Hello, Share Chums. If you watch the BBC News every night, as I do, you would think the end of the world is nigh. Story on story about how folks and businesses are reeling from the pandemic. And lots of people are suffering. However, the vast majority are not. For example, all my three children are still working, albeit from home.

Despite “the quarter marked the end of production from the high-grade Arzu South open-pit”, Ariana Resources (AAU) “is pleased to announce its operating results for the quarter ended 30 September 2020 for the Kiziltepe Mine” (Ariana: 50%) – and the shares have responded higher…

Previously writing on electronic invoicing and purchase order transactions network company Tungsten Corp (TUNG), in September with the shares falling back below 40p I concluded the valuation with the company having to attempt “transformation” in a very challenged economic environment meant still avoid / sell. The shares are currently falling below 30p on the back of a “Trading Update”…

The big excitement of sawing wood with Joshua awaits. Ahead of that I discuss UK Oil & Gas (UKOG) where the shares are 66% overvalued, Zoetic (ZOE) which is even more expensive and Tungsten (TUNG), also a massive sell even after today’s share price slide. After 24 hours we have raised 37% or 42% of the amount needed for the Woodlarks Christmas appeal. Thanks to those who have donated. To those who have not, we are within sight of the point where I will shut up on this matter so how about getting my silence with a donation HERE?

I see that, on twitter, the usual assortment of lunatics are frothing about DeepVerge (DVRG) another utterly overvalued piece of junk from the AIM Cesspit. Naturally there is a Covid angle and appropriately enough it is a lavatorial one. It is not just Bulletin Board morons pushing this rubbish but esteemed broker Turner Pope has also stuck its nose into the sewerage system (literally) with a gushing note out today.

Previously writing on remote meetings technology group LoopUp (LOOP), in July with the shares at 177.5p I questioned how sustainable the net cash generation? The shares went on towards 250p, but last closed at 155p and are currently well below 100p on the back of a “Trading Update”…

It appears that Arcadia, owner of TopShop, Burtons and Dorothy Perkins is unable to tap an additional £30 million banking lifeline and so is likely to go into administration next week putting 13,000 jobs at risk. The odds are that most stores will be bought from the administrators so the actual jobs cull, though painful, will not be as painful as some fear. Already the blame game has started but who is really to blame?

On December 2 England comes out of lockdown to be replaced by er….lockdown in all but name. JD Wetherspoon (JDW) boss Tim Martin is again our hero of the day as he has lashed out at this lunacy. The great man opines:

AIM-listed Haydale Graphene (HAYD) has announced the great achievement of its Functionalised Graphene Antibacterial Masks project going into production with partner IRPC Public Company. Put up the bunting, get the champagne ordered……or perhaps not, for surely it has missed the boat.

Pensana Rare Earths (PRE) “is pleased to report the appointment of Liberum Capital Limited as a consultant and joint broker”. Liberum describes itself as “an independent Investment Bank” and Pensana is recently cashed-up, so what’s this consultancy bit about?…

Hello Share Painters. We all need a few more reliable shares in our bag. And one of the more likely to rake in a steady income for my portfolio is United Utilities (UU.), which supplies water to the North West. Nobody’s going to stop using water, are they? And water companies have a monopoly in their areas. But even water companies have been hit by the virus…

A “Date of Final Results” announcement from Shoe Zone (SHOE) and the shares 9% lower in response, at 56p. So not a standard “Date of Final Results” announcement then…

AIM-listed John Zorbas POS URU Metals (URU) has announced the issue of a stack of shares to settle directors’ fees and those of an adviser this morning. That to add to yesterday’s paltry subscription shares raising just £280,000  (before expenses). I would suggest that this latest splurge of confetti shows just how badly screwed the company is.

A “Channel Partner Update” from Actual Experience (ACT)… and the shares currently up 20% to 90p, to give a market cap of approaching £43 million. The update should be good then…

In today’s bearcast I start with the publishing event of the year. Then I explain why I am again begging bearcast listeners for a small donation to Woodlarks. I shall continue with this until the modest target is reached so to shut me up go HERE. Finally a look at the corporate governance questions but, more importantly the fundamental analysis that makes Remote Monitoring Systems (RMS) a massive sell even after today’s fall.

Shares in Remote Monitoring Systems (RMS) have crashed by 19% today to 2.05p. Just nine days ago mug punters were paying 5p as, unbeknown to them, the two main directors flogged all of the shares in which they had an interest. This is a massive scandal and surely even the Oxymorons at AIM Regulation will figure out that a Stewards is needed ASAP.

Union Jack Oil (UJO) “is pleased to provide an update on the West Newton B-1 appraisal well (WNB-1)”. The shares though responded to the update around 20% lower at 0.12p, so what’s going on?…

Late March-announced results from Ironveld (IRON) included “your board remains confident that the company’s asset, containing 27 million tons of HPI, together with significant Vanadium and Titanium content, continues to demonstrate robust economics and has a potential value many times in excess of the company’s market capitalisation and balance sheet carrying value” – the market capitalisation then £2.6 million and stated net assets £21.7 million. Today a fundraising, from a £4.3 million market capitalisation with the shares having last closed at 0.65p. Surely a price competitive against that then? – and, given the stated “potential value”, even that unnecessarily dilutive?…

Asset manager Frank Holmes argues that the US the election results and a split house may be the perfect scenario for the stock market and the ideal scenario for gold. He believes that G20 Central bankers have been functioning as a cartel since 2008 by synchronizing taxation and regulation. Now they are playing with MMT, zero interest rates, and monetary stimulus. However, they have redefined the CPI, and today if you use the old model, inflation is running at close to eight percent. Smart people are buying real assets like art, gold, silver, mining equities, and bitcoin.

We’ve previously noted on Anglo Asian Mining (AAZ) some impact from the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia “due to the conscription of a number of engineering staff and some recently encountered temporary delays due to underground rock faulting”. Now “Updated Guidance for Turnover and Production”…