On 29 July 2020 the fraud Supply@ME Capital (SYME) announced a loan transaction involving 5.89 billion shares as follows in an RNS:

Hello Share Tweakers. We’ve all noticed shops closing in our town centres. The new businesses springing up seem mostly to be in the catering trade. Coffee shops and cafes are the main invaders, restaurants are not. Many posher eating places never recovered from lockdowns and stay shut and one high street catering venture that appeals to me in these difficult days is Greggs (GRG).

Petropavlovsk (POG) was obviously aware that I was driving across France on Tuesday and distracted by the most stressful of episodes, as it took the chance to suspend its shares and say that it would appoint administrators while I was distracted. Today it said that the hearing in the Courts to settle the administration is scheduled for Monday. As the fat lady warms up there are three key takeaways from someone who predicted this on March 4 HERE.

Previously writing on geospatial software group IQGeo (IQG), last week with the shares sparking higher towards 140p I questioned ‘emphasises “important project” selection, but how do the financials look now?’. So what of now a trading update?

Oh dear, oh dear. This should be another massive red flag for the morons who own shares in the Supply@ME Capital (SYME) fraud to ignore. It will also prompt a formal complaint to the FRC about auditors PKF Littlejohn and Eight itself.

Below, you can see two photos of the Greek Hovel, where I have now arrived. Gosh, it is wonderful here. I describe my trip, starting in Wrexham at 12:00 on Monday, and ending at 3 PM GMT today. There was a great deal of anxiety involved, including the most stressful half an hour i can remember at a toll booth near Aix. Then, there were the pretty young lesbians snuggled up on the sofa next to us, as we took the ferry from Bari. Then, it is onto IQE (IQE), MGC Pharmaceuticals (MXC) and Optibiotix (OPTI). Now for a swim; normal service resumes tomorrow.

Cleaning and hygiene products private label and contract manufacturer McBride (MCB) has announced “revenue grew by 13.4% in the second half… anticipates that adjusted operating profit will be in line with current market consensus (*)” and the shares are currently 6% higher to 17.6p. Good news then?

Iron ore pellets producer Ferrexpo (FXPO) has issued a production report noting sales in the first half of 2022 of 4.4 million tonnes, representing a year on year decrease of 21%, with logistics availability “the largest constraint” on the business but that it is “in advanced discussions with a number of logistics providers to resume access to seaborne markets via neighbouring countries”.

Previously writing on homewares group Portmeirion (PMP), in May with the shares down to 435p I was cautious – noting ‘“encouraged that the group continues to grow”, but will that continue?’. The shares last closed at 410p but are currently 365p on the back of a trading update.

If I had to bet, then I would say that Thursday is the busiest analytical day for any investor, analyst or fund manager. There is a different angle today however in a bunch of UK numbers: trading updates for the period ended 30th June, which are fully responded too in September. Such (future) excitement! First up is Barratt Developments (BDEV), the homebuilder whose shares I am sure many of you may own but I don’t think I ever have.

IQE plc (IQE) states it is “pleased we have met our expectations and commitments for H1 2022… the group's view of the full year remains unchanged”. With it describing itself as “the leading supplier of compound semiconductor wafer products and advanced material solutions to the global semiconductor industry”, this good news then?

Hello Share Fans. With the Footsie still in a poorly state and inflation attacking the world, it might be a good idea to look more seriously at gold. A miner you may not have come across before is Serabi Gold (SRB). This lot operate producing mines in Brazil.

On recent 81p offer price recommendation, we noted we saw upside potential for shares in Jadestone Energy (JSE) on Montara fears reducing and operations being restored over the next few weeks. Now a “Resumption of Production Operations at Montara” announcement.

Having previously closed at 1.55p, shares in Guild Esports (GILD) reached 2p earlier today – and this has now seemingly forced from the company a “Statement regarding recent share price movement”.

Ilika (IKA) has announced results for its year ended 30th April 2022 including emphasising that it “has continued to develop and commercialise its thin-film Stereax miniature solid-state batteries for powering implantable medical devices and industrial wireless sensors in hostile environments, as well as progressing the development of its large-format Goliath cells for electric vehicles and cordless appliances” and “cash, cash equivalents and bank deposits of £23.4m (2021: £9.8m)”. So what of a current 45p share price, £70.9 million market cap, down approaching 12%?

Writing on OptiBiotix Health (OPTI) last month with the shares at 21p to buy, we noted potential for a move into meaningful profitability and further potential from 'second generation' products addressing much larger market opportunities. We drank our own medicine with Tom buying more shares at 22p. The shares are now further up at 31.5p on the back of a “Joint development agreement signed with Firmenich”-titled announcement.

Previously writing on alcoholic drinks company Distil (DIS), in April with the shares at 1.4p I questioned ‘pleased to announce campaign to further build RedLeg spiced rum, how’s the balance sheet now?’. The shares last closed at 1.35p but are currently 1.15p, a £7.9 million market cap, on the back of a trading update, so what’s the position now?

Serica Energy (SQZ) is a company that I’ve been following for quite a few years now and it has been my best performing share tip ever during that time. It has gone from a small company that had acquired some later life assets that BP didn’t appear to want any more, and with sentiment pretty low following its past screw-ups in Indonesia, to where it is now with a booming UK-based gas and oil business, lots of cash in the bank and more being added on a daily basis and a market cap in excess of £900 million.

Back in early 2019 I observed that “you are not 'bonkers' anymore for buying PageGroup (PAGE)...just overly hopeful”. I guess that has proved to be an alright call on the recruitment business, as the stock dropped quite a lot during the early days of COVID-19, rallied back last year, and is currently sitting at a share price below the January 2019 level. How wonderfully dull. So what does today’s “Q2 and H1 2022 Trading Update” tell us?

My ongoing bearishness towards AIM-listed Pure Gold (PUR) continues to bear fruit. I first wrote about the company in April when the shares were 10.25p, having been technically insolvent as at FY21. The shares were ramped up and then came the inevitable dump as the company had a reset with new management. So all was set fair? Er……yesterday we got a strategic review. Uh-Oh.