Previously writing on manufacturer and distributor of wiring accessories, EV chargers, LED lighting and portable power products Luceco (LUCE), in May with the shares down to around 145p I concluded I’d await clear evidence of suggested improvement before reconsidering from avoid. So what of now a half-year trading update with the shares at 111.4p?

I am trying to remember the last time I went to a Hotel Chocolat (HOTC) shop. If my memory is correct, it was in the Boxing Day 2019 sale. I cannot remember if I regarded its 50% off prices as cheap or not, but suffice to say it would have felt a bit cheaper than buying before Christmas. I tell you what else has fallen by (nearly) 50% this morning: Hotel Chocolat’s share price! So, what’s been going on at the “Chocolate Gifts & Luxury Presents” company whose “three guiding principles have taken us to over 150 chocolate shops, cafe's, restaurants and even a cocoa estate hotel”?

Previously writing on womenswear online retailer In The Style (ITS), in April with the shares at 92.5p I questioned it stating “very well positioned to continue its impressive growth and improve its profitability”. So what of now a results statement... and the shares currently further down to around 50p?

When AIM-listed Haydale (HAYD) released a trading update AHEAD of its full year at the end of June, seemingly indicating that all was well, I wondered if that was really the case. Well, this morning we know the answer to that, after a full-year trading update. All most certainly is not well – and the shares are already down by 5.5%.

Before I turn to one of the most disastrous of the IPO’s of the class of 2021, which has more catastrophic news today, I bring you a snippet from a US survey of consumer behaviour. If you do not think the same trends are happening in the UK you are naïve.

Shareprophets has previously raised criticism of Alpha Growth’s (ALGW) accounting high jinks  HERE. But it gets worse. Far worse. And once again it is PKF Littlejohn as auditors which is enabling this travesty of accounting propriety.

Hello Share Spillers. A company with the rather clumsy name of Cambridge Cognition Holdings (COG) appears worth a look. It’s a niche medical outfit that assists in organising clinical trials for drugs and treatments. Since Covid, there’s a sharper focus on the medical sector and more money being spent on it.

In today's Bearcast I reflect on why it is important to report Eight Capital Partners (ECP) but, more importantly PKF Littlejohn, to the FRC as I have done today. I look at why I don't look at Direct Line Insurance (DLG), then consider Tortilla Mexican Grill (MEX) but in the same vein Fevertree (FEVR), Cineworld (CINE), Music Magpie (MMAG) and Parsley Box (MEAL). Then I look at Anglesey Mining (AYM) with a hisory lesson stretching back to 4000 BC and words of warning to suckers who may fancy a dabble. Then it is onto the disgrace that is Pineapple Power (PNPL) and all the rogues associated with this shocking promote.

Describing itself as “a world leader in Narrowband Radio Frequency Smart Mesh Networks”, CyanConnode (CYAN) states it “is pleased to provide a trading update for the financial year ended 31 March 2022”. What of the shares currently responding more than 10% higher to 13p?

Previously writing on transport data technology group Cordel (CRDL), in February with the shares falling below 9p I concluded that my prior ‘growth trend’ and cash burn concerns looked to remain valid. So what of now a trading update and the shares currently further lower towards 6p?

Following my expose of the amateur and rule breaking accounts of Eight Capital Partners (ECP), the bastard little brother of the Supply@ME Capital (SYME) fraud, I have written to my good pals at the Financial Reporting Council asking for a formal investigation into Eight and its auditors PKF LittleJohn and audit partner Zahir Khaki. The letter is below:

IQE plc (IQE) has announced it has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Federal Court in California, stating it has “significant evidence” that Tower Semiconductor misappropriated IQE's trade secrets to unlawfully obtain patents on IQE's technology. Tower Semiconductor is a US-listed (Nasdaq - TSEM) circa $5 billion capitalised company which giant Intel is currently in the process of acquiring.

A forgotten previously announced spin-off causes a huge panic among even professional investors. Many, many years ago that was me (until my then boss reminded me of the spin-off which explained the halving of a particular share price). So, if - like me - you are a bit of a GSK (GSK) share price fan over the last eighteen months, then chill out.

An upbeat trading statement from Tortilla Mexican Grill (MEX) tries to paint a bright picture for this member of the shamed IPOs class of 2021 - listing at 180p on October 8 with founders dumping £23 million of stock, share price today 125p. But buried deep in the release is a clear warning of troubles ahead.

AIM-listed Barkby Group (BARK) has released a trading update for its year ended 2 July 2022, along with an update on strategy. The former sees an unaudited bottom-line loss of £0.8 million whilst the latter implies there has been a strategic review – uh-oh!

Standard-listed Panther Metals (PALM) shares have been struggling of late – nobody wants Gold shares. As a natural contrarian, this is music to my ears even if the value of my handful of shares has been on the slide for some time. Last week brought some news – and the market, largely, ignored it.

Hello Share People. The Footsie jumbo Johnson Matthey (JMAT) has had a hard time of it of late. Both myself and my much brainier colleague Chris Bailey have commended the company to you in the past. But it’s yet to sparkle. Never mind, I think the shares have been oversold, given the better times that seem to be ahead. 

A most recently published, 30^th September 2021, balance sheet from 600 Group plc (SIXH) showed current assets of $36 million outweighed by total liabilities of $39.3 million, with that including net debt of $14 million. However, in April the group completed the Machine Tool Solutions division sale which has transformed its financial position and outlook. The share price does not look to reflect that at all.

I was reading the other day that 60/40 investors (60% equities and 40% bonds) in the United States have so far this year had their 1937. No surprise then that any investors who have only seen (or remember) the “everything is awesome” views of the last twelve or so years are a bit worried. Of course, those of us who remember the world before 2010 know there are always plenty of periods of volatility in the world’s financial markets. People should try and relax a bit more however. After all putting all your money under your bed or into a new and more expensive house is far from smart either. Anyhow - as far as your pension fund goes - when people are getting fearful (greedy) then you should be getting greedy (fearful).

The Mrs arrives in a few hours so I record early so that Joshua and I can tidy up the hovel and car in order to ensure a harmonius reunion. I am sure all men know how I feel when your other half has spent a few daysd away from home allowing you to make the sort of mess only men can make. In the week coming up I shall be chatting to Yair Tauman the new supreme ruler of ADVFN (AFN) about various matters but mainly about how the sewer that is the ADVFN Bulletin Board can be improved. I share my views with you, noting some recent extraordinary market abuse on the Optibiotix (OPTI) thread, but also invite you to post your views in the comments section below and, as long as they make sense, I shall relay them to Yair.