Often when a smaller AIM company operating in the natural resources sector announces a placing it ends up being bad news for those currently invested, but there are also cases where the money is being sought in order to accelerate operations. Of course, the company still ultimately needs to deliver and for the work that the money is being raised for to be successful, but I would certainly rather see this than a company that is sitting around doing nothing and burning through cash whilst its directors pocket a nice salary.

"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." Timothy 6:10 ( King James Version Natch). So in that vein who said "I remember being very obsessed with having no money but if you are good money will find you." To find out watch this classic video from 2011

Hello Share Plodders. So the £100 million estimate that the administrators first gave for winding up Beaufort Securities seems wildly out. They now acknowledge it will be more likely to be £55 million. Well, we all make wrong guesses, though not usually £45 million ones. They’ve also reduced their earlier estimate of as much as four years to finish the job to a more likely two years. Another big ‘refinement’.

I start with the myth which Julian Richer is trying to perpetuate that you can somehow stop large scale, 100% legal, tax avoidance by folks like Sir Phil Green or indeed the legal stuff we all engage in by using dividends in private companies, etc. Then I ask if Italy might break the Euro or even the EU who are behaving - again - with shocking contempt for the little people. It should. Will it?  Finally...98% of bearcast listeners  have NOT yet sponsored myself and Brokerman Dan for our 30 mile Woodlarks walk. If you enjoy bearcast I am sure you can spare a tenner so donate HERE  - to those who have donated I say thank you.

Metal Tiger (MTR) has updated that “T3 (Motheo) Pit Resource Infill and Extension Programme drilling complete”, with a revised resource estimate expected during June, and “with 50 holes completed to date for the underground resource extension drilling programme the JV will soon be in a position to start estimating a T3 Underground Resource”…

Here in Greece it is a national holiday as we celebrate Holy Spirit Monday, the day 50 days after Easter when the Spirit came to the Apostles and urged them to spread the word of the Lord. Naturally that makes me think of devout Christian Julie "lingerie on expenses" Meyer who, herself, does her bit to spread God's word. I bet he is delighted about that.

Joseph Grosso runs a uranium company so, of course, he is talking his own book. But Steve and I have tipped Berkeley Energia (BKY) so agree with the thesis outlined in the latest Palisade Capital podcast.

I noted the other day that BT’s (BT.A) results hadn’t gone down very well in the market. The shares had been climbing nicely since I bought at 225p, but results day and the follow-through saw them marked down almost as low as 200p. Apart from wishing I’d waited, I’m happy to hold on for now – and collect the near-7% dividend. But I wonder if the new chairman is beginning to have an effect, in the light of a news article from Bloomberg.

The first part of this mini-series highlighted oddities relating to the recent $2 billion valuation of Benevolent AI, Woodford’s largest unquoted holding. To complement that piece, I thought I would undertake a bottom-up analysis to understand whether it could be worth such a sum. All I found was more spoofery. It’s a bit of a long read but surely you’ve got nothing better to do on Bank Holiday Monday!

I’m surprised by the seeming lack of interest amongst private investors when it comes to RockRose Energy (RRE), as even amongst those who focus on oil and gas stocks, this isn’t a company which you see being mentioned on social media and the bulletin boards.

Hello, Shares Scramblers. Tomorrow, I will add some more thoughts about the Beaufort Affair and how we can possibly look forward to improvements in what is, for we armchair tycoons, a dire situation. But for now, allow me to suggest that you take a holiday look at Harvest Minerals (HMI).

Once again, this weekend, there is no hand waving video from the flat Julie Meyer shares with her sex toys claimed on expenses and books about following Tony Blair and Jesus. Why not I wonder? Instead she has spammed her 100% non GDPR compliant list ( I got two) with the following which strikes me as A grade MBA gibberish. It is all about creating value, something hundreds of unpaid staff, suppliers and tax men know Julie is so good at. Can any reader explain to a simpleton like me what the following is all about? 

I start by noting I have received a begging email from Primary Bid re the Merio offer. Cynical Bear is right - avoid like the plague! Then as I finalise annual accounts for companies house for FIML and ShareProphets (loss in both cases) I explain the different motives of those preparing private company and listed company accounts and some tricks I could have used to show profits. But why would I have done that? Finally...98% of bearcast listeners  have NOT yet sponsored myself and Brokerman Dan for our 30 mile Woodlarks walk. If you enjoy bearcast I am sure you can spare a tenner so donate HERE  - to those who have donated I say thank you.

I forget where in the bible it says "blessed are those who don't pay staff, who put lingerie on expenses, who are wanted by the Police on criminal charges, have not paid taxes in three countries or numerous suppliers. Blessed are those who, rather than turning the other cheek to legitimate criticism harass journalists and whistleblowers with lawyers letters, online blogs and other methods." Which Gospel is that in? Perhaps Julie Meyer knows - this weekend she retweets the Pope, explains how she forgives and talks about meeting Jesus for the first time. Enjoy...

This has been a bad share tip and for that we apologise again. We share your pain as long suffering shareholders. But at least we have news of another contract win.

My last update on Metals Exploration (MTL) was greeted with a yawn and, such is the credibility gap - for the company if not my commentary on it as this has been a duff share tip - the shares have yet to add any lustre to the gold coming out of the ground. Yet along with year end figures last Thursday the company has confirmed that its BIOX treatment plant, after so many hitches, is now working fully up to speed.

I suggested a portfolio of five stocks to sell – or just avoid – for 2018 during the ShareProphets tipfest. Those stocks were Tern (TERN), UK Oil and Gas (UKOG), Frontera (FRR), Telit ((TCM) and Milestone Group (MSG) – since renamed Catenae (CTEA). Tern was subsequently withdrawn when the fundamentals changed (the death spiral was terminated), and Inspirit (INSP) brought in in its place. Here is the May update.

On March 8 2018 I revealed how low life Nomad Northland had banked a fat fee for recommending that its client Eqtec ( EQT) take out death spiral financing from a proven fraudster. Worse still, the deal Northland thought fair was bound to destroy the share price as I  explained at the time. Last week it got worse and the negligence of Northland is now almost criminal.

ShareProphets AIM-China Filthy Forty play Origo Partners (OPP) issued a stonking warning on Friday night, at 5.30pm going into a bank holiday. Talk about no-one-is-watching o’clock. I previously warned in the light of a previous warning (HERE) that the question was whether the asset realisations will generate anything at all for shareholders after holders of the Zeros (whose money appears not to be contributing to OAL’s new fees) have been paid off. Last night’s RNS suggests the answer may well be nothing.

I don't know what this means. I'm just thowing it out there as something for you to ponder in your investment strategy. This lightning bolt of thought? People are using significantly less cash now, and the tipping point has been the past three months.