Who said that for a small cap broker “delisting is inevitable. All are struggling to survive in a climate of scarce deals, low trading volumes, strong competition and rising costs” Okay it is a trick question but the answer is Andrew Monk of VSA Capital (VSA). The trick is that …

A trading update from Pod Point Group (PODP) early this year commenced by describing the group as “one of the UK's market leading providers of Electric Vehicle charging solutions”, another such update today commences that “The long-term market for Plug-In-vehicles continues to be attractive as the industry grows towards electrification in the UK by 2030”. Good news then?

When David Budd joined Genedrive (GDR) as its CEO in early 2016 the shares were 116p.  Today after diabolical full year numbers the shares are now just 10.5p. So we are all in it together right? Er wrong. While investors have lost 91% of their cash Budd has trousered just over £2 million including an inexplicable 2020 bonus of more than £207,044 taking his total package that year to £444,615. Oink. Oink. It gets worse…

The great lie pushed by those supporters of bitcoin and other crypto currencies was that supply of bitcoin was limited by the halving formula. So, we were assured that while promoters of shares or funds or any other asset would always match demand with new supply, bitcoin was different. Of course, that was just misleading.

Have you ever used Virgin Money UK plc (VMUK)? Personally, I never have but, as the group now “operates under the Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank and Virgin Money brands”, I guess a bunch of you do (or have). How is it getting on?

Hello Share Collectors. Like all oil producing combos, Tullow Oil (TLW) will do well out of the lofty price of oil. Even if it has just reduced its production aim of 60,000-64,000 barrels of oil a day to 60,000-62,000 barrels. It’s not much of a reduction and, given the sturdy current values for the black stuff, I don’t think the share price has risen as far as it should do, when compared to its larger rivals Shell (SHEL) and BP (BP.).

Yes, if it sounds to good to be true it is too good to be true. But some folks still think that it is true. The company is, of course, Argo Blockchain (ARB). I think it could go bust as soon as this week but there are others who know better.

Gold finished the week at $1751, down a notch from last week’s $1771 but still well up on recent lows, having put in a high point of $1785 on Wednesday. US economic data offered little to cheer about, and the US treasury market continues to ring all manner of alarm bells. Despite that, US equity markets finished the week on a bit of a high – but for how long?

This graphic from Visual Capitalist is wild – it illustrated the depth of the fraud at crypto company FTX.

Apparently the 92 year old chain needs an emergency refinance this week. If it gets it it is a slow death in 2023. If not it is a quick death before Christmas and 16,000 P45s. I look at the red flags in this case over the past year and why I own no retail or no property stocks - there are lessons for both sectors here.  Then I ask if Dave Richards of Wandisco (WAND) has gone mad or simply stuck his own moral compass where the sun don't shine?

Here are five long reads that have nothing to do with shares. Put the kettle on, find a comfy chair. You have the time, don’t you? 
 

Honestly, considering the tech issues we’ve had for the past month, if this quiz appears on Sunday, give yourself an extra point. Also, a reader pointed out that last week’s question about self-driving cars talked about 202 legislation instead of 2022. He said since he can safely say there were no self driving cars in the year 202, he’s talking a point. I suppose that you can, too. But’s that’s it! The sweet shop is closed! Put the kettle on, put your score in the comments, and No Googling!

The most-read non-quiz non Tom article this week is a brand new voice, Steve Brown of Orcadian Energy, with  ‘EXCLUSIVE: North Sea Tigers: We are all up in arms’ at No 6 or No 11 including Bearcasts.

You find me making sweet chilli jam as Christmas is near. Photos later. For some companies such as nanosynth (NNN) and Versarien (VRS) time is thus running out. I look at that but start with Malcolm and his deviation from every year I have known him. Then I look at how crime does pay - Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos and, I fear,  FTX.  Then a few words on the budget, a statement of "managed decline."

Danielle DiMartino Booth, the CEO and Chief Strategist for Quill Intelligence, a research and analytics firm is a top banana, bang on the money on the subject of economics and crypto scams.

Technology managed services group AdEPT (ADT) has announced its results for its half-year ended 30^th September 2022 and that “whilst headwinds remain… the group has made good strategic progress and there remains a strong pipeline of opportunities”. This follows a half-year adjusted profit of £3 million and earnings per share of 12.1p on revenue slightly down to £34.2 million.

Centamin (CEY) has announced what it emphasises as “a significant step towards delivering on our commitment to consistently produce 500,000 ounces per annum from the Sukari Gold Mine”.

Hello, Share Twiddlers. We’re now in recession. So how can share-shifters like us negotiate these alligator-infested waters? To save being bitten and even make some dough along the way? 

A week ago I wrote on a half-year trading update from arts and crafts, stationery, toys and books retailer TheWorks (WRKS), reviewing how “resilient” is its performance?. That, of course, included noting its cash flow – with it emphasising that its “financial position remains strong with net cash of £11.0m at the period end” and also noting that it “fully reflects the build of stock prior to the peak trading season”. Now a “Correction: Half-Year Trading Update” announcement.

Another tax rise, it won’t go away if oil prices fall, it will last until 2028, the sky is falling, the oil and gas business has suffered yet another blow, it’s finished, our day in the sun has gone. Or maybe not.