From the FCA's spreadsheet of short positions required to be disclosed to it, the following shows the shorted AIM shares with positions from 2017 and thus far in 2018 (by net short position %) - and if this position has increased (red), reduced (green) or remained unchanged (black) since last week...

I’m slightly surprised that I haven’t commented on Boxhill Technologies (BOX) this year as it was a favourite of mine in 2016 and 2017 but I have managed to access new information that is shocking even by Boxhill’s standards, namely Phil Jackson’s director disqualification due to what looks like a slam dunk VAT fraud.

Hello, Share Spinners. Another weekend is upon us which gives a chance to throw in a few general and unrelated thoughts about the perils and the opportunities of a very unstable share market at the moment. The main preoccupation of most of us, I suspect, is whether we should turn our shares into cash. This is not the time to turn everything into mazuma, I would suggest. But it might be wise to convert a third of our portfolio into the hard stuff.

In this week's podcast from Palisade Capital, Daniel Major discusses the current uranium market, and he sees a lot more enthusiasm in private placements. Many companies and groups of long-term investors are increasingly interested in the sector.

Writing previously on specialist staffing company SThree (STHR) in March, I questioned Q1 update has its attractions… but attractive enough?.There’s now a Half Year Trading Update…

Jangada Mines (JAN) suddenly seems to have become very popular and has seen a significant share price rise in the past few weeks, but I am left wondering if that is just a coincidence or just another pre-placing spike which we see on so many of these small resource outfits.

Shares in RedstoneConnect (REDS) are currently sliding towards 100p today on the back of a “Directorate Change” announcement. This includes that CEO Mark Braund “has notified of his intention to step down from the company's board of directors”. Hang on, he hasn’t been here long has he?...

In today's Bearcast I reflect that it is now just 6 weeks and 1 day to the great event. With gift aid myself and Brokerman Dan have now raised more than £8500 for Woodlarks. As I prepare for a 14 mile training walk this weekend please do sponsor me - I am sure you can afford to donate a tenner HERE. In the podcast I look at Orosur Mining (OMI) - down 48% today but still 90% overvalued - UK Oil & Gas (UKOG), Kefi (KEFI) - where we own shares - RedstoneConnect (REDS), Purplebricks (PURP), Neil Woodford and Feedback (FDBK).

We forced a statement last Friday and, today,  UK Oil & Gas (UKOG) says it has completed an “oversubscribed” placing at 0.9p.  FFS these bastards have a nerve. How they abuse and insult the owners of this company, its shareholders.

In his time as General Counsel to the Ariadne Group run by Julie “Lingerie on Expenses” Meyer , Mr Peter Bradley had occasion to send me three lawyers letters on behalf of his boss who is now being investigated by the FCA, the MFSA, the SFO, Action Fraud, the IRS, HMRC and is wanted on criminal charges by the Maltese Police.  I had thought that Bradley had parted company with the charlatan, liar and fraudster Meyer in April but the Ariadne website, as you can see below, suggests otherwise. 

Previously writing on cyber security group ECSC (ECSC) it was on board changes - and I was scpetical in conclusion. Now, the shares are currently higher on an AGM statement…

I noted yesterday that Gavin Burnell of Globo infamy was one of the team at Novum Securities which raised £4.5 million for Audioboom (BOOM) at 3p – a placing which is already well underwater. How do I know? Because his name is one of three at Novum on the RNS. But here is a funny thing: Burnell is not approved by the FCA to conduct investment business! As you can see below, it reckons he is “inactive.”. I took this up with Novum boss Hugh McAllister…

Hello, Share Crimpers. Many of us have made a bit of a killing with shares in Ashtead (AHT), the British company which hires out tools and plant to builders here and in the USA. Of course, it’s not the only player in what seems to be a pretty profitable game.

Earlier today Stobart (STOB) fired its former boss Andrew Tinkler and threatened legal action against him for his actions. Via the Winnileaks service, I have obtained the letter from Stobart’s solicitors Rosenblatt sent to Tinkler which discusses the damning allegations made against him in detail. What is most extraordinary is that he is alleged to have been working in conjunction with fund manager Neil Woodford on actions that would have benefitted Tinkler and Woodford’s funds massively, at the expense of everyone else. This could be a scandal too far for Woodford… The letter is extraordinary and we publish it in full below…

On 24 May 2018 I ran an article on the case of former Ariadne employee Steve Lazarus who, like so many others working for Julie “Lingerie on Expenses” Meyer was not paid and had to seek legal redress. That article needs correcting, not for what it said about the appalling behaviour of Meyer but for a question posed of her, now ex, legal Counsel Peter Bradley. An amended article is below.

More fun and games on the good ship Stobart (STOB) today with the Board not holding back and dismissing Andrew Tinkler from company and the Board and plan to bring legal proceedings against him, juts as I thought Tinkler (or Tinker as the Sunday Times called him at the weekend) might have been edging ahead.

Previously writing just over a year ago on Revolution Bars (RBG) it was on it going from ‘platform to be confident about our prospects’ to profit warning in less than 3 months. Then heading towards 130p, the shares jumped a couple of months later on a 200p per share possible offer approach. However, an offer was voted down by shareholders and the shares have subsequently fallen back towards 150p before a Trading Update today…

AIM-listed Turkish gold play Ariana (AAU) has announced news of work at Kizilcukur, its wholly owned gold prospect 22km (but 50km by road) from its JV Kiziltepe mine. It is all very encouraging, if relatively minor.

Tungsten Corp (TUNG) has noted recent press speculation and “confirms that Odey Asset Management LLP has indicated that it intends to propose resolutions to seek the removal of certain directors of the Board of the Company… The board regrets that this initiative has been taken at the moment that Tungsten has reached an inflection point”. Hmmm…

The reference to scumbags John Belliss and Gavin Burnell is explained in full in this podcast which covers CyanConnode (CYAN), Audioboom (BOOM), Magnolia Petroleum (MAGP), Revolution Bars (RBG), Peter Schiff and the economy, AIQ (AIQ), Tern (TERN) and Haydale (HAYD).  Both Brokerman Dan and I are now training with blisters. This weekend I move up to a 14 mile walk ahead of our 32 mile July 28 stroll for Woodarks. Thanks to all who have sponsored us. swe have now raised more than £8,000 with gift aid and are at 34% of our target. To those 90% of you listening who have not pledged, surely you can spare a tenner. You can donate £10 HERE.