Previously writing on beauty and personal care products group Brand Architekts (BAR), in July with the shares at around 50p I concluded that there was still a noted c£11.3 million net cash position but, with the cash backing falling and integration and further external environment challenges looking ahead, I stayed on the sidelines. The shares last closed at 31.5p, and are currently further lower on the back of full-year results.

You really cannot say that you were not warned over and over again by this website that Argo Blockchain (ARB) would make rich knaves such as CEO Peter Wall, disgraced broker Andy Frangos, paid share ramper (sorry “journalist”) Zak Mir and proven  liar and rule breaker John Story richer while screwing ordinary shareholders. The game is almost up. The Fat Lady is gargling. Today’s October update is a disaster.

As quite a boring investor, I really like lengthy adjusted operating profit, earnings per share, dividend and free cash flow analysis. And by “lengthy”, I mean nicely more than a couple of decades of data as it gives you a good insight as at least there have been a few (proper) cycles. It certainly does not mean that changes cannot happen, as nicely shown by the shift and evolution of FTSE 100 or Dow Jones Index members over time, but it is certainly better to have a lot more information rather than a lot less. And this brings us to the pass-through business DCC plc (DCC).

At 9.07 PM last night I revealed here that Applied Graphene Materials (AGM) was working on a placing, trying ( I stress trying) to raise £3 million at just 2p as against a 10p bid price. I flagged my piece up to the PR bunnies at Hudson Sandler and so ensured they all had a late night as today there is a response to comment on “an article published on the ShareProphets website on the evening of 7 November 2022 regarding a possible equity raise.” Timber!

Still there are fools who think that Cineworld (CINE) shares have value. They do not. This looks like a slam dunk zero after documents published late last night in the latest round US Chapter 11 hearings. What follows is an idiots guide as to why any holders should sell and anyone who wants a free Christmas bonus should add to/open a short at 6p. Here goes:

Such is the terrible track record of Applied Graphene Materials (AGM) - minus 97.8% from peak - and such is the severity of the bear market in small caps that what follows should not be that shocking but it is still shocking. Since last week Applied has been on a dog and pony show with its broker. The aim was to raise £3 million. However, the details are horrific:

Kefi Gold & Copper (KEFI) has announced that it “is extremely pleased to note the announcement of a permanent end to hostilities in Northern Ethiopia and expresses its determination to do whatever is possible within its business mandate to contribute to the economic recovery plans set by the Ethiopian Government”. We suggest the news bodes very well for near-term progress of the Tulu Kapi gold project for the company.

A “New Contract Win” announcement from Insig AI (INSG), commencing that it “is pleased to announce that a London based alternative investment manager with in excess of $1 billion of assets under management has signed a consultancy agreement that will draw on Insig AI's fintech data science capabilities”. Sounds good, and what of a share price response currently up to 18.25p?

I start by discussing apple pressing: I am still at it. Then I look at Tern (TERN), Amur Minerals (AMC), Joules (JOUL) and Eurasia Miniung (EUA) as it heads for a cash crisis.

Pretentiously describing itself as “the premium British lifestyle group”, Joules (JOUL) has issued a “Business Update” commencing that it “has made good progress in defining and delivering its turnaround plan as well as continuing its focus on cost control and cash management” and including “active customers are in growth, and brand health and awareness KPIs, which reflect consumer perception of the brand, have remained strong”. So why are the shares currently further down more than 23% today at 10.5p?

I do not believe that Advanced Oncotherapy (AVO) will ever generate a cent of positive free cashflow as the demand for the proton therapy services it will offer at some point in 2023 is, in my view, already fully catered for with existing capacity. Others, notably a fund management firm run by a chap who looks remarkably like Daddy Pig, father of Peppa, disagree but what we might agree on its that, until late 2023, there is no doubt that Advanced will continue to guzzle cash. Which makes the next bailout placing only a matter of time.

Did you see today’s UK house price index update from Halifax? Whilst I am sure some people will focus on an average house price of £292,598 following an annual change of 8.3%, the game is obviously changing. After all, whilst house prices, apparently, over the last quarter are up 0.4%, the last month has seen a 0.4% fall. Are you surprised? Of course not! And, as Lloyds Bank (LLOY) banged on about at its last set of quarterly numbers the other week, the average house price is going to fall somewhat more over the next year.

‘Virtual reality technology company’ Engage XR (EXR) has announced what CEO David Whelan argues “is a huge moment for the group. We are now a leading metaverse technology company that can help make the metaverse strategies of leading global organisations a reality”. What’s the detail and what of a share price move currently 5.3% higher to 15p?

It really is an ouzo on cornflakes day. Not only has Gerry Brandon been fired but the FCA has won a legal victory in its attempts to nail the fraudsters behind Globo (GBO) an AIM listed scam I warned about, doorstepped in Athens and eventually helped bring down by publishing the dossier of my pal Gabriel Grego.

As CEO of AIM listed Deepverge (DVRG) made two schoolboy errors: trolling me on twitter and then breaking AIM Rules by hiding a profits warning before doing a placing at 30p last June. There were other blunders and deceits too but after that crime, that fraud, of last June came to light he should have been in jail and his position was untenable.

Hello Share Fanciers. As a kid the most popular showing at the cinema in the fifties was a cheap and cheerful dubbed Italian Sword and Sandal saga. It bore the exciting title of ‘Hercules Unchained’ and it reminds me of today’s recommendation. The company is called Hercules Site Services (HERC) and it’s an AIM-listed specialised recruitment outfit.

A major subsidiary of BATM  Communications (BVC) or Batman to its City friends, has been implicated in a criminal investigation in Italy.  The subsidiary in question, Adaltis Srl, represents the vast majority of BATM’s “diagnostics division”.  It sells molecular diagnostic test kits for various diseases, including COVID, operating from a facility near Rome.

In my experience it is often better to short a company’s shares when they have already fallen sharply and it has indicated that its equity is worthless. After all, the upside for a short that goes to zero is 100% whether you open it at 100p or 10p.

But I do dare. Enjoy.

On Friday we wrote an article HERE on 4 shares we thought could double by Christmas. One of the four is Bluebird Merchant Ventures (BMV) at a 1.8p offer.