Whilst a number of big investors see warning signs ahead for markets but are holding their positions, Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris is taking action: He’s put half of his $5.7 billion net worth into gold. He said in an interview last Monday that he believes gold prices will rally further, reaching $1,800 per ounce from just above $1,300 now, while “overvalued” stock markets crash. “In the end you have China and they will not stop consuming. And people also tend to go to gold during crises and we are full of crises right now,” Sawiris said at his office in Cairo overlooking the Nile. “Look at the Middle East and the rest of the world and Mr. Trump doesn’t help.”

As we know from AIM-listed UK Oil and Gas (UKOG), the best thing to do when faced with an awkward question is to move the goal posts. And so this morning we see AIM-listed Advanced Oncotherapy (AVO), rather than ‘fess up over its overdue loan from Blackfinch which is secured on its Harley Street premises, telling us that it has signed a lease with the UK Government’s Science and Technology Facilities Council to establish a UK testing site for its LIGHT (proton therapy technology) system. I wonder what Advanced is going to pay with!

Chaired by Adam Reynolds this session boated the CEOS of Immupharma, Optibiotix, soon to IPO Phynova and ValiRx. Enjoy.

Another day and another bullshit announcement from the company whose main business is issuing new shares while claiming to be an oil explorer, Frontera Resources (FRR). the timing is handy for Frontera is hosting a City presentation for mug punter Private Investors tomorrow. It all smells terribly as if more confetti is on the way. Let's start with the bullshit RNS.

Well I never. Colin Bird was omnipresent at the show but for Jubilee Metals (JLP) he handed over to his able CEO Leon Coetzer.

I have to hand it to Al Sisto, CEO of AIM-listed Tern plc (TERN). Down at 2p not so long ago, the shares are riding high at 26p and now he’s got the placing I have been predicting away at 18.5p for £1.75 million. It kind of begs the question of what on earth the company was doing with a death spiral in place before the latest lift-off commenced. But a placing 18.5p with the shares having closed last week at 26.6p is quite a discount – 30%. And who is this single institutional shareholder?

Once again I plead complete ignorance when it comes to TekCapital (TEK). There are 2,500 listed companies in London and I am not so much of a geek to be able to do 2 minutes without hesitation, deviation or repetition on all of them or even most of them. Anyhow over to Clifford Gross for enlightenment.

Hello Share Thrashers. Probably because of the North Korean crisis, shares in that bank with an Asian feel fell rather alarmingly several weeks back. But now the two Korean countries seem to be making up and the threat of nuclear war with America recedes, the price of HSBC (HSBA) has shot back up to ‘normal’ levels again.

Folli Folie, the Greek fraudsters, today attempted to refuse claims by Gabriel Grego that they were lying, inter alia, about store numbers and so in a release to the Athens Stock Exchange published a list of 587 stores. It has taken me one hour to prove clear and big lies on this list as I shall demonstrate below.

Folli Follie (FF) the Greek luxury goods seller has denied the bombshell claims made in Gabriel Grego's devestating dossier we published on Thursday. I have today verified for myself that FF is lying about its British operations in a release to the Athens exchange today. So as far as I am concerned it is an open and shut fraud and a zero. But here ios Gabriel, the boss of Quintessential Asset Management (QCM) 

Once again, I admit to 100% ignorance on this one so it is over to Bernard Aylward of Kodal Minerals (KOD) for the lowdown.

I start with a discussion on regulation, estate agents and a doomed UK prompted by the excellent Sunday Times Column yesterday by #LukeJohnsonforPM. Then it is onto Folli Follie. The British may be idling their way through another bank holiday but hard working Greeks are back at work. So we have a weak denial statement from Folli Follie but its Athens based shares which were off 30% are now off only 18% and are bouncing fast. I think this is still a zero and ask you if you can examine this manifest of claimed stores and assist. FWIW I explain why the manifest just does not wash. I am off right now with my camera to the House of Fraser in Bristol. I have made a call already and this will be a "win" for the Bears. Watch this space... - if anyone can do other HoF stores, Selfridges or the Irish ones on this list  and get me photos plus what the stores say J'd be grateful.

Union Jack Oil (UJO) has announced results for 2017 and outlined why it is “enthusiastic in respect of the year ahead”…

On this one I confess complete ignorance, the sum of my knowledge is exactly zero so it is over to Paul Welch of SDX Energy (SDX) to explain more.

A quick catch-up with three names I have written about in the past and who have published a corporate update in the last few business days.  First, Smith & Nephew (SN) which is Europe's biggest artificial hip and knee producer and hence exposed to an unfortunate ageing population growth trend.  However, as I noted in my last write-up, this is a company that has underperformed recently and not only is shuffling its top team but also has attracted the interests of an activist investor...which is kind of an interesting combination. 

I know not a lot about Karoo Energy (KEP) other than - I think - it operates in Botswana. But I chatted to Noel Lyons at length at the show and before it and he seems like a pleasant chap. Over to him

Gold miner in Kazakhstan, Altyn (ALTN) has announced 2017 results including “infrastructure enhancements and progress of the underground decline have been continuing” but that “production was constrained by the closure of the processing plant for maintenance and availability of the necessary equipment”…

Another excellent column in yesterday's Sunday Times on regulation provides some inspiration for today's bearcast. But here is my friend Luke Johnson in full flow at the UK Investor show. Enjoy.

North Midland Construction (NMD) has announced further director / persons discharging managerial responsibility share buying since results in March…

This was part of the opening ceremony at UK Investor Show. As you can see myself and Lucy Wray were naturals. The booze was, for the record, finest English Chapel Down not that French muck. Poor Johnny Hon found it a bit harder.