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Recovering from several lectures on the evils of Brexit, I send you greetings from Frogland this Bank Holiday Thursday. In today's podcast, I look again at the Tern (TERN) - Pires (PIRI) merger. I then discuss three slam-dunk zeros: Kinovo (KINO) - whose shares should be suspended with immediate effect - Versarien (VRS) and Nanosynth (NNN), where the new CEO, Mark Duffin, is a complete clown. If he does a deal in snails, as he suggests, I am a Dutchman.
The quest began on Monday, hence Malcolm's absence in Sicily. He was promised an early start on Wednesday, but a day of disappointment followed. On Thursday, he was taken to a tree. So, how did this all conclude? His diarist explains...
The quest began on Monday, hence Malcolm's absence in Sicily. Malcolm was promised an early start on Wednesday so what happened? His diarist explains...
The quest began yesterday, hence Malcolm's absence in Sicily. Now, events move on, as his diarist explains...
Online musical instruments and music equipment retailer Gear4music (G4M) has made a trading update on its third quarter to 31st December 2021 emphasising “UK sales growth continued to be robust… a strong pipeline of new products, e-commerce system developments and new website features”. So why do the shares remain below 700p?…
If I was even more of a sad sack than I actually am, I would find on the internet one of those ‘Currys…no worries’ adverts that used to try to convince you to buy some new tech, lounge or kitchen product. However, judging by today’s 10% fall in the Currys (CURY) share price, taking it back to the c. 110p level it was at a year ago, I would say ‘Currys…lots of worries’ would be more apt.
Previously writing on manufacturer of plastic and paperboard packaging Robinson (RBN), in August with the shares at 112.5p I concluded the forecasts looked challenging and continue to avoid. So what of a trading statement today?…
Antibody contract research organisation Fusion Antibodies (FAB) has announced results for its half-year ended 30th September 2021 emphasising “20% underlying growth in revenues over H1 FY2021… and in particular the two major contracts which were secured which, taken together with the remaining pipeline of projects with other customers, give the board confidence that revenues for the full year will be in line with current expectations”. However, what is the financial impact of the revenue and what are the full year expectations?…
Hello, Share Whackers. Pessimistic views stalk the land. Though the economy has been recovering since the height of the epidemic, the doomsters among us worry that growth will soon tail off. But the optimists expect the recovery to snowball and I agree with the latter for these reasons…
For 17 years I have been pointing out the lies and frauds committed by Eden Research (EDEN). I could paper my bedroom with the lawyers letters it and its partner in crime 3DM (now in administration, having blown £65 million of other folks cash, sent me). I could paper another few rooms with the online harassment I received from the 3Dimmers, whipped up by shamed promoters Old Mother Mike Walters and Johnny “the Rat” Townsend. Here we are and I am still on the case although how the regulators have allowed this farce to continue for so long really does cause me to despair. Retained losses now stand at £40 million!
I start with swimming pool news then look at today’s shocking Vast Resources (VAST) expose HERE. Then onto Berkeley Energia (BKY) – another reason to be glad about Brexit – then onto Cineworld (CINE) and Nightcap (NGHT). I save my football take for my own website HERE.
Here are five long reads that have nothing to do with shares. Put the kettle on, find a comfy chair. You have the time, don’t you?
Hello Share Turners. The seesaw impositions of Covid restrictions and the easing of them has predictable effects on the economy. So we should be able to see immediately which Footsie share prices will rise this week and which won’t? But no. We need to research educated guesses about much later developments in the Covid saga.
It has always amazed me how the paper that purports to be the voice of business has, on so many issues taken a profoundly anti-business line. The FT told us to vote for Blair, to join the EMU and the Euro and to oppose Brexit. Natch it is all in favour of a radical green agenda even if it cripples business in the West. And it cannot get enough of the sort of ESG porn that the FCA also jerks off on every day. Today it bigs up a story about the FTSE Russell Index threatening 208 companies with expulsion. According to the FT:
Hello, Share Munchers. Most indicators point to a surge in share prices during the summer. So much for the city adage ‘Go away in May and don’t come back till Leger Day (early September)’. It’s always wise to keep at least 10% of our assets in cash rather than shares. But I’ve just exchanged some of my dough for stock in expectation that a share boom happens.
We are now up to eight rogue bloggers for Woodlarks with J, the son of reader Jonathan Price joining the party. That means one more person for the “having to talk to Dan Levi rota” so spreading the misery of hearing about the evils of Brexit and why disgraced Guardian fantasist Carole Cadwalladr is a genius, more widely. That is all good news. But think of how we will suffer on the day, even if it is now for less than 2 hours each and make a donation HERE. Meanwhile we continue with our training walks. As I look at the snow falling here in Wales I am glad I did my weekly walk yesterday. But here is a photo from Robert in Cornwall as he made it up to 15 miles.
Who’s a clever boy then? Me. I hope that you are happy holders of Aggreko (AGK) on my advice. Send the thank you ouzos to Tom as I do not drink.
I see that Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) has continued to see a share price rise since I last wrote about the stock here in early September. Back then I concluded that it is hard to push back on ‘improving global animal health and welfare’ but it is an expensive multiple to buy this one. So what is the updated view post its first half results?
Today’s numbers from the paper and packaging name Smurfit Kappa (SKG) were damn impressive in my opinion. Certainly it is no disaster to say that ‘prices rose rapidly in H2…and continue to see prices increasing in early 2021’. And when you look a bit more deeply, you realise that the rise of e-commerce remains a great growth area as firms such as Amazon are driving a lot more demand. Smurfit Kappa’s CFO observed that such demand is ‘here to stay’ and even Brexit was not that much of a concern given that the company produces locally rather than relying on significant exports between Ireland/Europe and the UK.
Hello, Share Planners. Investing in a shipping broker has a rather historic feeling to it. Isn’t that where the share game first started, with merchants buying shares in ventures by galleons to exploit foreign markets? Shipping brokers often turn up in the exotic works of my favourite author Joseph Conrad. Any road up, today’s choice is a modern version – Braemar Shipping Services (BMS)…
Hello, Share Scrapers. My holding in Morrison (MRW) the supermarket is one of those stocks I wish I’d sold ages ago. After many years, I’m still nursing an 8% loss. But things are improving for it and among the four big British supermarkets it’s gaining market share. Also, with the lockdowns, sales are well up, with supermarkets staying open and still also selling unimportant stuff.
I mean it. Happy New Year to you all, especially our own in house Euro loon Jonathan Price who will be in tears at 11 PM tonight. I shall not be! In this podcast I discuss the FCA and today’s mini-bond calamity in waiting, Supply@ME Capital (SYME), and the Marwyn vehicle (MAC1) where Vin Murria is now on board but where it seems impossible to buy shares. That’s not much fun is it? Vin: how about a Primary Bid offer for we plebs? I also lash out at Priti Patel and the Tories for blowing off the public sector while the private sector is screwed. I thought that is what Labour was for.
This year has all been about Covid- related stocks and anything with even a vague association with that, but over the next year or two the biggest profits will be made from companies that have been hit by the virus but have had the strength to survive and will reap the benefits as things begin to return to some semblance of normality.
I start with a Santa Claus and Brexit joke
A few years back, Ocado (OCDO) was one of the most reviled companies in the UK with the shares regularly topping Short Tracker’s most shorted table, peaking in 2016 with 20% of the shares out on loan. The short interest is now negligible as the bears (myself included) have been sent packing with the relentless, almost tenfold, rise of the share price over the last few years which has only recently looked to be running out of steam.
I start with Joshua’s Advent calendar and a promise to bring you photos of my wood shed. Are you still awake? Then onto Boris and the Brexit sell out. But the meat of this podcast is to explain why the London small cap world is such a great place for fraudsters right now.
The gamesmanship is in full play between the UK and its former EU partners. Reading the runes, it looks as though no-deal is the front runner, but you never know what may happen at half a second to midnight so I’ll wait for the fat lady to warble her final aria before giving up hope that common sense might, in the end, prevail. But if the talks fail to see a deal signed sealed and delivered, my sense is that this will prove a great reason for keeping gold-exposure high.
Hello, Share Seekers. My favourite housebuilder, Berkeley Group (BKG) isn’t doing too badly given the disrupted year all builders have experienced thanks to the virus. It’s announced that first-half revenue was only down by 3.8%, to £895.9 million. It could have been much worse, but the virus has, rather perversely, caused house prices to rise which offset most of the damage.
I start with today’s Advent window and then turn to the issue of last minute talks with the EU regarding Brexit. As the grandson of a Bennite campaigner against the EU, I will have no Islington based fucktard lecture me about why I voted to leave. But I discuss the dire warnings in today’s papers about what may lie ahead. I also look at Novacyt (NCYT) and the pointlessness of debating with those whose starting point is not listening to what I have ever said, or reading what I have ever written, and then attacking me for what I have not said!
I waffled on a few weeks back about how the UK power grid was in long term trouble, with further problems as Boris pushed for more wind power and electric vehicle use. I questioned what would happen when the wind did not blow. Looks like we are now pushing that concern far harder, far sooner than I expected. With the UK demand sat at 40.3 GW as I type, the supply from wind is only 290MW. That is practically nothing, at less than 1% of demand.
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?
Another day of FTSE gains and online electrical retailer AO World (AO.) has announced results for its half-year ended 30th September 2020, emphasising “the results we’re announcing today give huge confidence that our business is well set for the future to cement the changes”. The shares have currently responded, er, around 7% lower to about 390p…
A “pleased to announce” trading statement from United Carpets (UCG), “the third largest chain of specialist retail carpet and floor covering stores in the UK”, and the shares currently at 4.25p, more than 30% higher…
Hello, Share Masters. I’m not the only one on this beloved website who’s opined that it’s often the more boring of stocks that produce the best rewards. And you probably can’t get more mundane in the sense of a lack of frequent news than the BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust (BRGE). Nothing much happens here – except that the share price rises on a regular basis. Once again, it has busted through its all-time record and I see no reason why it cannot continue to motor north…
JD Wetherspoon’s (JDW) results today were, predictably, impacted by the insane lockdown. No doubt middle class and affluent #FBPE morons on twitter who have been calling for a boycott of JD Wetherspoon in retaliation for Mr Martin’s pro Brexit stance will today be cheering. After all, if any of his staff do lose their jobs they will only be poor people whose lives don’t really matter. Naturally, Mr Martin has lashed out at the Government’s insane policies and his dissection is clinical and ruthless. The great man opines:
Hello, Share Minders. There are some companies that you feel are more likely to withstand any disasters thrown at them, including the virus. One such firm is Associated British Foods (ABF), which has the cost-cutting clothing high street stores Primark and a food supply bit…
Hello, Share Swampers. Vistry Group (VTY) is a new home builder – sort of. It was formerly Bovis Homes and in January renamed following the acquisition of housing businesses from Galliford Try. It retained the Bovis Homes brand and the former Galliford Try brand, Linden Homes. Numbers for the first half of the year show that adjusted revenue boomed by 40% to £661 million. But that was down to the Galliford Try acquisition…
A couple of years ago I wrote on shares in Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) not particularly complementarily, observing ‘I would not want to be paying a 30 times P/E ratio for that…even if its range of equine, cat and other animal pharmaceutical products continues to grow’. It has taken a while, but over recent weeks the stock has broken back above this letter. So on a quiet regulatory news day…what to make of this name following the publication of its full year results today?…
Tim Martin is once again this website’s hero of the day. The JD Wetherspoon (JDW) boss reports that trade is improving despite continuing assaults by those who thing we should boycott his chain because of Tim’s support for Brexit, including MPs and the loathsome newspaper founded on slave trading profits, The Guardian, who all stoop to lying. His statement today is cracking stuff. The great man opines:
Hello, Share Travellers. Having heard a glowing recommendation from that legendary fund manager Mark Slater at one of Tom’s investment shows, I bought shares a few years ago in AFH Financial Group (AFHP). Sadly the company has been hit by Covid issues and the share, which reached more than 420p after I bought in, more than halved towards 200p in March. Currently, it’s back to 341p, though that is not quite as impressive as some similar companies at this stage. However, it could mean AFH could recover even more now…
There are some situations in life where you want everyone to lose: a Manchester Derby for instance. The contest to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury is usually in this category. Which BBC staff get fired because of cost cuts is another. And here is another of these battles
Hello, Share Swatters. For a bit of fun to lift these dreary lockdown days, I’m introducing a new feature in my modest daily view of shares you might consider. Every article will contain a word you may not know. You might do, but let’s see. And now for today’s commendation, it’s BlackRock’s Greater Europe Investment Trust (BRGE). Now where nearly all other share funds have been hit by the virus, this share has hit new highs...
A no deal Brexit now looks very much possible and that could have profound implications for your wealth.
Remember when the noxious leprechaun told us that RyanAir (RYA) might have to quit Britain if we voted for Brexit? It seems he is not leaving now and thinks we Britishers are jolly good chaps for bailing out his airline even though it sits on a vast cash pile. However, as his airline faces massive price competition as EU member states break all the rules to bail out flag carriers, O'Leary took to CNBC to complain. Of course he is correct, this is a crazy breach of the rules and spunk of taxpayer cash. But as a consumer facing years of cheap flights with the added joy of seeing the odious O'Leary kicked in the gonads and EU taxpayers stiffed with the bill my libertarian anger is somewhat muted. Enjoy the video.
Picking shares that are worth buying at the moment is a real minefield as the situation with Covid-19 is changing all the time. It would be very easy just to sit here and say ‘sell everything’ and you could probably stick a pin in a list of stocks at the moment to pick a sell recommendation, and the chances are that it would go down, at least in the near time!
This is all to do with my own panic shopping but what it told me about how others are behaving. If folks think that most consumers continue to act as if nothing is wrong, think again. Then I look at Future (FUTR) which i don't believe as it issues a trading statement, round two of beer and popcorn at Iofina (IOF) as the great Brexit bad boy Arron Banks makes his move, French Connection (FCCN) and ValiRx (VAL) botb of which look pretty fecked.
In today's podcast I start with an apology to Mitch Tarr for perhaps marginally misquoting him. But that turns into a demand that for all sorts of reasons BigDish (DISH) fires its chairman Jonathan Morley-Kirk, who should be in prison. Then I look at Coronavirus and Dignity (DTY) following a discussion with my GP sister. Then it is onto Sirius Minerals (SXX) and finally to why Brexit "bad boy" Arron Banks is a hero both for dealing with the ghastly Carole Cadwalladr and for his actions at Iofina (IOF) which I support for reasons I explain in great detail.
Snobbish metropolitan elitist Gina Miller and her husband Alan are the most batshit crazy Euro loons going and their contempt for we 17.4 million plebs who voted for Brexit is disgusting. However, the two have compiled a dossier on the FCA and its string of failures, many where its former head and now Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey was personally involved. Sadly the Miller's do not mention a website which warned of a number of these failures while the deadwood press were still blowing off those responssible but despite that, I congratulate the deluded duo on a fine piece of work, which you can read below.
Having previously updated in December including “we continue to face political and economic uncertainties which have contributed to a challenging first two months of the fiscal year”, though with “our business model is robust”, now an “AGM Statement” from ventilation systems and window and door hardware company Titon Holdings (TON) – and the shares currently at 87.5p, more than 20% lower…
Previously writing on castings and engineering group Chamberlin (CMH), in December I questioned do contract awards justify the current approaching 90% share price rise? – concluding, with the shares at more than 40p, I’ll monitor for some sustained improved trading momentum but the financials at this juncture see me certainly continue to avoid. There’s now followed attempted no-one watching o’clock “Trading Statement”, research update and “Holding(s) in Company” announcements…
Hello, Share Farmers. The big British banks have share prices stuck in the mud on roads which should be taking them north, but are not. And yet the compo paid out in PPI cases is nearly over. The deadline was on August 31st, 2019. Yes, that sparked off a huge number of last-minute claims, but many of those will be spurious anyway and the rest will soon be mopped up...
45 years of family pain comes to an end at 11 PM tonight. But the Mrs has hidden the EU flags i was going to burn. I shall make one out of paper for my bonfire. Pictures later. In today's podcast I also look at French Connection (FCCN), Toople (TOOP) and Oracle (ORCP)
Although my main focus is in the oil and mining sectors, I do also follow quite a few shares which don’t fall into this category, with Hostelworld (HSW) being one of them.
As usual, at this noman’s land time of year, trading volumes in shares will be low causing some volatility. This is made more telling this time because of the imminence of Brext. Therefore, it’s probably safest to stay on the sidelines. So, instead of a single recommendation, let me offer some suggestions for New Year resolutions.
Hello Share Thrashers. Though I can’t guarantee this advice is sound, relying on history, I would suggest this is a good time to sell any shares you might have in high street stores. And here are my reasons.
Andrew Bell of Red Rock Resources (RRR) stood for the Brexit Party at the last election, losing his deposit. He has today written to supporters and makes some interesting points on how the land lies... He writes:
Previously writing on mechanical and refractory engineering company Goodwin (GDWN), in July 2018 with the shares at 2300p I concluded if looking for a solid business with exposure to potential oil and gas industry recovery this still looks a good bet. The shares were recently above 3600p, but are currently back below 3000p on the back of half-year results…
Hello, Stare Swingers. As this old punter writes, the Footsie is up nearly 1.5%. Who’d have thought some news that Brexit is almost certainly on the doorstep would send shares soaring? Especially as so many companies have moaned that a break from Europe spells doom and gloom. But Friday’s massive hike in share prices proves one thing…
On election results day, an intra-day (11:58am) “CemTeal Limited & associated subsidiaries Update” from CEPS plc (CEPS). Uh oh…
I had expected Boris to romp home as, rather with the Brexit Referendum, I sensed that there were a lot of very shy Tories out there and enough people would remember the Labour government of the 1970s which had to go cap-in-hand for a bailout from the IMF. Meanwhile the LibDem tactic of talking about cancelling Brexit and not much else backfired spectacularly and its erstwhile leader lost her seat. So Brexit is on the way, the Tories have a five-year term and life should improve. Above all, the Brexit deadlock is broken but now what?
Hello, Share Shufflers. By the time you read this, we’ll all be either pleased or fed up on the election result. But trading shares immediately on the result could be a mistake. The market could assess the result and go off entirely on the wrong tack. Then it could change its mind and go the opposite way. It’s probably not worth getting caught in the mayhem. So I’m sitting on the sidelines until the middle of next week. However, there are some shares that could keep on rising even if the financial seas are stormy. One such stock in my opinion is Legal & General (LGEN)...
Hello Share Slakers. At first blush, the results for its half year ended 31 October from my favourite builder Berkeley Group (BKG) seemed discouraging. Profit before tax come in at £276.7 million, down by 31% compared to last time...
Hello, Share Speakers. With the election only 20 days away, it’s wise to review our trading options. The election run-up can be just as important as the final result in Shareland. We are called to take scary buy, sell or hold chances because the outcome - particularly so this time - is so unpredictable. Yet there are some previous facts to help us.
Given I have undertaken a return trip to Dubai in the last three days (technically between Tuesday and Thursday - don't ask!) you would have thought I would have had enough thinking or talking about the airline sector. But musing about numbers from easyJet (EZJ) from Tuesday is no chore, because it is time to sell up and take some profits…
Hello Share Twiddlers. I think I've commended British Land (BLND) to your further inquiry in the past. But stories change and I’ve modified my optimistic view. I feel the latest set of - half-year - numbers isn't too encouraging. The company lets out property to retailers. And we all know the High Street has been beset by closures and liquidations recently. For British Land, net rental income fell by nearly a tenth to £243 million...
So much for the #BoycottWetherspoons campaign pushed by Remoaning drips. JD Wetherspoon (JDW) Q1 like for like sales grew by 5.3% and overall sales were up by 5.6%. When pro-Brexit parties win the election I know where I am going for a celebratory pint. In bringing us this good news, my hero Tim Martin also lashes out at the woke Brigade of corporate governance bores, notably the rank hypocrisy of the commie sociologist (I kid you not) who runs PIRC. This is brilliant stuff and I have highlighted the PIRC section as sheer genius as the deadwood press has long quoted PIRC time and time again to create non-stories. Martin brilliantly exposes PIRC as Charlatans. The greatest living Englishman writes:
Hello Share Flingers. It’s easy to spot possible headwinds in the flying game. The green lobby against air travel is getting stronger. Brexit will make travel to 27 countries more difficult. Oil prices are rising again after a brief rest. The fallen pound makes trips abroad more expensive and so on...
It was only a week ago that on orders from the evil PR spinners at Mothercare (MTC) the Sunday Times was running a puff piece about how the company was bringing in “restructuring experts” to look at its 79 UK stores (having shuttered another 55 in a CVA not that long ago) which racked up losses of £36 million last year. How time flies for the discredited deadwood press. Today Mothercare has called in the administrators for its UK stores.
Hello, share Bakers. You have to congratulate television’s political reporters. They always find new and ingenious ways of saying they haven't a clue what’ll happen next on the Brexit front. In my days as a telly reporter, I would have made strenuous efforts to find out the most likely course of events. But that was a long time ago and I didn't have such a forbidding workload - tweeting and contributing to the BBC website, etc.
In today's podcast I look at the looming General Election, at a pathetic excuse from Hargreaves Lansdowne (HL.) for not commenting on Neil Woodford, at Sound Energy (SOU), the ramp du jour Euraisia Mining (EUA), at the scandals at Tern (TERN) and Big Dish (DISH) and what they say about the institutionally useless FCA and AIM Regulation and at the profits warning from Empressaria (EMR).
Hello, Share Squeezers. Time for another look at how the Brexit farce is likely to affect our shares before Christmas. The can of the final outcome is once more being kicked down the road. And as far as the City is concerned, the dithering and delays are a good thing.
Hello, Share Twisters. With three offspring who may buy their own homes in the next few years, I keenly appreciate the current shortage of houses. This gap between supply and demand will benefit all builders. But probably more so those companies whose homes are at the more reasonable end of the market. Earlier this month Barratt Developments (BDEV) reported encouraging figures...
I am not the biggest fans of the large accountancy and consultancy companies but it was quite striking that a new report from EY observed that there 'were more profit warnings from listed companies in the first nine months of 2019 than in any year since 2008'. And you guessed it - as one of the deadwood press notes - 'the report cites concerns over the economy and delays or cancellations of contracts as the two main causes for companies to miss their forecasts. Brexit was highlighted as the reason for 22% of profit warnings in the three months to September — up from 10% in the first quarter'.
Hello Share Thrashers. As I write, nobody has any idea if the Brexit debacle will move forward or back, so let’s take the opportunity of reviewing a share owner’s benefit which is often disregarded and shouldn't be. I refer to the perks. Here’s the latest list of some of the best companies for rewarding share-owners.
Brexit excitements, eh? The merest whiff of some kind of deal and hello a rotation into UK domestic shares such as the banks, the housebuilders and - of course - retail. All good fun and certainly - as I talked about before - this is where most of the value in UK equities is currently...
Hello, Share Bundlers. Looking at the chart for Lloyds Group (LLOY) is enough to give anyone the heebie jeebies. Mid-August the shares fell to 48p. Only a month later they were 55p. So up by 14%, which is an unusually big jump for a Footsie company. Less than three weeks later they were back down to 50p. And then at the end of last week, they were back to nearly 60p. Or approaching 20% better than on the ninth of this month. My Lloyds holding is one of the biggest in my book, so this up and down performance is pretty stressful. But why is Lloyds so volatile lately?...
Hello Share Twiddlers. Airlines are a difficult area for me. Not since I ditched my old British Airways shares yonks ago have I dabbled in the sector. As a pilot might say: there seem to be more headwinds than tailwinds. The budget operator easyJet (EZJ) is a company which currently performs above City expectations. But for how long?...
I start with a row I had with the Mrs on Brexit. It is pertinent to what follows so bear with me No Gold. I then move on to a different sort of socialist to the Mrs, my grandfather Sir John Winnifrith and his comrade in arms Tony Benn, that is to say Lord Drayson of Sensyne (SENS) where revelations yesterday were shocking. Oh, and that poltroon Neil Woodford is involved too.
Hello, Share Travellers. It’s eye-opening how much a stay abroad tells you about the British economy. Having just returned from Lisbon, I am amazed by the locals’ political knowledge – and especially of their insight into our economy. But I didn't just speak to Portuguese business folks...
Neil Woodford’s revolutionary bedding company, AIM-listed Eve Sleep (EVE), has released its interim results and whilst the company boasts of the halving of EBITDA losses (bullshit losses), revenues are down and it reported losses of £6.7 million on revenues of £12.9 million. Of course, Neil Woodford knows best and has thrown ever more good money after bad into this one-way ticket to financial oblivion and now sees net current assets of £13 million as at 30 June, which the mathematicians of you will see is less than twice the H1 loss – and that was almost three months ago. Eve Sleep needs yet more cash…..and Neil hasn’t got any.
Previously writing on Wildwood and dim t restaurants company Tasty plc (TAST), I reviewed discounted fundraising bears out my prior caution, though where from here?. Now results for its half-year ended 30th June 2019…
This is very significant and cause for concern. Fed injects liquidity for 4th Day...
Fear not. The old coot is not, is not, as far as I know, dead.
Hello, Share Scrimpers. Opening a letter from one of my brokers I discovered that a company I’d long given up on was paying me a special dividend of 6p a share. As I only hold 13 shares apparently, I benefit by 78p. I wish there was a way of getting rid altogether, but to sell this piddling number of shares would probably cost me much more than I’d get back.
Once known as the journal of record, the Financial Times has seen its readership tumble for many years following a litany of editorial misjudgments. Today it plunges to a new low of crass stupidity.
Hello, Share Smackers. Keeping a careful watch on your shares is a complete waste of time. Yes, I know a lot of folks will throw their hands up in horror at this view. Most serious analysts stress that we should keep all our companies under constant review.
So much for the #BoycottWetherspoon campaign. Its value pricing and support for British products and democracy are serving it well. Full Year numbers out today impressed (despite the Boycott campaign sales went up by 7.4%). And chairman Tim Martin again stepped up to the plate and is our hero of the day for sticking it to the elitists who wish to block Brexit because they know better than we dirty 17.4 million plebs. The great man, Tim, opines:
As it is a Friday, a short quiz. How many of the following do you recognise: 'Teksta, Chill Factor, The Zelfs, Doctor Who, Peppa Pig, Fireman Sam, Postman Pat'? If you got more than four...then clearly you have a young child in the house as these are some of the key brands for toys company Character Group (CCT)…
In this eighth edition of the ShareProphets Radio podcast, sponsored by Yorkville Advisors, in order I discuss my guest next week (the biggest name yet on the show) and Burford (BUR) and the more general issue of revenue recognition. I then chat for about an hour to liberatrian comedian, songwriter and singer, Brexit Party activist, gold & bitcoin guru Dominic Frisby. Prepare for a few laughs. Then it is Cathal Friel of Open Orphan (ORPH), where I am a shareholder, and finally David Bramhill of Union Jack Oil (UJO). After that section I discuss nearology with reference to Union Jack, UK Oil & Gas (UKOG) and more generally. If you like this and can't wait seven days for more of the same you should listen to my Bearcast every day.
Britain’s constitutional crisis has hit before the next great spasm of Europe’s intractable monetary crisis. But they are in close competition. The eurozone faces a category five economic storm. It is structurally defenceless as the world slides into recession. This will not be an ordinary downturn because central banks no longer have the instruments to fight it. If there is an October election in the UK - and if it delivers a bigger Tory majority as polls suggest - EU leaders will have to decide whether to risk adding the shock of a no-deal Brexit to all the other shocks hitting their industries...
By convention the speaker of the house of commons, standing as an independent, is returned unopposed by the major parties. But John Bercow is a divisive fellow.
Hello Share Feelers. You'll have noticed tht the Dow is once again tickling all-time highs. This is odd, given that the trde war with China shows little sign of cooling down. However, the big American traders have always had more optimism in their genes than their UK counterparts. The health of American shares may also have something to do with US traders prefering to invest in their home grown stock rather than risk it with Brexit-torn Blighty and indeed with the rest of a beleaguered Europe
Trump and Brexit are evidence of a decaying economic system, where money has been over gamed by politicians with very short term interests. Change is coming in a substantial way and being prepared will present great money making opportunities. Those who choose to ignore the current siren calls will be left severely impaired, both financially and probably mentally. It is not an understatement to say the world will not be the same again after the next global monetary reset; historically this occurs every 80 years or so...
Hello Share Topplers. Since I last commended my favourite builder to you, its share price has marched ahead. But there could be further to go for Berkeley Group (BKG). The company has done what we all seek to do, but rarely succeed. That is: it has worked out the best timing...
Hello Share Spooners. I’m making a lot of dosh these days. Not through trading shares, but in selling a load of what my wife describes as’ tat’ on eBay. It’s amazing how much little sales mount up. However, it’s currently hard work supplementing my income by trading shares.TW Note is not the Welsh word for what you sell tuch? (not sure on spelling)
Hello, Share Monkeys. Mostly, I pick my own companies to invest in. Having read some of the horror stories of those who’ve trusted their brokers to do the choosing, I expect you’re the same. But there’s no harm in occasionally leaving the decisions to someone you do respect. And so I have shares in a couple of outfits that have good track records...
Last year on an AGM update from foundries and machining business Castings (CGS) I concluded a current market cap, with the shares at around 425p, of circa £185 million… I’m happy to continue to monitor for new management Machining turnaround with the shares on the watchlist. Now this year’s AGM update…
I start with the threat of a UK recession, piffle tweeted by the lunatic David Lammy MP, the link to Brexit (minimal) and the stockmarket implications. Then onto Burford (BUR) where events move apace but the company seems to think bear raider Carson Block of Muddy Waters is in legal hot water. Instinctively I side with Block, however if today's Mail is correct and he has closed much of his short while still issuing bearish tweets then is he any better than Chris Oil on Sefton or shamed broker SP Angel on Blue Jay (JAY). On that basis....
Previously writing on Pennant International (PEN), in May, with the shares falling below 100p, I noted “potential delay” of a major contract & director spoofing concluding that the director share developments and clear order challenges saw my stance to sell / bargepole. Now a “Pre-Close Trading Update”…
Interior furnishings company Walker Greenbank (WGB) has updated including even “excluding accelerated income under IFRS 15 and income from apparel contracts, core licensing income was up approximately 12.2 per cent”. The shares are though currently slightly lower, at around 86p…
Previously writing on Autins Group (AUTG), in June I noted deteriorating finances and concluded bargepole / sell. The shares have recently been around the 28p of then, but now placing news…
Hello, Share Snatchers. The huge lurches down and up made by the share markets on the day’s news always amazes me. Yet that news is nearly always a nine-days wonder which makes no difference in the end. I’m also bewildered at the lack of many investors’ realisation that this volatility is (perhaps subconsciously) engineered by the world’s biggest traders so that they can make money.
Hello, Share Squeezers. The insurance sector has been static as of late, after a few months of steady progress earlier. It’s those Brexit fears and the low pound that’s to blame, just as it is with banking stocks which are similarly mired. But one of the big companies, RSA Insurance Group (RSA) - the old Royal Insurance Company - has just released numbers which are encouraging...
Over the weekend, I explained in bearcast why any half sentient being would not wish to tie the UK’s growing economy to the neo-corpse that is the EU economy. My friend, our in-house Euro loon Jonathan Price likes backing losing causes, being a fellow West Ham supporter. And thus, he has taken the trouble to respond which is very good of him as I know that he knows that he is, like all London based liberal elitists, an expert and I am one of the 17.4 million who are too thick to understand the real issues of Brexit. Anyhow, Jonathan explains:
Hello, Share Pranksters. As I’m a responsible sort of chap I initially baulked at commending Victrex (VCT) to your further scrutiny. It makes plastics. So one thinks of polluted oceans. But this company makes a lightweight plastic which is used instead of metal. That still sounds a bit un-green, I know. Until I realised that this lighter plastic is used in cars and planes instead of heavy metals. And that saves on fossil fuels...
Hello, Share Turners. Recently I’ve been buying shares. This was partly because of the buoyant mood of fund managers I met at the UK Global Group Investor Show. But that was in the Spring and since then,it has become all too clear that Boris Johnson could be our Prime Minister. That has caused a change of mind and I will soon redirect into cash, partly at least.
Hello, Share Jumpers. As the PPI claims August cut-off point nears, I can’t shrug off the uneasy feeling that I must be entitled to cashback. However, as I never borrow money and my last mortgage was taken out before the ark sailed, I must push the thought behind me. Nevertheless, PPI leads me to think of my shareholding in Lloyds Bank (LLOY)...
The angling market is a sector that I know very well as I also work in marketing for the UK’s largest tackle manufacturer, and in the past I haven’t been convinced that the shares in Angling Direct (ANG) have offered any value for investors...
The silly campaign by whining remoaners to boycott JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is not working. Ha! For the 10 weeks to 7 July 2019 like-for-like sales increased by 6.9% and total sales increased by 6.6%. Year-to-date like-for-like sales have increased by 6.7% and total sales increased by 7.4%.. In bringing us this good news, chairman Tim Martin is again our hero of the day for some sane words on Brexit Tired of Project Fear from the BBC, the Quislings at the CBI, The Guardian, the pink comic that is the FT and our own Malcolm Stacey? Over to Tim who writes:
Hello, Share Campers. When supply falls short of demand, or even likely demand, the happy supplier should be able to keep prices high and still make a tasty profit. That should go without saying. But those who criticise my current support for housebuilders rarely take into consideration this basic rule of o-level economics...
TW Health warning. This is fake news from Project Fear. Over to our resident Euro loon Malcolm who writes: Hello, Share Squeezers. At present, the Footsie has not been bashed in by Brexit fears. However, while most of the world has seen a big surge in share values, the UK has not. And if we get a no deal Brexit, as Boris could precipitate, shares in certain sectors could be hit. So if you think that a disorderly exit will happen, you might want to consider swapping out of these sectors first. Here they are.
Savanah Petroleum (SAVP) has today updated us on the Seven Energy deal and with the can is being kicked down the road once again. This substantial deal was reviewed by Gary Newman back in Jan 2018 when the deal was announced highlighting the scale and potential to transform Savanah, and again after the very positive first drilling results from the Niger exploration assets were revealed.
Hello Share Rattlers. Despite the fact that I’ve written in recent times in support of housebuilders, I hold few building shares in my portfolio. That’s because of laziness, rather than caution. But one of the few companies I’ve invested in is Berkeley Group (BKG). Many house builders have reported disappointing figures recently, as fears about Brexit, founded or not, have bit into the sector...
Hello Share Slushers. I’ve oft remarked how important the oil price is to share shifters like us. But there’s never any harm in re-stressing points which are so important. Obviously, when it rises we can expect shares in Footsie oilers, like Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA and RDSB) and BP (BP.) to react accordingly. Just as they’re doing now. But the oil price is more significant than that.
Hello Share Mates. We are blessed with some of the greatest brains in company analysis on this gorgeous website. That’s why our writers keep uncovering big stories long before the Press. You can't help but be impressed by the technical pros and cons our corespondents dissect with a fine toothcomb.
Hello, Share Scullers. Whether or not you want to stay in or come out of Europe, I think you’ll agree that shares will shoot up if a second referendum is announced. Just as they will topple if we come out with no deal. As private armchair tycoons, we need to take a view on which outcome is most likely to happen.
Previously writing on automotive acoustic and thermal insulation group Autins (AUTG), in March I noted the shares up to 34p to buy on the back of Chairman & CEO (though the announcement doesn’t seem sure!) share purchases. However, I noted these small and following results showing finances further deteriorating. Now a “Trading Update”…
Hello, Share Fans. You may know that I’m a fan of property companies, or at least of their mid-term prospects. But that is mainly for housing, where supply still has problems competing with demand. However, office and shop properties are not sectors that thrill me. Which brings me to Great Portland Estates (GPOR). I wish the company well, but foresee possible headwinds in the office and retail rental game...
Hello, Share Strummers. Time for another look at Photo-Me (PHTM) methinks. Uncle Tom once described this as my favourite share. But that was in the old days when the share made a steady climb towards the 170p mark. I took back my loyalty when the stock started to decay. And it eventually dropped to 80p-ish. Today it's about 92p...
Hello, Share Trampers. For the last ten years, I’ve ignored the stock market adage ‘Go away in May and come back on Leger Day’ (September). But it’s beginning to look like better advice this time around. Just when the Footsie seemed to be recovering from the Brexit blues, it’s gone back into reverse.
Hello, Share Hitters. Shares in Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) have been pounded of late. This often happens to our big banks after improving results cause a share jump, though are soon forgotten. The shares are also down on Brexit fears and a falling pound. But they are beginning to look cheap to some. And it’s a hard thing to sell shares which pay a dividend of over 5%...
Maybe I’m just a blinkered old fool, but I just cannot believe that Jeremy Corbyn will get his feet into Number 10. As such, the biggest part (for me) of the case to sell Centrica (CNA) falls apart in my view. Here is why.
After admitting I still loved up easyJet (EZJ) shares late last week, what to make of its great peer Ryanair (RYA) which produced its latest set of numbers today?...
Hello, Share Puddlers. It’s very possible that the next leader of the Tory party will be a tougher negotiator than Mrs May. This would be more likely to end in a no-deal Brexit. So how will this affect the companies we share shifters invest in? Here are some precautions you might take.
There is much I could write about today including Greggs' (GRG) continued success with vegan sausage rolls (good), Vodafone (VOD) admitting it had to cut the dividend (bad) and yet another property sector shocker, this time from behemoth Land Securities (LAND)…
I had a good response for reprinting a chart from Visual Capitalist a few weeks ago, so I'll do it again. Today is Movie Franchise Earnings Over the Last 20 Years.
A “Trading Update” from John Lewis Of Hungerford (JLH) commences that “we remain confident that the business continues to trade positively with deposits taken tracking ahead of those taken in the same period in the prior year” and also includes “sales for the second half are expected to be approximately 10% ahead of the prior year”. The shares have responded… er, currently to below 0.6p – more than 11% lower!...
I start with Neil Woodford, via the lackies like Jeff Prestridge at the Mail on Sunday talking bollocks on Brexit, the markets and his doomed funds. Then it is onto someone who has given £50 to Rogue Bloggers for Woodlarks. Get in touch you POS and I shall refund you personally as you lie in bed with fraudsters and other scum. If you are not on the side of financial gangsters and wan t to back a good cause please do so HERE
Hello, Share Screamers. There are City analysts who say that shares are cheap now and can only go up. There are others, like talented Shareprophets writer David Scott who say they can only topple as yet unappreciated global headwinds blow in. But what’s the real story?
Hello, Share Polishers. The City was a bit disappointed in Lloyds Bank (LLOY)’s performance in the first three months of the year. The figures don't seem bad to me, but the shares still dipped on the news. Not much, but there should be a bit more optimism about such a big bank now on the road to recovery...
Provider of online B2B platforms for the UK conveyancing and financial intermediary markets, ULS Technology (ULS) has updated including of “a strong gross margin performance… continues to generate strong cash flow… maintain the group's policy of paying a progressive dividend”. So why are the shares currently, on the back of the update, at 70p – 9% lower?...
Hello, Share Clangers. When I’m away on business, which is rather too often for my liking, I prefer to stay in Premier Inns. My reason is not that I think they’re great but that because, as a shareholder, I nab two nights for one at weekends. However, I don't hold the shares for this handy perk, but because the room prices are comparatively cheap – which is what stingy customers want these days...
A reader says that he will donate £500 to Rogue Bloggers for Woodlarks if I watch and critique a talk by the crazy cat woman Carole Cadwalladr on how the Brexit vote was stolen For Woodlarks I will do anything, even this: please donate HERE. Of course, I knew Carole at Oxford ( same college, year below me) so I know what a fraud she is.
Optibiotix (OPTI) has announced the launch of SlimBiome® Medical in the UK – as of 29 April. All; well and good and I remain an enthusiast for the shares - they are cheap. But there is another matter which is not so impressive in a word where transparency is now universally viewed as critical.
I read today that a Deloitte survey shows that 8 out of 10 chief financial officer's at large UK companies think the long-term business environment will be worse due to Brexit, whilst a Bibby Financial Services survey notes 57% of small and medium sized business owners think the UK economy will fall into a recession this year. I guess that is pessimism central...and the seeming inability of politicians to concentrate on the opportunities and challenges of the post-Brexit period does not bode well. Step forward the recruitment sector for review then…
Hello, Share Screechers. With so much uncertainty in the world and dire warnings about share prices, some given on this beautiful website, it might be worth considering other forms of investment. I’ve been tempted by buying works of art, but as I know nothing about the subject I decided against it. And that's despite some huge profits art investors have seen over the last few years.
Another day and another production update from Horse Hill which gives UK Oil & Gas (UKOG) boss Lyin’ Steve Sanderson to make the most outrageous claims which he could not substantiate in a month of Sundays. But the dull share price reaction suggests that these days the words of Lyin' Steve are about as credible as a Theresa May pledge on Brexit.
Writing in November on “provider of 'IT as a Service'” Adept4 (AD4) it was “Trading Update” = a late trading warning & even bullshit earnings on steroids can’t help!. Today “Customer Contract Termination”. Uh oh…
The question that I am sure that many of you are asking today is: what happened to me at the Master Investor show? Did they use my head as a door opener as they threw me out? Did they have a meeting of the Car Park committee? Was I tossed in London Design Centre jail?
Happy Birthday Dad. I hope that you enjoy your "medicinal" apple based gift. I am about ten days from moving house and have just completed a mail relocation form so I shall get my postal vote for the Euros forwarded. I dislike many of the creeps who surround Nigel Farage but his Brexit party has my vote in the bag and I explain why. I look at Management Resource Solutions (MRS) as another red flag emerges for this insolvent piece of crap. I cover Westminster Group (WSG) run by loathsome swine Tony Baldry, Audioboom (BOOM), Woodford Patient Capital Trust (WPCT) and his other dogs and Purplebricks (PURP) in a Joshua interrupted podcast.
A “Trading Update” from business and company sales specialist in the UK, K3 Capital (K3C)… and the shares currently at 135p in response – down more than 15%. Uh oh…
In December I again cautioned on instant-service vending equipment provider Photo-Me International (PHTM), noting a reliance on a swift about-turn from “large order lags” in the current macro climate as the shares headed below 100p. Now, with the company’s year ending this month, a trading update…
Anyone who follows me on twitter knows my feelings about the vermin of the IRA but I have a daily chat these days with my pal the IRA man about Brexit. I discuss its effect on shares and suggest that a far bigger political threat is really not priced in. I explain why I know Yourgene (YGEN) is having a trading statement on Monday and what makes good journalism. I look in detail at Mobile Streams (MOS), insolvency law and the nature of trade receivables and at Gear4Music (G4M) and its latest warning which is enough to turn a man to drink, the shares remain a stonking sell. Finally. get your wallets out!
Hello, Share Pickers. If you are one of those investors who still believe that the Brexit mess will have a nasty effect on share prices, the company I look at today may not appeal to you very much. I - and several speakers at the Global Group UK Investor Show - though don’t think Brexit will make much difference in the longer run...
So another week of Brexit-related excitement awaits. I have almost given up trying to predict the next twists and turns but there is always a practical impact and we have seen this from easyJet (EZJ) this morning…
Hello Share Wishers. Those of us who attended the Global Group UK Investor Show this weekend really were lucky. We got to hear bang-up-to-date views and advice from some of the best investors. And do we pay huge amounts for this valuable advice? Do we Bucknall Abbey! But we could sit there and soak it all in. For those who missed this year’s show, allow me to try to give some views of Britain’s best fund manager...
I reported back from my visit to the Ariana Resources (AAU) stand HERE but I was also very keen to check in with AIM-listed Sosandar (SOS). My position here is pretty good, having recommended a buy after last year’s UKI and taking profits twice: I am ahead in cash and I still have a little pile of free shares in Sosandar. But with the shares now sitting at just 26p -well down from the peak in the mid-forties – should I buy, sell or hold?
Hello, Share Cobblers. As I’m hosting the UK Investor Show this weekend, I can’t topically research any individual shares for your attention. And I’ve said all I can say about Brexit and my portfolio. Briefly, I expect shares to come back strongly once the process becomes clear, just as falling shares did at the outset of World War 11. So may I write about catching a cold, instead?
Neil Woodford needs money for his funds urgently but to give to a far more deserving cause which I may have mentioned once or twice go HERE. I discuss damning statistics for the AIM Casino, Inspirit (INP), Mobile Streams (MOS) and in the Woodford section Paypoint (PAY), Imperial Brands (IMB) and now Strix (KETL), another jolly good income and growth play he is dumping.
Hello, Share Beamers. Never one to rule out shares which do boring things, I think it might be worth your looking into a big British company which makes foam. Zotefoams (ZTF) says it produces foams which are lighter and more friendly with the environment than its rivals...
Well it looks as if we will not Brexit on March 29th after all. But The Global Group UK Investor Show on March 30th in Westminster goes ahead and will be more informative and controversial than ever. The last chance to book seats is noon today
On £325,000 a year life is sweet for David Bauernfeind, the CFO of Domino's Pizza (DOM). Ok, franchisees are in revolt and the shares have tanked by 30% over the past year so you'd have thought as he weighed his salary he'd be busy fighting fires. Au contraire, go to his twitter account @dbauernfeinduk and you will find that he is tweeting like a dervish, not with special offers of two pizzas tasting of cardboard for £19.99 but about Brexit. If you are one of the 17.4 million who voted for Brexit what you will see will shock you, for this fat cat seems to despise we little people and jokes about our death. I, for one, will #BoycottDominos and you may wish to consider whether you want to support the bloated pay packet of a man who looks down on you in this way.
Tom always tells me that I don't really understand our readers, which is bollocks. So, I assume that most ShareProphets readers were all out in London yesterday demanding a new Brexit referendum, right?
Union Jack Oil (UJO) “is pleased to announce that it has conditionally raised £1.75 million by way of a placing and subscription, through the issue of a total of 2,333,333,334 new ordinary shares at an issue price of 0.075 pence”…
Hello, Share Pickers. So the Brexit mess worsens. If we conducted our affairs in the same counterproductive and argumentative way as those MPs of ours, we would all be bankrupt by now. It’s a disgrace. But let’s try and be positive about the situation as regards our shares.
Charlie & Lola let me down so sorry for the Joshua interruption today. In this podcast I discuss Brexit and the real threats to the UK economy and then look at Crest Nicholson (CRST), its dividend and, I think, illusory yield. If you enjoyed this, almost, profanity free bearcast, follow a bloke from the Grim North who donated enough to buy a whole house in the welfare safari and support the Rogue Bloggers for Woodlarks HERE.
Tasty (TAST) Chairman Keith Lassman states “I am pleased to be reporting on the group's annual results for the 52 week period ended 30 December 2018”. The shares have responded currently to 6.5p – 23.5% lower!...
Hello, Share Travellers. As I'm just returning from a week in Jordan, I'm a bit out of touch with the markets. So allow me to pass on some titbits I picked up in the Middle East which could colour our portfolios in Blighty. My first point is how non-Europeans, as reflected by Jordanians, view the Brexit crisis on our economy.
Anyone who points out how the Financial Times is always on the wrong side of history when it comes to the EU must be a good guy and that brings us to Tim Martin of JD Wetherspoon (JDW) announcing interim numbers today who opines:
Actually I am being generous. One might suggest that certain undergarments are look very combustible. I am sure that when Malcolm becomes aware of this he will wish to revisit his position. This is a scandal, the company has declined to comment and its advisors do not seem to give a damn either, their excuses are risible.
Do your worst in the comments section below. The deadline for entries is midnight tonight, unless we decide to ignore the wishes of 52% of you and extend it. The prize, as ever, is a semi naked photo of The UK's top share blogger, mornings only, Thirsty Paul Scott.
I start with a few thoughts on Brexit and equity valuations. Then I discuss allegations of systematic market abuse via Bulletin Boiards and twitter and reflect on how you should make your own investment decisions. Finally a few words on the Winx debacle in Alaska, Red Emperor (RMP), Pantheon Resources (PANR) and 88 Energy (88E). If you enjoyed this, less than PC, bearcast, follow a bloke from the Grim North who donated enough to buy a whole house in the welfare safari and support the Rogue Bloggers for Woodlarks HERE.
Following an update & shares resume trading yesterday, a “£35 million contract wins” announcement from recruitment and training group Staffline (STAF) today…
Last week I questioned on automotive sector acoustic and thermal insulation group Autins (AUTG), “pleased to announce” results & “confident 2019 will deliver positive results”. Really?. There is currently though a “Directors' Dealings” announcement seeing the shares jump…
You might just remember Maria Miller MP being forced to resign from Government in utter disgrace after bogus expense claims of up to £90,000 were exposed. The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner said the old trougher should pay back £45,000. Her fellow MPs helped reduce that to just £8,500. Sleazy Maria has today tweeted a remark of such mind numbing idiocy that I wonder if you is the dimmest MP tod
Hello, Share Trimmers. With Brexit arrangements no further forward, it’s harder to justify any big buys of companies which focus on sales or imports from Europe. So we need to look at the really global sellers if we want to feel a bit safer in our beds. So I turn again to my old favourite Diageo (DGE)...
Writing on “the third largest chain of specialist retail carpet and floor covering stores in the UK”, United Carpets (UCG) in September I noted that it attempts to mitigate that it “believes the business is well positioned for future trading” but asked half-year results including a formal profit warning ahoy?. Those December-announced results though included “recent trading performance has shown some more encouraging signs which, if sustained, should result in a better second half result and a reasonable outcome for the year”. Today a “Trading Statement”…
Previously writing on automotive sector acoustic and thermal insulation group Autins (AUTG) in October, it was with the shares falling further from the mid 30p’s; “many opportunities to grow and diversify” - why the ‘cost base steps’ then?. The shares are currently again lower to 20p on the back of “pleased to announce” full-year results. Hmmm…
Forgive the title. It is the new song by my pal Dominic Frisby which you can see below. It covers Brexit and is, I think, rather funny, no: it is pure genius. In my podcast, I look at Red Emperor (RMP) and the other Winx plays, Mirriad (MIRI), FinnCrap (FCAP), Akers Biosciences (AKR), Independent Oil & Gas (IOG) Nautilus Marine (NAUT), a real dog, and finally I have a hot deeply discounted placing rumour on I3 Energy (I3E). If you enjoyed this bearcast, follow Jim Mellon and support the Rogue Bloggers for Woodlarks HERE.
I am losing my voice and have had to postpone my training walk today. Tomorrow, come what may, I will do 15 miles. Think of an old and sick man, listen to my croaky voice and sponsor a rogue blogger for Woodlarks HERE. In today's podcast I look at how Neil Woodford has legged over the deadwood press yet again, at why i remain bearish on equities and at Malcolm's worst ever article, pure cobblers on Brexit and shares.
Hello, Share Carriers. You may be fed up with hearing about Brexit, but its effect on your shares cannot be easily dismissed. There’s no doubt that the possibility of a no-deal has attacked British share prices for the last few months. Now that possibility is seen to be receding, share prices have broken back through the 7,000 Footsie mark and are now easing ahead again. Though there’s still a long way to go to the fairly recent record of 7,800-ish.
Hello, Share Gatherers. The share price of Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) has been creeping up. At Christmas, it was around 50p and it’s now around 63p. And how has its big rival Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) done in the same period? Its Yule price was 206p and now it’s 263p...
Previously writing on audio-visual marketing company MediaZest (MDZ) in September I questioned it arguing “strong performance”. Today a placing announcement…
Hello Share Trouncers. Lloyds Bank (LLOY) is doing ok. So maybe I’ll eventually get back some of my heavy loss which harks back to the financial crash of 2008. Sadly, I’ll need a 30% hike in the share price to do that. But it has been known for Footsie giants to double in a year. OK, that’s unlikely with Lloyds, but still it looks on the right track...
I am now back from my weekend in the Grim North where the Mother-in-law had some harsh words for me which have wounded me greatly. I look at Plus500 (PLUS), our coverage and where next and then at the demise of FlyBMI and what that says about Brexit, airline stocks, corks on waves and if the same applies to retail.
Hello Share Trudgers. Let’s try and bring common sense to private share trading in these difficult times. One way of proceeding is to buy Footsie giants, rather than tiddlers. This is because many jumbos do the majority of their business outside the European union. Also, the bigger firms are more likely to have enough resource to act as a buffer if a no-deal Brexit causes chaos for a time.
It is a good job that Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has started to pay a dividend (3.5p full year and a 7.5p special equating to 11p per share or c. a 4.5% yield) because my June love-up would have left any investors over the last eight or so months with basically no capital gain. I guess it could have been worse and today's full year 2018 numbers have shown some real year-on-year progress...
Hello Share Plungers. Should you fancy, as I do, that house prices will not be affected much more by Brexit, however the negotiations progress, then it might be worthing taking a peek at Barratt Developments (BDEV). Do we really believe that foreigners will stop scoffing our bricks and mortar just because its becomes slighter harder for Europeans to enter the country?
I made a brave positive call on Thomas Cook (TCG) in late November after its share price shocker, noting that: 'The stock is cheap (less than 4 times EV/ebit) but clearly not without risk. Would I roll the dice here as a 2019 punt wrapped up in politics and climate realities? You know - rather than buying one of its holidays - just maybe I would given the range of assets'...
Hello, Share Mashers. I’ll return to my normal company recommendation service tomorrow, but recent figures are making me think my usual optimism is becoming misplaced. Therefore, I think we should all look at our portfolios in a more defensive way...
OK, I’m a bit late with this update and the last one wasn’t at all pretty as total returns weighed in at a depressing -1.4%. So much for being immune to a dodgy market! But the dividends are still rolling in and I’m still beating Neil Woodford….every cloud, and all that!
Hello, Share Bunnies. As the Brexit mess becomes even messier, we need to continue careful consideration of what will happen to our shares. These are the choices. If we *crash out of Europe, the pound will take a hard knock. If we have a soft Brexit, it will shoot up. * TW Note, incorrect word used by those who want to stay in Europe but do not dare admit it like Malcolm.
Hello, Share Markers. Yesterday I suggested insurer Legal & General (LGEN) as a reasonable punt for anyone looking for a comparatively safe company with a juicy dividend. For the more curious who want to spread an investment between two of Britain’s more reliable companies might I also suggest you look at Severn Trent (SVT)...
I loved up easyJet (EZJ) a week or so ago, so does the love also flow through to its more Eastern European centric peer Wizz Air (WIZZ)?
Hello, Share Pals. I’ve been looking at an old Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes classic called the Scarlet Claw. It reminds me somehow of the tax return I should be filling in before the January 31st deadline. I hope you’ve done yours.
The #BoycottWetherspoons (JDW) campaign by mad remoaners is flopping badly. Hooray. The company has released a cracking trading statement and its chairman, the People’s Hero, Tim Martin has again let rip on Brexit.
In this podcast I look at the utterly useless coverage of the LCF scandal provided by the Sunday Times which seeks to blame the poor old FCA for daring to trying to stop a ponzi. I then look at the bloodbath on the high street and the madness and denial of some. There is comment on Patisserie Holdings (CAKE) and Pizza Express and also on house prices in New York and what that tells us about Brexit.
I explain the headline ion the podcast but it is all to do with Anglo African Oil & Gas (AAOG) and UK Investor Show - book your free ticket for March 30 today HERE. I explain why Old man Stacey really has lost the plot on Brexit, he needs to look at what is happening in China and that will make him truly fearful. I look at Tesla (TSLA) and UK Oil & Gas (UKOG).
Hello Share Crunchers. Surprisingly, the value of our shares was little effected by the chaotic events in Parliament over the week. The Footsie fell a little, but not much. And yet the chance of a no-deal came closer because of that fascinating real-time drama in the house.
Previously writing on Character Group (CCT), I concluded presently still a small, speculative buy. Today an AGM trading update from this toys, games and giftware company…
Hello Share Chewers. Turning on the radio the morning after the big vote, I heard an American say that he was shorting three British banks. I presume they might be Lloyds (LLOY), RBS (RBS) and Barclays (BARC). Though I suppose the Asian-slewed bank Honkers Bonkers (HSBA) might be one of them, too. This was no ordinary investor, as anyone who saw that great film The Big Short will know...
To be charitable, you could say the euro has proved itself merely by surviving until its 20th birthday this January. That is a low bar. Monetary union has otherwise failed as an economic and political endeavour...
I believe it was the recruiter PageGroup (PAGE), trading under its 'Michael Page' moniker at the time, which found me my first (temporary) job in finance when I was trying to make my way. The history books will note that I quit after less than two weeks when I landed a permanent opportunity but I have always retained a soft spot for the company. Of course in the hard-headed world of financial analysis all of that does not matter a jot though…
Hello, Share Scroungers. There’s increasing evidence that the moggy we picked up at the local cat rescue service is of the rare and valuable Norwegian Forest breed. Should I sell him to burnish the fallen value of my shares? Of course not. And to worry about share prices is probably a useless concern, anyway. Because I continue in my view that share values will soon bounce back.
Hello Share Treaters. As a customer of Premier Inn hotels and not a coffee drinker in Costas, I was pleased Whitbread (WTB) has just sold its coffee places to Coca-Cola this month. Costa coffee shops always look a bit bland to me with few of the quirky attractions offered by independent purveyors. While Premier Inn hotel rooms are very reasonable and convenient in city centres. Plus, if you are a shareholder, you get two nights for the price of one at weekends.
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.
Following on from my five to sell for 2018, which resulted in a gain of 38% as a bear, 2019 seems to offer more pickings. After all, the markets are very wobbly and we have the chaos of Brexit to look forward to. So here are my five to dump now for 2019.
I still feel like shite and want to go to bed clutching a half full bottle of brandy. Pro tem I look at the disgrace of the New Year's honours lists for business and in general, I tell you exactly what Neil Woodford is hiding and I explain why the share tips of the year from my friend and colleague Darren Atwater are 100% insanity, the product of a mind infected with full blown Brexit derangement syndrome.
I have been spending my Christmas break with my parents in British Columbia, surrounded by Canadian news that the locals are consumed by but are laughably petty by the standards of us in the UK. But the local news got me thinking of a tip.
