UK 09:13 Friday, 18 September 2026
Breaking news and expert analysis on fast-moving AIM and LSE listed shares
I almost admire the chutzpah of Paul Mathieson as he strives to bury Amazing AI, now known as XXXX Holdings Ltd without a clue as to where the £1 million raised last September went. And now there is a new twist c/o a newly invented time machine
Private label and contract manufactured cleaning and hygiene products company McBride (MCB) has followed results earlier this week with that CFO Mark Strickland has subsequently “sold 110,000 ordinary shares… for a price of £1.9012 per share. This sale was completed for financial planning purposes”. For their own “financial planning purposes”, should other investors follow?
Today IU look at UK and US base rates, Optibiotix (OPTI), Probiotix (PBC), Skinbiotherapeutics (SBTX), Cirata (CRTA) and the Kelly scandals, Smarter web Company (SWC) and its new cunning plan I am too dumb to understand and, PS, Scancell (SCLP)
If the NED’s at Cirata (CRTA) are doing their job properly they will not wait for the FCA to ask to see April/May/June management accounts but will review them internally now and consider the position of CEO Stephen Kelly themselves. While they are at it, has anyone considered his CV?
‘Data science and machine learning solutions company’ Insig AI (INSG) states that it “is pleased to announce its results for the year ended 31 March 2026”. Hmmm – why then are they not announced until now?… and what of a current share price response to below 10p, approaching 10% down?
Any loss making company reporting interims which gives the period end cash number but not also an up to date cash number hoists an enormous red flag and that brings us to Optibiotix (OPTI) which, ceteris paribus, will be running on vapours by early 2027. Half calendar year numbers are out today.
Economist Dr. Mark Thornton paints a dire picture of the global economy, arguing that widespread socialist policies are driving governments to extreme borrowing, money printing, and protectionism.
Transport testing, simulation and measurement products and services company AB Dynamics (ABDP) has issued a “Pre-close Trading Update” which it states it “is pleased to provide… in respect of the year ended 31 August 2026”. What of then the shares having commenced the year at above 1400p and currently being below 850p?!
I have been putting the timeline together and am now 100% convinced that Cirata (CRTA) was sitting on very bad price sensitive news which it withheld from investors when it did a placing at 15p, raising $7.4 million, on June 25.It sat on that bad news until July 24. After yesterday’s diabolical interims and a lack of profits warning the regulators must surely launch a full investigation. I have sent a letter.
Tip last month, gold producer from South Africa and Australia, Pan African Resources (PAF) has announced its year ended 30th June 2026 results including a headline “A Record Year in Operational and Financial Performance” and noting further “expected increase in production”. What about this in the context of the valuation from a 109.9p offer price tip to a current 120.9p share price?
I exposed my first biotech fraud back in 1992, sinking its IPO, when most Avacta (AVCT) shareholders were still in short trousers and I’ve been writing about the sector ever since. My first lawyers letter from a biotech fraud I exposed came in 1994 my second in 1996. Most of my bearish articles are not about frauds but valuation. The issue with Avacta is just one of valuation. But, apparently, I do not understand the maths or the science say the “experts.” Why not ask someone who does? So I started with Jim Mellon who has made hundreds of millions of pounds in this sector.
After the success of this year’s biggest and best ever Sharestock, The Mrs. is hard at work making plans for Sharestock 2027 on September 4. We start with the news this morning that Lucian Miers has agreed to trek over from Yorkshire to join us next year. Yesterday Jim Mellon agreed that he will again abandon his 10 dogs for the day and fly over from the Isle of Man to headline the show. And there are more inked in speakers and thus 51 weeks ahead of the event it is already 15% sold out!
I discuss my son's birthday, Penblydd Hapus to him, Avacta (AVCT) and Blencowe Resources (BRES) and in detail why Cirata (CRTA) is such a dog's dinner and why I am going to the FCA about it tomorrow. I flag up that the AIM Awards shortlist is out HERE
Retailer WH Smith (SMWH) has issued a “Pre-close Trading Update” headlined “Solid peak trading and initial self-help to deliver full year profits in line with expectations”. What’s though the detail, with shares currently still below 365p having been above 450p as recently as last month?
Shares in Avacta (AVCT) spiked to 81.5p, a market cap of £385 million on the back of a ramptastic RNS. But they are now slipping back and trade at 79p. The smart money, aka Liverpool’s Greatest numbers man since Ken Dodd, Mr Evil Banksta, used the spike to increase his short and here’s why. There are three reasons.
