’s how it looks. And I wonder about the maths….

Obviously great excitement at Bailey Towers today as Carolyn McCall hosted her first results presentation as CEO of ITV (ITV). I professed my attraction to her...management capabilities back in mid-November, when I observed that the bear case for the stock was overstated. Even though the shares have fallen back 5% today, we have lifted off that low point which is pleasing to see. So what's the tone of the update?

Occasionally a company which looks dead and buried does actually manage to turn things around, and I’m starting to wonder if that will be the case with Management Resource Solutions (MRS).

Updating on cyber-security software group Defenx (DFX) towards the end of last month, apparently progress was being made under new leadership – the company having previously talked of ensuring “that profitable revenue growth is delivered in the medium and long-term”. However, its prevailing trading and financial situations saw me emphasise it’s got to reach the medium and long-term first! Today a further Trading Update…

Well this is embarassing. On December 14 B acanora Minerals (BCM) announced that China based investor NextView Capital was investing in new shares at 94.53p to take a 19.83% stake worth £31.17 million. On February 1 were told that the Chinesee had not completed by January 31 as scheduled but not to worry. Today we learned the awful truth...

I know that MySquar (MYSQ) prefers to leak speculation and innuendo as news via the fraudsters poodle journalist of choice, Rob Terry's pal Ben Harrington, but perhaps the holocaust denying fraudsters might consider an RNS PDQ!

Altyn (ALTN) “is pleased to announce… an underwriting agreement with JSC Freedom Finance, a subsidiary of Freedom Holding Corp. to raise c. US$15m, through the issue of five-year non-convertible tenge-denominated bonds”, with CEO Aidar Assaubayev emphasising “completion of the bond issuance will allow the company to accelerate the achievement of target production capacity levels, transforming the company into a significant gold producer in Kazakhstan”…

Hello Share Surfers. As the snow flies here in the grim north, and we all want to stay inside, I turn ironically to a company which relies mostly on the popularity of activities outdoors. Arena Events (ARE) only appeared on AIM in July. The launch price was 55p. Now the share is 63p.

Solo Oil  (SOLO)  is a natural resources investment company with a diverse portfolio of onshore assets, principally in Europe and Africa. It is involved in the Horse Hill play about which we are somewhat sceptical and thus we make no recommendation as it has announced a £2 million offer at 3.5p via PrimaryBid. Half ther cash will go on buying another 5% of Horse Hill from another company in the closely related nest of companies once associated with Big Dave Lenigas, Primorious.

Nine share tips tips, defending Churchill, and not missing Nigel Wray. And much more...

I have a stinking migraine and am very tired after a sleepless night so this podcast rattles through Provident Financial (PFG), Milestone (MSG), Feedback (FDBK), Amur Minerals (AMC) and, in depth, Arian Silver (DOG).

A “GatedTalent signs 100th client contract”-entitled announcement from recruitment industry software group Dillistone (DSG). Sounds ramptastic, let’s take a look…

AIM-listed Conroy Gold and Natural Resources (CGNR) published its interim accounts to 30 November 2017 this morning. Ignoring the jam tomorrow (we’ve seen that all before) it is clear that the company was up to its eyes in debt, not that chairman Prof Richard Conroy was bothered by that as he introduced his chairman’s statement with “I have great pleasure in presenting your Company’s Half-Yearly results”. He’s pleased – but I doubt any shareholder with half a brain cell will be.

Crimson Tide (TIDE) “is pleased to provide this trading update for the year ended 31 December 2017, and to bring the market up to date on its plans for continued expansion”. Hmmm, almost two months after the year-end – and with the previous such update not having been since September-announced half-year results…

Uber ramp meet the City's No 1 oil analyst, Zac "The Knife" Phillips of SP Angel. Today's protestations from Frontera (FRR) do not impress the knife who opines:

Whilst Sky plc (SKY) was happily disclosing in a regulatory news story that 'Sky Q takes another big leap forward...Next major wave of product innovation, and Spotify set to launch in spring' (which I am sure will mean something to all the millennials out there), the big news for the company was happening elsewhere with the announcement that US media giant Comcast has made a 1250p cash bid. Now this is interesting at many levels.

To be clear, I don’t believe Malcolm has ripped off shareholders in an investment trust he manages by stuffing it full of unquoted stocks to save his bacon elsewhere; however, he does seem to have picked up a few of the “star fund manager’s” bad habits when it comes to a stock, namely Feedback (FDBK).

Nu-Oil and Gas (NUOG) seems to be one of those AIM shares which periodically finds favour with private investors, despite never actually having achieved anything of note other than burning through investors cash over the years.

Acting on conversations with three sources (two ex Ariadne employees and the hotel itself) I last week suggested that Ariadne had an unpaid bill at the Westin Draganara Hotel in Malta. Peter Bradley, the in house lawyer at Ariadne , has been in contact and insists that this is not the case and therefore, since he is an honourable man, I take him at his word and have withdrawn the article and make it clear taht there can be no question of there being an unpaid bill.  Naturally I apologise for any confusion caused.

Hello, Share Trudgers. An insurance venture you may not be familiar with is Lancashire Holdings (LRE). I'm a fan of investing in insurers, but this one has so far escaped my attention. However, it has potential as an interesting punt.