For Petropavlovsk (POG) – as I warned you all on March 4^th, here – things go from bad to worse. Its banker and sole purchaser of gold, GazpromBank, is sanctioned by the UK, so the AIM-listed miner cannot generate any revenues, or even pay interest on its debts. Today, the banksters have thus stated that the company is in default and called in the loans.

There was not too much to be excited about for Rio Tinto (RIO) shareholders today on the publication of its first quarter production results. I remain a big fan of the mining name as I noted a couple of months ago, and whilst its core iron ore business had negative growth this was largely expected and should improve as the year progresses. Apart from very firm metals prices versus historically, the other opportunity for the company over the 2020s remains everything else it is doing – or, as it put it in the update, “we made notable progress during the quarter with the commencement of underground mining at Oyu Tolgoi following a comprehensive agreement reached with the Government of Mongolia, completed the acquisition of the Rincon lithium project in Argentina, and signed a framework agreement at the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea”.

You can never keep a good man down. And, as for an absolute rotter like David Williams - who pumped satellite firm, Avanti Communications (AVN), before selling millions of pounds worth of shares, paid himself regular seven-figure stipends and then ran the company into the ground - it seems as if lightning will strike twice.  We defied the notoriously litigious bombastic prick, and highlighted numerous Avanti concerns on this website, as you can see HERE.

Hello Share Tempters. There are two very big British pharmas you could invest in. A long time ago I chose GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), rather than AstraZeneca (AZN). I sometimes regret that choice as AstraZeneca seems to have been the more dynamic company, including with a Covid vaccine for example. But I would not swap holdings now, as I think things are happening at GSK that could improve its share price.

The idea of announcing a death spiral - while pretending it is not a death spiral - at the same time as a bailout placing, is odd. Who would want to buy into a placing, when you know that, at some point, a blizzard of confetti will be dumped?

This has been the most stressful day in Greece for a long while; I really do need a holiday. I explain all.  Then I look at Sensyne (SENS); Chill Brands (FRAUD); Blue Star Capital (BLU) and an AGM shock that may trigger the collapse of the Bixby, Edwards, Frangos, Story and Peter Wall house of cards. Then it is onto Canadian Overseas Petroleum (COPL), where today's placing vindicates me. I argue that a 20.75p share price is a compelling shorting opportunity on a risk-reward basis. Matthew and his dog will enjoy that section, as Arthur Millholland, the snake oil salesman at Canadian, really is talking shite in today's release. I am so angry.

A “Trading Update” announcement from Cake Box Holdings (CBOX) commences that “the specialist retailer of fresh cream cakes, is pleased to announce a full year trading update for the 12 months ended 31 March 2022” and concludes that “with a strengthened team and investment in our operations and processes, we have all the right ingredients to continue to sustainably grow the Cake Box customer base, brand and Family”. So what of the announcement and a share price responding up to above 200p?...

Oh dear. How folks at ShareSoc must long for the stability of Globo fanboy, Roger Lawson. In its new era, under Sheryl Cuisia, who on February 4^th announced she was “spearheading an executive-led transformation process to prepare ShareSoc for its next phase of development” - which, natch, included a commitment to diversity, yadda, yadda, yadda - it is all change. Or maybe not..

IT services group IDE (IDE) has announced a £1 million loan to it “was not repaid and accordingly the short-term loan has now adopted the same terms as the loan notes announced on 10th January 2019”. What does that mean with the shares now at 1.20p?...

AIM-listed Haydale (HAYD) issued an RNS Reach this morning to announce that it is celebrating a double award win, with the Group picking up an award at the prestigious 2022 British Engineering Excellence Awards ('BEEAs') and named as a winner of the Kidney Research UK MedTech Competition respectively. But…..

Microsaic Systems (MSYS) has announced a “Manufacturing Services Framework Agreement” which Acting Executive Chairman Gerard Brandon emphasises “diversifies the company's revenues beyond equipment sales of Mass Spectrometers… This new agreement illustrates how Microsaic is able to access additional revenues from other innovative companies seeking a high quality product design, development and manufacturing service”. What then of a current share price response more than 7% lower to 0.10p?...

We have previously noted why Ms Susanne Chishti is unworthy of Non-Exec Director of the year. But even low-grade corporate rats know when the game is up.  The shock March 4 resignation of the one credible figure at Supply, its ex-chairman Jim Coyle, after just a few months at the helm, should have been a warning. Now, it appears that Chishti walked with immediate effect last Thursday.

The fraud, Chill Brands (CHLL), is almost out of cash. It is existing on vapours and is not paying bills. But if it is to get any refinancing away, even a massively dilutive one, the existing board must change, as it is just not credible. Hence today’s night-of-the-long-knives announcement.

Hello Share Changers. National Grid (NG.) doesn't get much coverage by financial journalists. That’s because it’s an old reliable that continues to do what it’s always done. But if you want a bit of stability in your portfolio, while you launch more speculative punts elsewhere, then it could be a sensible share to hold. And these days, the capacity for the grid to grow its share price looks strong.

Apparently, the most popular share amongst retail investors is Polymetal (POLY). Although shares have plunged 80% since the invasion, it seems Joe Public cannot buy enough of them.

Anglo Asian Mining (AAZ) has announced it “is pleased to provide a production, sales and operations review for its Gedabek contract area in western Azerbaijan, for the three months to 31 March 2022”. So, what of the shares responding slightly higher to 95p?

I haven’t commented on AIM-listed Inspirit Energy Holdings (INSP) for some time – not since June 2021 although Tom Winnifrith stuck his boot in over Christmas 2021, identifying a stack of ginormous new Red Flags. But the recent Interims (to 31 December 2021) and yet another breach of the law by the company (presumably at the behest of AIM’s worst FD, Mr Nilesh Jagatia, whose past sins appear to include charging his shopping at Sainsbury’s on a company credit card) drew my attention.

Listen to the 20 most listened-to Bearcasts since January 1st and you'll hear nearly seven hours of Tom's dulcet tones unwinding the unexplainable, embarrassing the shameless, and chiding the ridiculous (Music Magpie holders? Chill Brands RNS's?) Plus cats, gardening, and, if I heard these correctly, life as a single mother.

I have been bearish on this for a while, unable to understand the valuation from the IPO. Shares in THG, The Hut Group as was, now trade at a new low of 95p. There are a couple of matters to discuss ahead of numbers on Thursday, notably a management departure and suggestions of late payments to suppliers. Is this window dressing as per Canadian Overseas Petroleum (COPL) and its December 31 cash number, or something worse?

Some ShareProphets articles are marmite, in that it's good for you but not very popular. Other ShareProphets artiicles are, well, marnite, in that they cause widespread, viceral disagreement. Here are the twenty stories that ShareProphets readers read and read with Julie Meyer featuring in four of them. Ms Lingerie on Expenses sure is box office.