You will remember the advert, the one that sexualises a seven year old boy as he dresses up in his mum’s clothes and makeup and proceeds to trash her house. Agency Adam & Eve/DDB thought the advert edgy and, according to Pink News which says that only bigots can object to the ad: “the playful ad speaks to every gender non-conforming adult who was once a child sneaking into their parents’ closet. The traditionally “small c” conservative  customer base of John Lewis was probably not impressed and this will only have added to the woes of the loss making chain.But now the FCA has waded in and John Lewis has had to pull the ad.

Writing on Kefi Gold & Copper (KEFI) last week with the shares down to 1.04p, we noted a media report clarification and concluded that a significant share price spark was likely on TKGM project progress which we expected within weeks. Now a “Tulu Kapi Update” announcement and the shares are currently up to 1.15p.

Lekoil (LEK), describing itself as an “oil and gas exploration and production company with a focus on Nigeria and West Africa”, has announced half-year 2021 results. After from fake sheikhs to now subsidiary CEO farce, yet more farce?…

The Fleet Street Legend is up in arms about what he terms a foul smear on him HERE but, as I explain, the old champagne socialist is trying to pull the wool over our eyes with his mockney dining habits. At least the budget means that the champagne for Brian and his comrades will be cheaper but the Bidget really is a shower. I explian why. Then it is onto Bluebird Merchant Ventures (BMV), Red Rock Resources (RRR) where it looks ever bleaker for my pal Andrew Bell and finally why the Redcentric (RCN) valuation is bonkers.

The Oxymorons at AIM Regulation, led by the hapless poltroon Mr. Marcus Stuttard, the bogus Sheriff of AIM, like to claim that they have created the world’s most successful growth market. But the events of the past two years at Eurasia Mining (EUA) have shown that those who want to run rings around Marcus and the clowns who work for him don’t have to try too hard.  I have written to Marcus and his colleagues about the farce at Eurasia and the supposed bid talks. Enough is enough. Will AIM regulation force a statement? The answer to that one may involve myself and Ms Cheryl Cole.

Previously writing on online beach holiday retailer On the Beach Group (OTB), in July with the shares at 325.5p I was cautious with already the travel market impact duration and disruption having been more than imaginable. The shares last closed at 337.5p but are currently back below the noted July level. Why, with a full-year trading update including recent “stimulated bookings… confidence that there is pent up demand for travel, and positions the business well as we enter 2022… On the Beach continues to thrive”?…

Not only a shit but a man who should be in jail.

Investor and writer Nate Fisher kicks off by describing a regular monthly pattern he sees with silver that is indicative of manipulation.

AIM-listed Gold (and Silver) producer in Turkey, Ariana Resources (AAU), has had a wonderful summer in terms of its Gold exploration activities with a stack of very promising drill results from across its portfolio which suggest good news to come next year. Gold and Gold stocks may have had a torrid time, but on the exploration front Ariana hasn’t been able to disappoint and this morning saw yet more good news from investee Venus Minerals in Cyprus.

Johnson Matthey (JMAT) has seen its share price take a bit of a hit in recent months and is now trading at a similar level to where it started the year, despite the world economy looking in better shape now than it did then.

Hello, Share Scrapers. Fairly recently I commended Pets at Home (PETS) to you. Allow me to feature another company which could benefit from the current boom in pet ownership. CVS Group (CVSG) is a company which does veterinary services for creatures great and small, including horses. It also has some other interesting animal sidelines.

I deal with Skinbiotherapeutics (SBTX) first.  Then it is onto Yourgene (YGEN) and its trading statement, Eurasia (EUA) and a two year farce and finally the bid for Arden (ARDN) by Ince Group (INCE) and what to make of it all. I feel uncomfortable for reasons I explain.

Yesterday I flagged up how reviews from folks like Alpha FX (AFX) news spinner/turd polisher Josh Royston of Alma PR kept damning customer reviews slating the company off the top slot on google. Now let’s look at the glassdoor reviews which is a site where folks go to see how current and former employees go to say what it is like working at a company. What we see looks extraordinarily odd.

Like the complete weirdo I am, I do like doing a bit of sector research now and again. I do find it strange that whilst fundamental caution towards fixed income markets still makes a lot of sense, technical (rather than fundamental) bullishness for equity markets seems to have become more important. Typically active management and fundamental investment rationales are akin to one another, as is passive management and technical investment preferences. And then I read that more investors now believe that the S&P 500 – by the end of the year – will not only hit a number of all-time highs above the level achieved in 2017 (62 all-time highs) but also the all-time high of 77 achieved in 1995. No doubt too many of such people are overly excited by Tesla’s market cap reaching $1 trillion and tripling this (or more!) by the end of the decade. As if. Anyhow, back onto stocks I really care about. Three names my pension fund owns have reported today and – very nicely – all are doing rather well (and I think there is more to come).

Iconic (ICON) shares have been suspended since 7 June 2021 due to the appointment of administrators by Toxic Dave Sefton on 4 June 2021.  The joint administrators have tried to hold a general meeting four times but each they have been adjourned with the latest adjournment being until 19 October 2021.  There has been no announcement since that date.

I cannot help but notice that shares in AIM-listed John Zorbas vehicle URU Metals (URU) have crashed by 19% thus far today, on no news. Having called it a sell at 405p in August, a sell at  320p in September and a sell at 270p earlier this month, the stock is now down to 190p. Of course, it is still a sell but perhaps it is time for an early Ouzo as the shares have now more than halved.

AIM-listed jam-tomorrow IoT investment company Tern plc (TERN) has released a portfolio update this morning. Naturally the BBMs are pleased as punch but I fear that, once again, the company has borrowed the Adam Reynolds (who, for the avoidance of doubt, has nothing to do with Tern) keyboard, for there are no meaningful numbers to be found – and the few included are pitiful.

A trading update announcement from ‘celebrations, craft, gifting, stationery and creative play products’ group IG Design (IGR) commences that it “has delivered a good revenue performance in the first half of the financial year with like-for-like revenue up 11% on the prior year, and up 5% on proforma revenues (including CSS prior to ownership) for the six months to 30 September 2019”. So why are the shares, currently at around 300p, more than 30% lower in response?…

Tintra (TNT) continues to pump out new RNS announcements. Some are bollocks and a spoof, but one vindicates a major thrust of my attack on this POS.

Recommending last month shares in developer and manufacturer of touch sensors for use with electronic displays in industrial, self-service and public access equipment, Zytronic (ZYT) at a 175p offer price we noted expected performance ahead of expectations and further potential in a faster return towards previous levels of trading.