American-themed casual dining brand 'Fridays', cocktail-led bar and restaurant brand '63rd+1st' and fast casual dining brand 'Fridays and Go' company Hostmore (MORE) has issued a half-year trading update emphasising “guidance for the full year remains unchanged, with LFL revenues for the period since 23 May 2022 in line with the expectations set out in the trading update issued on 26 May”. So what of a share price of 35p, comparing to more than 40p in May?

AIM-listed Trafalgar Property (TRAF) has released a statement detailing a debt consolidation which will offer some comfort to shareholders as they consider the negative net asset position of MINUS £3.3 million and negative net current asset position of MINUS £345,000 as at the last results (interims to September 2021). But I fear that it will make little difference.

Retail, promotional and ‘brand experience’ company SpaceandPeople (SAL) has announced “trading during H1-22 continued to recover… confident that this will continue into the traditionally busier second half of the year”. So what of a current share price response to 112.5p, up 12.5%?

Packaging and automation solutions group Mpac (MPAC) has issued a trading update commencing that it “has continued to make progress during the first half of the financial year despite a challenging trading environment, ending the period with a strong order book, ahead of the previous year, and with a very encouraging prospects pipeline. The group expects to report revenue that is ahead of last year and in line with its expectations in respect of the six months ended 30 June 2022”. Sounds good, so what of a current 260p share price...down over 30% on the day?!

The latest spat involving Richard "nobody likes me and I don't care" Jennings of Align Research, is with AIM hound, Ironveld Resources (IRON). Inexplicably, Jennings has offered Ironveld money at 1p. Even more inexplicably, Ironveld has said no, forgetting that beggars cannot be choosers. Jennings has fired off the letter below, which is, as you'd expect, forthright and menacing.

Certain readers of this website (naming no names, PL) reckon that, to make money, we should follow the inbred public school twits of the fund management community. Au contraire.

I passed my covid test, enjoyed a wonderful christening for Jaya (photos another day), and am off to Greece at Noon. God willing, I arrive at the hovel about midday on Thursday GMT. So, my output may be limited until then. Today, I discuss the read across from Cellular Goods (CBX), and why news from Hydrogen Utopia (HUI) reinforces what a monumental slam-dunk sell Powerhouse Energy (PHE) is.

As the David Beckham-backed/hyped CBD play, Cellular Goods (CBX), lurches ever closer to a deeply discounted fundraise, it is keen to ramp the shares. Does it think that we're mad?

Gold ended the week at $1743 – a nasty drop from the $1813 clocked up last week, and according to ShareProphets’ favourite technical analyst, Jordan Roy-Byrne of TheDailyGold.com, down through support at $1780 and $1750. So is it time to give up my hermit existence and return to normal life? Not a chance!

Hello Share Moochers. There’s a perception these days that housebuilders will soon see retreating share prices because of rising interest rates, the soaring cost of living, high energy costs and so on. But my optimistic view of the bricks and mortar trade is not shaken. And that’s because supply continues to lag behind demand. And the first-half numbers from Vistry (VTY) seem to support my view.

The good news: most Conservative leadership candidates are discussing lower taxes.  However, the best way to cut taxes is to reduce expenditure and grow the economy*.  Good luck with the latter two in what is an ageing population.  It can be done, but I fear how the world is shifting: more tax for all!  What fun (not). 

Grab a cup of tea, sit back, and test your knowledge against the other ShareProphets members. Write your score in the comments, there are no prizes, and most important of all – no Googling!

I have been peering into the world of AIM-listed Scirocco Energy (SCIR) – formerly Solo Oil (SOLO) – and the fruits of its relationship with Gneiss Energy (run by Jon Fitzpatrick). In part one I looked at the deal to sell off the now non-core asset of Ruvuma in Tanzania and wondered what shareholders had to gain from the deal. But there is another deal which smells all wrong to me.

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? 
 

The way the markets are currently it feels like there is plenty of risk in buying anything, even in the sectors that are expected to remain strong in the coming months.

These are the most-read articles and most listened-to Bearcasts of the week. The most read non-Tom article is Do I dump my EasyJet shares, after it screwed me so badly as a customer? by Chris Bailey at number five or number 11 if you include Bearcasts.

We're halfway through the year, and that gives us a little time to reflect back on the most-listened-to Bearcasts of this past six months. 

I start with the weekend: a pointless covid test, Jaya's christening and a possible road trip to Greece. Then, I discuss Malcolm Stacey's Damascene Conversion to the bear cause, which makes me think that I should become a bull.

I have been peering into the world of AIM-listed Scirocco Energy (SCIR) – formerly Solo Oil (SOLO) – following a shareholder revolt which saw 36.56% of voting shareholders reject a deal to sell its interest in the Ruvuma Asset in Tanzania to AIM-listed Wentworth (WEN). 36.56% was not enough to derail the proposed transaction, but looking through the associated Circular is it hard to see what shareholders in Scirocco gain from the deal.

We're halfway through the year, and that gives us a little time to reflect back on the most-read stories of this past six months. Who would have guessed THIS would be #1?