Lunch time does seem to be the new no-one-is-watching o’clock and yesterday at 12.54pm, just as the City was tucking in to a nice tasty lunch before settling down to enjoy the action at the Commonwealth Games, AIM-listed Anglesey Mining (AYM) popped out an RNS.

On 23 June 2022 Gerry “the arse” Brandon, a man who broke AIM Rules 10 and 11 before his last bailout placing last summer, served up calendar 2021 results noticeable for their prodigious cashburn but the most bullish of statements about the jam arriving tomorrow, or in fact this year.. How things can change.

BP (BP.) has announced second quarter and half-year results including a second quarter attributable profit of $9.26 billion and 10% increased dividend per share to $0.06006 and outlook confidence with ongoing supply disruptions in the industry and a relative lack of inventories.

Of course, musicMagpie (MMAG), the cash guzzling POS floated with a fraudster steering the ship, is already in Dire Straits. But now let’s chuck in some executive greed.

I am afraid that events have conspired to deprive us of Malcolm’s words of wisdom for a third day. You will remember that Malcolm has now moved the contents of his 26 room South Wales seaside mansion to his new home in North Wales in a carbon net zero worker friendly manner. But he has no internet. Yesterday …

Describing itself as “a leading provider of IT solutions to the global life sciences market”, Instem (INS) states that it “announces a positive trading update for the six months to 30 June 2022”. How positive?

Cyber security group Falanx (FLX) has issued a trading update noting full-year organic revenue growth of circa 14% and “the pipeline is not only much larger in terms of financial value but also has a high level of advanced prospects”. So what of a current approaching 22% share price rise to 0.70p?

The only financial podcaster who swears as much as me ( perhaps more) and is almost as outspoken as me is Chris Irons, aka Quoth the Raven. In his latest podcast with Palisade Capital he does not hold back.

 I start with AMTD Digital, run by a man banned from operating in Hong Kong, whose US listed shares have zoomed  ahead by 14,000% since its IPO a few weeks ago. It is now valued at more than Goldman Sachs. This is insanity writ large but it is risky betting against insanity. Then it is onto the stench of the Betahny Garner affair, Cellular Goods (CBX), Kanabo (KNB) and Oxford Cannabinoid (OCTP) where i discuss other clear signs that a bailout placing is being lined up. Then it is onto Online Blockchain (OBC) and the threat ADVFN (AFN) should be making against it. Finally I discuss La Willingham's Nightcap (NGHT), its trading statement and the cash crisis looming this Autumn.

We all know that the worlds of aircraft engines, military matters and nuclear angles are always medium-term games. Whilst you can all guess why the shares of BAE Systems (BA.) are up over 40% year-to-date, if you are an Airbus shareholder in France you have only lost c.10% of your share price over the last seven months. Meanwhile as for the fine office of Rolls-Royce (RR.) - which for full disclosure I have talked positively about a number of time over the last year or two - the year-to-date decline in its share price is 35% after today’s first half numbers. So what should investors do now?

Oh dear, it seems as if the self-styled “ world’s most successful growth market” is having something of an annus horribilis. Pay rises all round at AIM Regulation!

Fully-listed Egyptian Gold miner Centamin (CEY) offered up its half year report to June 2022 this morning, along with an interim dividend declaration. The report seems to have gone down well in the market, with the shares marked up by 2.4% in early trading, and the dividend – 2.5 US cents (just over 2p), to be paid on 7^th October – was at the upper end of my expectations, leaving room for a higher full year payout than currently expected, if all goes according to plan.

Financial services group STM (STM) has issued a “Board Changes and Trading Update” including “we will be making a number of appointments in the coming months to refresh the board around the future strategy of the group” and, with “the pipeline remains encouraging”, that it believes full-year profit expectations will be met. So what of a current more than 8% lower share price to 22p, a circa £13 million market cap?

Kefi Gold & Copper (KEFI) states that, via its 30%-owned joint venture in Saudi Arabia, it “is pleased to announce positive licencing progress on the Jibal Qutman project, plus the award of two further exploration licences”. So what of a current 0.60p to buy share price?

I am delighted to say that Malcolm has now moved the contents of his 26 room South Wales seaside mansion to his new home in North Wales in a carbon net zero worker friendly manner. Unfortunately…

I start with Kanabo (KNB), Oxford Cannibanoid (OTCP) and Cellular Goods (CBX). Who on earth would write them up as the three pot stocks to buy. They are all utter dogs facing looming cash crises. Meet Bethany Garner. I then discuss Victoria (VCP) after this bombshell. Then  Gary's death wish, not as a Euroloon, but in considering buying Revolution Beauty (REVB). Then Ariana (AAU) and why its shares continue to drift.  I start with news of a last minute cancellation here in Greece. If you fancy a last minute luxury break drop me an email. Anyhow it means a more leisurely drive back for me starting, I think, on Monday.

Lucian Miers has been banging on about Victoria (VCP) for years, but today short selling outfit Iceberg has released a damning report suggesting that the £380 million capitalised company has misled investors with fraudulent acquisitions, cannot generate cash and is drowning in a sea of unsustainable debt. It queeries the business dealings and track record of main man Geoff Wilding but publishes a picture of his $65 million superyacht. Anyone reading the report ( below) who is not short is missing out big time. 

Previously writing on Lebanese and Eastern Mediterranean restaurants group Comptoir (COM), in June I noted founder, Creative Director and 47.6% shareholder Tony Kitous voting against AGM resolutions including the re-election of Richard Kleiner as Chairman and that, if the Chairman and CEO Chaker Hanna don’t resign, a director change General Meeting would be requisitioned. There has now been a “Board changes and appointment of Nomad & Broker” announcement.

We have covered plenty of dogs which have been howling away in recent days, such as Chill Brands (CHLL) and Love Hemp (LIFE) but one AIM-listed Dog has been conspicuously silent. Catenae Innovation (CTEA) is the dog that didn’t bark!

AIM-listed junior Gold producer Ariana Resources (AAU) released its half-year production results this morning, which made for a good read. But the bigger news for me was that construction at Ariana’s second Gold mine at Tavsan has formally started and is expected to be in operation in around 12 months. Hooray!