Over the years I’ve been a fan of Ophir Energy (OPHR), but it is one that I have got completely wrong and during that time it has done nothing other than to disappoint investors, whilst its value has steadily been eroded.

It was announced on Friday that the former CEO and now former board member of AIM-listed Haydale (HAYD) has been selling shares. Back in December it was his two colleagues at Haydale Ceramic Technologies dumping shares (over £110,000 worth). In September, former boss Ray Gibbs sold about 38,000 bits of confetti and now he’s sold a further 80,000 shares. That’s a fair bit of selling by insiders!

Is there anything better than sitting back and reading a well-written article on a lazy Sunday? Every week ShareProphets features some long form journalism that you'll find of interest. Grab your cuppa and enjoy these five articles.

I can’t help but notice that the share price of AIM-listed Telit (TCM) hit a new end-of-week low last week, closing down at just 118.9p – a level not seen since August 2017. Of course, that still capitalises the company at £152 million, which seems extraordinary for a company looking to sell its crown jewels to leave it with, according to The Sheriff, perhaps only $10-20 million of cash at peak working capital usage. And loss making at the full year. But why the collapse now? Is that anything to do with the putative purchaser?

I was reading the Most Read ShareProphets Articles of The Year piece posted on New Year's Day and a throught stuck me: not one of the top 20 stories was a tip.

KEFI Minerals (KEFI) states it “is pleased to provide” an update on the Tulu Kapi gold project, but then includes that “whilst the Government has provided a number of formal consents, at the date of this update there are a number of others that whilst having been verbally agreed, are still subject to processing formalities and thus the agreed deadlines have been extended to end January 2019”. Hmmm...

I was  re-watching the movie last night and ask the question. I discuss signs that the FCA really is getting stuck in, albeit too late. I look at too good to be true investments starting with London & Capital Finance. I look at house prices and why I think that bad data gives far too rosy a view. I look at US jobs data yesterday and what that means for base rates. And I look at the big short positions in AIM stocks. Don't bet against the bears! Now off to West Ham. 

As I noted yesterday, London's second worst Nomad,, FinnCrap (FCAP), and Independent Oil & Gas (IOG) served up a wholly misleading response to my Thursday bombshell. Now for a detailed drill down on the maths to reveal the extent of that deception….

The UK economy suffered a tumultuous 2018, and it proved to be a particularly rough year for holders long in UK-listed shares: the FTSE100 suffered its worst year in a decade, while the FTSE All Share slumped 13% over the course of the year. The turbulence we’re experiencing looks set to continue into 2019 as markets struggle with mounting uncertainty. As a result “tipping shares has never felt more hazardous”, but there are potential rewards; Joanne Hart (Daily Mail) notes that “UK shares are widely acknowledged to be undervalued, presenting clear opportunities across the market”. I should point out that Tom Winnifrith and others think Ms Hart is useless and clueless.

The FCA must be all over him on this matter as Neil Woodford is now 4 days late with the Woodford Investment management annual report. What is he hiding? As we wait for Britain's most conceited fund manager to come clean and file, I invite you to provide a suitable capition for the image underneath in the comments section below. As ever the prioze for the wittiest entry is a semi naked photo of Britain's top share blogger (mornings only), thirsty Paul Scott. The deadline to enter is midnight Saturday, January 5.

We review the performance of the shorted AIM shares as at the start of each year. For 2018 that review is HERE and, from the FCA's spreadsheet of short positions required to be disclosed to it, we now have the shorted AIM shares at the start of 2019 (those in bold remain from 2018)...

Chamberlin (CMH) has announced results for the six months ended 30^th September 2018 and that “the group is expected to deliver an improved performance in the second half”…

Hello, Share Twisters. Not that long ago I suggested you might buy gold. And in particular, shares in an Egyptian miner, Centamin (CEY). Its share price has risen by about 25% since then.  But I claim no credit for that, as there was little doubt that gold is becoming more desirable. 

We review the performance of the top shorted London-listed shares as at the start of each year. For 2018 that review is HERE and, from the FCA's spreadsheet of short positions required to be disclosed to it, we now have the top shorted London-listed shares at the start of 2019 (those in bold remain from 2018)...

In today's bearcast I have a hot rumour about Neil Woodford and I look at a moron called Craig who owns shares in Independent Oil & Gas (IOG) and is a classic moron. I look at that company at Circassia (CIR) - a Woodford dog - and at Gear4Music (G4M). Tomorrow I take my family and my son Joshua's godfather Lucian Miers to the London Stadium to see mighty West Ham in the cup so I'm not sure when Saturday copy will arrive.

In September, previously writing on 7digital Group (7DIG) I questioned a “global leader” with Universal Music contract wins? – with it seeing me question AIM-listed companies which claim ‘global’/‘world’ leader an automatic bargepole / sell?. An intra-day (Uh oh) “Update” today commences that the group “is pleased to confirm”… but the shares are currently more than 50% lower, below 1p!…

These days I tend to avoid oil companies at the bottom end of the AIM market as usually the risks aren’t worth the rewards, and the majority of them do nothing but fleece investors over a number of years without ever achieving anything of note.

Previously writing on online musical instruments and equipment retailer Gear4music (G4M) in September as the shares slid below 600p, I concluded such a rating demands at least growth as anticipated; not “slower than anticipated” roll-out, “gross margin compromise” and potentially worse – and, even without all that, is still likely highly dependent on a continued bullish stock market. As such, at this juncture, I avoid. The shares are currently sliding below 300p on the back of a “Trading Update”…

Yesterday I pointed out that the ultimate benefactor of AIM Cesspit listed Independent Oil & Gas (IOG), was blocked from doing any activity after an FCA raid and that created real issues for Independent. The company and its scumbag Nomad FinnCap (FCAP) has responded with a statement that quite simply misleads investors.  That should tell you everything…SELL!

Is it the kiss of death? Last night it was announced that Neil Woodford had upped his stake in struggling AIM-listed yacht maintenance outfit GYG from 23.43% to 24.08%. Readers might recall that this tactic rather backfired with fully-listed Kier Group (KIE) and Purplebricks (PURP) and..the list goes on and on.