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...

As I anticipated in my RM2 International (RM2) piece yesterday, the December monthly updates finally came out yesterday afternoon and I thought it appropriate to provide monthly updates on The Big Short in conjunction with those each month so here goes. Quick summary: it’s not getting any easier for Woodford.

I see that former ShareProphets AIM-China Filthy Forty play Taihua (TAIH) (note former, as it left AIM via tha HaraKiri route last May) has had an unfortunate missive from Companies House. This, of course, was yet another AIM-China play festooned in Red Flags, but an EGM waved through the AIM delisting as shareholders were told that major shareholders Messers Yin and Liu had signified their intent to purchase ordinary shares from other shareholders after the delisting.

Hello Share Twiddlers. We’re still in a bull phase. And as I’ve argued recently, we could stay in this happy state for most of this year. But even when most sectors are rising, there are some that won’t fare so well. Here then is my idea of sectors which might scintillate and others that may fail.

Goldplat (GDP) has confirmed modification to option terms with Ashanti Gold for the Anumso gold project and a Memorandum of Understanding with Rand Refinery for a proposed full and final settlement agreement...

Though stating the noted balance sheet means the company is able to ride out a trading storm and we continued to like it long-term, the Nifty Fifty opted to play it safe and downgrade to sell on toys, games and giftware group Character (CCT) last month – noting a reliance on recovery amidst self-admitted “tough trading conditions” was already a clear risk and there now the Toys ‘R’ Us UK restructuring too. Today, an AGM trading update…

Carpet and floor coverings retailer, Carpetright (CPR) has updated on trading for the 11 weeks ended 13th January – commencing that “trading in the important post-Christmas period has been significantly behind expectations” and also including “the severity of the decline in footfall over this key trading period and our more cautious view of the outlook for the balance of the year leads to a significant reduction in our full year expectations”. What does this mean in terms of financials?...

Look, I’m trying to be nice. We were last told that it could be tits up for RM2 International (RM2) by the end of January and today we heard that it has found enough cash down the back of the sofa to last until the third week of February. Good news! The reality is that this is a cash guzzling uber-dog and highlights the predicament that Britain's most conceited fund manager Neil Woodford has got himself into.

Andrew Monk of VSA Capital has answered the questions raised in my previous two articles covering Standard-listed (but still suspended) AIQ (AIQ). He has to be credited for following up on the issues presented, and being open with his answers.

I start with US classic car prices. It is relevant, bear with me. Then it is onto the Begbies (BEG) red flag report, a real bombshell. Then Carpetright (CPR), Bonmarche (BON), Dignity (DTY), RM2 (RM2), Online Blockcrap (OBC) and Character Group (CCT). I also look at today's article in te Times on insider dealing and welfare fraud.

As the old saying goes there is nothing guaranteed except death and taxes. Funnily enough I rarely have seen the announcement of a 25% cut in a product price helping a share price either...and that brings us to the large UK funeral operator Dignity (DTY).

The rise in shares of Lionsgold (LION) has got the attention of many, and it certainly looked as though news was leaked prior to an RNS later in the day. Having seen the share price dropping steadily of late, it suddenly surged more than 40% on much higher than normal volume. Initially it looked like just another pump, as this share has been very popular with private investors ever since its share price rose by around 500% in December and is very volatile, but then an RNS dropped informing the market that it was making a new investment, and it ended the day up nearly 90% at 4.55p on the ask.

Another to be de-listed and another “exploring options for the future strategy of the company, including a cancellation from AIM and continuing as a private company”. Who's next to follow the likes of Geong International and co in 'Geong, Geong' and then Gone?...

Hello, Share Mixers. In the Autumn I agonised on this sumptuous website over whether to sell shares in the computer bits firm IQE (IQE). Fact is, my mind pulled one way, then the other. I could not make up my mind. Now similar factors are in play for another multi-bagger.

Previously writing on communications-into-CRM platforms integrating software group Cloudcall (CALL), I concluded with the shares at circa 150p that the top line growth interests, but I’d be looking for more net cash generation reassurance. There’s now a Trading Update which has taken the shares to around 160p…

Technology products and electronic assemblies group Stadium (SDM) “announces that trading for the year ended 31 December 2017 was in line with management's expectations following the trading update in November 2017”. What was the November trading update then?... Ah!...

Nigel Somerville penned two articles on AIQ (AIQ) which, I thought were pretty damning as you can see HERE and HERE. The valuation is clearly bonkers and I say that as a shareholder (by accident not design). Andrew Monk of VSA floated AIQ and has penned this response which I am happy to publish in full as it all seems very comprehensive and reassuring. I really don't know what to think other than that the valuation at the suspension price is bonkers on steroids.

I seem to have written about one of my 2017 'tips of the year' Whitbread (WTB) more in 2018 than I did during its twelve months in the sun. A couple of weeks ago I observed that the appointment of the new Chairman, combined with an activist shareholder on the books could well tip the company over the edge in terms of thinking about the value creation option of splitting its two largest and most successful franchises Costa Coffee and Premier Inn. I also mused that the market reaction to this would push the shares back to trading at £50+.

A Trading Statement from EMIS Group (EMIS) commences “trading for the year has been in line with the board's expectations”. Ok… “(excluding the impact of the service level reporting issues separately announced this morning)”. Uh oh…

I start with some bad language as I prepare for coffee with the fit young mums. Then it is on to Kefi (KEFI), Countrwide (CWD) and finally, at length, Paternoster Resources (PRS) where change is afoot. I also discuss the duties of a CEO, should he be a share ramper, ref Versarien (VRS).