I start with a look at how well meaning Government intervention in the free market can often have dire economic consequences. then in light of 24 hours of abuse from Neill Rickets and his cultist followers I look at some of the Versarien (VRS) Red flags. 

This morning’s data from Morningstar shows that Neil Woodford’s Income Focus Fund dropped 0.27% of NAV per unit. That should have knocked the fund down from yesterday’s figure of £288.5 million to £287.7 million before redemptions hit.

From the FCA's spreadsheet of short positions required to be disclosed to it, the following shows the shorted AIM shares with positions from 2018 and thus far in 2019 (by net short position %, those in bold not on the list at the start of 2019) – and if this position has increased (red), reduced (green) or remained unchanged (black) since last week...

I suppose releasing bad news t 6pm on a Friday is a bit of an improvement from releasing calamitous FY numbers at eleven minutes past one in the morning (yes, really!) but it is still very poor form from Woodford Dog Thin Film on the Norwegian OslosBors (THIN). And the news was indeed grim.

There is often an argument for letting your winners continue to run, but in the case of many natural resource stocks listed on AIM you are often better off taking a healthy profit whilst it is on offer.

Like his Income Focus Fund (WIFF), Neil Woodford’s Equity Income Fund (WEIF) has released its June month-end report and the percentage holdings of the top ten have not been revealed. The top ten has hardly changed and the only notable movement is that the bank overdraft has gone. So what’s the story?

Hello, Share Turners. Recently I’ve been buying shares. This was partly because of the buoyant mood of fund managers I met at the UK Global Group Investor Show. But that was in the Spring and since then,it has become all too clear that Boris Johnson could be our Prime Minister. That has caused a change of mind and I will soon redirect into cash, partly at least. 

Previously writing on the company with the exclusive right to develop, operate and sub-franchise Domino's Pizza stores in Poland, DP Poland (DPP), in May I noted argues “been effective at driving sales”… but what does it mean financially?. Surely some useful insight now from a “H1 2019 Trading Update”…

In today's bearcast I discuss Hammerson (HMSO) and its 9.5% yield and the outlook for its sector, semi naked women on a cornish beach,  Versarien (VRS), Feedback (FDBK) and MotifBio (MTFB). 

When Union Jack Oil (UJO) confirmed the results of the West Newton A2 drill in June, we were told consent was in place for the extended well test and this would go ahead in Q3 of this year. With all too many UK onshore drills impacted by delays due to difficulties obtaining planning consents everything sounded very positive. This week however has seen the operator make a planning application for the well test phase, which introduces timing risk.

Previously writing on ground engineering contractor Van Elle (VANL), in May I noted after another profit warning last month, “Directorate Change”, concluding I previously noted so here “continues to make good progress on its transition plan” = another profit warning! And previous “positive momentum” swiftly turning into a warning on trading, adding to a litany of woe. As such, at least ahead of some clear financial delivery, I continue to avoid. Now a “Trading Update”…

Telit Communications (TCM) is a case study on why the AIM Casino is such a casino. Not only does it claim to be running at a cash profit while c$20 million of cash disappears in the first half of the year. But rules are broken and the folks meant to stop that, Nomads such as FinnCrap, do nothing to prevent it happening. And the regulators then do nothing about it. So other folks feel free to offend.

I know I look a bit stupid for writing on these pages in early June that you should not have a punt on Acacia Mining (ACA) after its majority owner Barrick Gold (GOLD in the US) made an initial low ball for the rest of the shares. The subsequent 30% share price rise between then and now would have made for a decent contribution to the summer holiday spending fund, even for a relatively modest four figure investment. Acacia announced earlier today that all is sweetness and light with Barrick as the latter bumped up its offer by around 10%, made various special dividend promises regarding some exploration promises and because of the latter's share price rise...the base share-for-share offer was worth more in any case…

It seems the world of mattresses isn’t going to be revolutionised by Woodford Dog Eve Sleep after all. The company issued a trading update yesterday and for all the waffle the cash looks like it is going to run out again. As with Halosource, RM2 and Thin Film, without Neil Woodford to backstop yet another bailout I think we know the pattern. Oh dear….

Like a modern day Cassandra from Greek mythology, who was given the gift of prophecy, but cursed by never being believed, gold analysts and indeed the gold price is itself uttering truths - as indeed are leading economic indicators.

This morning’s news from Morningstar show that Neil Woodford’s Income Focus Fund yesterday saw NAV per unit slip, albeit by the narrow margin of 0.04%. This should have dropped the fund from its previous total of £288.8 million to £288.7 million but redemptions knocked that down to £288.5 million. The trickle continues. Meanwhile yesterday saw Woodford release its monthly update to the end of June…..

Hello Share Twiddlers. Though I’m sometimes rebuked for suggesting it, I feel the weather has a bigger effect on the upward or downward paths of shares than most analysts give credit for. There are some shares which drop away in hot weather. For example, the price of oil is falling a bit...

In today;s podcast I discuss how the Mrs has fallen victim to the fascists of the North Wales Police, Karelian Diamonds (KDR), ASOS (ASC), Eve Sleep (EVE) and Sosandar (SOS).

I have noted on this website several times how Audioboom (BOOM) has real form in giving a misleading indication of its cash  position and cashburn ahead of a bailout placing. I warned you that it was up to its old tricks again in the final months of 2018 and early 2019 ahead of two placings which came along as predicted. Now the scale of that naughtiness is revealed with dismal interims out today. Here is your timeline.

My friend Dominic has a new song out today and it could have been written specifically for deranged Versarien (VRS) owning imbeciles trolling me. It's "keyboard warrior". Enjoy.