Those who do not like Beaufort Securities have been lining up to send me copies of an FCA notice varying its permissions to shut down its Discretionary Fund Management (DFM) services with immediate effect. Indeed, for weeks, I have been told by a number of folks tales of the FCA pitching up at Beaufort to remove computers. For those viewing this as part of a wider clampdown on City brokers or a massive blow for Beaufort, I have bad news...

On the back of an RNS Reach (i.e. not even deemed to merit a main RNS) announcement, shares in “digital wellness technology provider” Fitbug Holdings (FITB) roofed it to be 370% higher, at 0.775p, before a suspension of trading was announced. Hmmm…

Hello Share Spaders. Recently, I opined on this superlative website that BT had been over-sold in the last 12 months and was possibly cruising for a new target of 500p a throw, rather than the present sad sub-400p share price. But I’m not so confident over its rival Vodafone (VOD).

Having previously concluded that there could be some interesting recovery potential from commodity and energy markets software provider, Brady (BRY) but that the current uncertainty saw me continue to avoid, I note a trading update from the company...

Sorry this is so late. I am meant to be taking a few days off with the Mrs and Joshua but I am also feeling very much under the weather. Better late than never here is my take on how the LSE has fined broker Cornhill £300,000 over the New World Oil & Gas (NEW) scandal. Where does this leave Cornhill? What about other brokers? The real issue is that the real villain of this tale, of which criminal Chris Oil was just one, appear to have got off Scot free

Previously writing on another ludicrous results statement from Nature Group (NGR), I noted ‘we’ll see on the loss-making Gibraltar entity (“held for sale” net assets on the balance sheet £0.79 million)’. Today there is a “Sale of Gibraltar Operations” announcement, though which also includes a trading update…

Shares in alcohol drinks brands owner Distil (DIS) are currently 26% higher, at 1.45p, on the back of a “Trading update” announcement emphasising “excellent progress” in the company’s most important trading period…

Chocolatier and retailer Hotel Chocolat (HOTC) has updated that it ‘performed well’ in a trading statement for the 13 weeks ended 25th December 2016, with adjusted revenue 14.6% ahead. What about like-for-like performance though?...

This morning AIM-listed CloudTag (CTAG) has announced, predictably enough, another loan note conversion by L1. But in what looks to be a bit of a surprise move, L1 has also elected to start on the warrants too, despite there still being loan notes outstanding. But oh dear, what about the dates…..

Formerly AIM-listed Teathers Financial (TEA) has released numbers for the year to 31 October 2016. They are truly shocking. In its year to October 2015 the group balance sheet sported a net assets value of about £800,000 having raised just over £1 million in the year. That is pretty bad. But as at 31 October 2016 (having raised no further cash) net assets came in at about just under £70,000 with just £658 in the bank. Where did it all go?

Hello Share Movers. After a long and happy relationship, I’ve dumped all this family’s shares in the tool and plant hire company Ashtead (AHT). There are fair reasons, I feel. Though they are nothing to do with the company itself.

Having asked in September if recovery was well underway at Goals Soccer Centres (GOAL), I note a “Post Close Trading Update” announcement from the company…

Purecircle (PURE), the purveyor of stevia products (plant based sugar substitutes) warned on January 5th that first half results for the six months to 31 Dec 2016 were likely to crash into a loss from last years $5 million profit.

Printing company Grafenia (GRA) is “delighted” to announce an acquisition of Liverpool-based Arthur Diamond Design (ADD Signs), seeing it as a first step of “ambitious plans”. Hmmm…

Reforming the very nature of capitalism will be needed to combat the growing appeal of populist political movements around the world, the World Economic Forum said on Wednesday. Getting higher economic growth, it added, is necessary but insufficient to heal the fractures in society that were evident in the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president and Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

Dual-listed in Ireland and on the LSE Kenmare Resources (KMR) has released what reads like a very positive trading update. Two questions spring to mind here: is it generating cash, and what about the debt position? But the company seems to have chosen to ignore completely its refinancing last year in reporting its finances.

Shares in ‘big data’ software company WANdisco (WAND) are currently continuing a recovery – this on the back of a concluding trading update for 2016...

Weekend press reports (not in the UK natch as the British press is ignoring this £2 billion City scandal for reasons one can only imagine) suggest that the FBI is now investigating. Already in France there have been arrests including that of the CEO of Areva - Atomic Anne - which bought AIM & TSX listed Uramin for £2 billion and had written all of its assets off as worthless within three years. There is also a major new investigative book out on the scandal due out on Thursday. I am sure my good friend Jim Mellon will be ordering an advance copy. Elsewhere I look at Vislink (VLK), at the train wreck waiting to happen at Advanced Oncotherapy (AVO), at Fitbug (FITB) and Cloudtag (CTAG) and then finally at SalvarX (SALV) - placing ahoy on this related party express train to planet hype.

Top stockbroker Andrew Monk of VSA has today served up his third share tip of the year (following from his win with Sula HERE) and it is a real "hell or glory play". it is right now TSX.V listed but there is an AIM listed way to play it. Over to the Monkey...

I have been alerted by various folk to the fact that a Fox Marble (FOX) customer Eboracum Marble has a First Gazette notice out against it which, according to the knockers, means it is going bust/is a fraud and that Fox will issue a profits warning. This has seen the shares drift to 7.75p. Sometimes before you hit the sell button it pays to make a few phone calls. Which is why you should buy the shares today.