Gold has had a pretty terrible few weeks: back in late February it spiked to $2050 and then hung around in the mid-$1900s until the end of April. Now it has been challenging $1800 from above and closed the week at $1847. Of course, in the context of being just $1200 for years ago the yellow metal has done well, but given all that money-printing and rampant inflation one might have expected more of late.

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!

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? 
 

These are the most-read articles and most listened-to Bearcasts of the week. The most read non-Tom article is How is Rolls-Royce getting on? by Chris Bailey at a non-leaderboard Number 12 or Number 18 if you include Bearcasts.

Touch sensors manufacturer Zytronic (ZYT) has announced results for its half-year ended 31^st March 2022 and that, whilst there are headwinds, it “remains well positioned to progress in its recovery, particularly now as the global sales and marketing activities resume”.

Seed Innovations (SEED) is pleased to note that the company in which it holds 7,324,796 shares, Little Green Pharma (ASX:LGP), has announced its “largest single-strain offtake quantity contract to date, with a minimum take or pay commitment of $7.5 million over 30 months." This follows the company in which it holds 4,427,609 shares, Yooma Wellness (CSE & AQSE - YOOM), announcing that its “fourth quarter saw revenue of US$5.3 million, exceeding previous forecasts”.

I was not at the show, but have had feedback. What were your takeaways from Vin Murria, Adam Reynolds, Nigel Wray et al? Please do post in the comments section. Instead, I was on a 23-mile walk. I report on the good news and also how, thanks to a herd of cows, I am in complete agony tonight. Photos tomorrow, as bed beckons. Think of my complete pain and, if you are among the 95% of listeners yet to donate, please do so HERE.

Hello Share Placers. Now that folks seem to take Covid in their stride, with few bothering to wear masks any more, you might think the best sectors in which to buy shares stay unchanged. But that’s not the case. Some companies face better prospects post pandemic and some risk a bleaker outlook.

Previously writing on supplier of specialist connectors to the automotive sector Strip Tinning Holdings (STG), earlier this week I noted the shares down to 115p from a 185p AIM IPO little over three months earlier after a trading warning, though the company stating “great care is being taken to ensure that overheads are reduced where appropriate in line with lower than budgeted sales… in addition, the company is currently putting through a number of price rises across its product range”. And now a director share purchase. Good news?...

Tomorrow's training walk really will start at 4.30 AM. I promise. If you are among the naughty 95% yet to donate, please do so HERE. After that, there is more work on the Ha-Ha, ahead of a new idea which I will announce next week. I start with how NOT to get a job, when I was the one who got you an interview! I end with why this year, it will be I, not Malcolm, who calls the housebuilders right. In between, I discuss a share my SIPP bought yesterday; the fund and games with Vin Murria at M&C Saatchi (SAA); Cellular Goods (CBX); and THG (THG)

‘Digital chemistry data and software’ group DeepMatter (DMTR) states that it is “delighted” to be working with Springer Nature to provide the “leading global research publisher” with products and services making sharing research data faster, easier and more impactful. So what of a current more than 4% higher share price response to 0.12p?...

Analyst, Chris Puplava, argues that Fed rate hikes don’t always result in recessions. He believes there is no spare capacity to compensate for a slowdown and, therefore, the Fed is limited in its ability to control inflation. The November elections are always a factor, and he doesn't expect the Fed will tighten aggressively into the fall. Mortgage rate hikes, he argues, are already impacting the housing markets, as the interest rate pain threshold has been more pronounced with every debt cycle.

Arts, crafts, toys, books and stationery retailer TheWorks (WRKS) has issued a full-year trading update including “trading performance… well ahead of pre-COVID levels… net cash of £16.3m… Dividend re-instated; the board expects to recommend a dividend of approximately 2.4 pence per share alongside its FY22 results in September and maintain a progressive dividend policy thereafter”. With though also the EBITDA forecast only “reiterated”, what of a current more than 13% increased share price to 57p?...

I am a bit of a fan of DCC plc (DCC), the “leading international sales, marketing and support services group with a clear focus on performance and growth…operate through three divisions: Energy, Healthcare and Technology”. Back in late December I called it one of my tips of the year for 2022. So how is it getting on?

Imperial Brands (IMB) has announced results for its half year ended 31^st March 2022 emphasising “stabilisation of our core combustible business” and “successful consumer trials validate our approach and strengthen our confidence in our Next Generation Product strategy”. This sounds encouraging.

With yet another hat tip to reader J, I bring you evidence that, on Wednesday, Eurasia Mining (EUA) deceived investors with regard to its new “Independent” non-executive director. Proper companies simply do not behave in this way.

The writing is on the wall for Cellular Goods (CBX), the CBD company floated by Jonathan Bixby, Mike Edwards, Andy Frangos, Peter Wall of Argo Blockchain (ARB) infamy, and serial liar, John Story.

Hello Share Followers. The medical sector is likely to pay more juicy dividends in the humble view of this old punter. Covid has concentrated minds on the need to pour more dosh into the NHS and other services to meet a growing demand from an ageing population and to deal with the huge logjam caused by the pandemic. So let’s take a peek at ConvaTec Group (CTEC).

Gold miner in Kazakhstan, AltynGold (ALTN) states that it “is pleased to announce its 1Q22 production update” and the shares have moved up to 130p, so what’s the latest?...

Describing itself as a “global leader in LED lighting for heavy industrial applications” Dialight (DIA) has issued an AGM trading statement including that it “has traded well… Longer term we are increasingly confident of our prospects given our leading sustainability products and significant market opportunity”. So what of a share price currently up to 336p?...