Provider of temporary structures for events, Arena Events Group (ARE) has announced results for its half-year ended 30th September 2020, including “despite results in all markets being impacted by the widespread prohibition on mass gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the group was Adjusted EBITDA positive and cash neutral”. Though what’s the detail?…

Following yesterday’s very welcome news from Pfizer that its vaccine for Covid-19 has offered up over 90% protection in Phase III trials, the market went into a tizzy. Stocks such as Cineworld (CINE) which had previously been labelled as doomed soared and Gold fell off a cliff ( well it lost 5%). So is this the end of the Gold Bull-market?

What an interesting last twenty-four hours in the financial markets. As always with big market shifts, sustainability comes with the reality of the headline new information flow. Aside from the obvious efficacy of any vaccine or treatment mitigation, the key to watch out for in my humble opinion is what happens with bond yields. I know hard-nosed equity investors forget about the bond market, but the reality is that it is a multi-asset relative world. So rising bond yields associated with stronger hopes about an economic recovery have a huge impact in terms of sector choice and market rotations. And from the perspective of having a bunch more ‘value’ than ‘growth’ stocks in my portfolio, I hope it continues. I am not sure how to pigeonhole DCC plc (DCC)…

Two years ago after a bout of shameless ramping involving IR genius Steffi a certain Manchester based blogger and the company, shares in Online Blockchain (OBC) touched 200p at which point low life broker Smaller Companies Capital organised a £1 million placing at 100p.

I wonder if AIM-listed jam-tomorrow investment company Tern plc (TERN) is already working on a placing, for this morning’s ramptastic Portfolio Update offered as the market celebrates the vaccine news from Pfizer saw the shares come off 7% to 9.5p before a partial recovery. Are placees already selling, or has the market seen through the promise of yet more jam tomorrow?  But one thing is for certain: Tern needs more cash pronto.

If you believe the statement issued today by Zenith Energy (ZEN) then I have a bridge in London I’d like to sell you. It simply defies belief that what Zenith says can possibly be true.

Hello, Share Thrashers. BT Group (BT.A) is one of those companies with a disappointing history of increasing its share value. So far. Because, in my humble opinion, the promise is still there, I initially made a lot of theoretical money out of this iconic company. But it started to fail as a decent investment long before the virus struck. My big paper profit turned into a big paper loss two or three years ago, but the share has started to pick up recently…

Aukett Swanke (AUK), “the international group of architects, interior designers and associated engineers is pleased to provide the following update in respect of the financial year ended 30 September 2020”. However, on a big up day for the markets, these shares are more than 4% lower at 1.15p, a below £2 million market cap…

Previously writing on Gulf Marine Services (GMS) I concluded including I’ve previously noted “the banks confirm that they are not willing to renegotiate any of the terms” – with the shares towards 7p hopefully my prior caution was heeded and it’s now just a watching brief to see how this now plays out. Today further news…

Pelatro (PTRO), “the telecom Customer Engagement Hub software specialist, is pleased to announce a new contract and to provide a trading update”. The latter includes that it is “excited with the progress achieved with respect to ARR and the appetite we are seeing from our customers to work with us in this way”… but the shares have currently responded to below 39p, a few percent lower…

I start with the wonder vaccine. Is it a cure all for companies such as Cineworld (CINE) or Carnival (CCL)? Then I consider Julie Meyer in light of the research I was doing yesterday for the Gewanter case and what it says about the UK’s rotten honours system.  Then I look at Inspirit (INSP), Countrywide (CWD), Amigo (AMGO) and Escape Hunt (ESC) where I stand with Steve, not Justin the Clown.

Chris Heminway has called for an EGM to boot off one member of the board of AIM-listed Inspirit and see himself and one other elected instead. In response to the onslaught, Inspirit has suddenly sprung into action, announcing two deals which saw the shares roof it.

I offered my view 10 days ago on AIM-listed Gold producer in Turkey Ariana Resources (AAU) as the shares drifted in the wake of the correction in Gold and gold stocks, and anticipated news on its proposed corporate action saw another delay. The stock was then 5.2p and I reckoned it was a buy once again, at up to 5.5p.

Previously writing on self-styled “the UK’s leading online retailer of beach holidays” On the Beach Group (OTB), in April I noted a laudable update but questioned whether the share price response was merited. Today a further trading update – and the shares currently again higher on its back…

Back in August I observed the Competition and Markets Authority giving funeral operator Dignity (DTY) a bit of a free bus pass. Back then I was wholly unconvinced this had changed the investment story sufficiently to warrant the share price romp that occurred, observing that ‘it feels to me as if another shorting opportunity is building’. Well if you had got your timing about right that would have worked out pretty well, with the share peaking at just over six quid after the update before falling about two quid in the subsequent few weeks. Good darts if you are smart. I kind of feel that an akin opportunity is building again…

Hello, Share Traders. Oh, the pitfalls we must brave to find promising shares. I just spent goodly time researching a small gold miner, only to recall that Uncle Tom had quite a few negative things to say about it last year. There were some encouraging, more recent, signs to report, but I thought it may not have improved its act by that much. So allow me to look instead at a company which might deserve more of our confidence…

Red Rock Resources (RRR) has updated we loyal investors that its Australia gold joint venture company (50.1% owned) “has applied for an additional 148 sq km of ground (EL007540) that forms a close-fitting inner ring around the Ballarat mine and which became available on Monday”…

This, very short, podcast gives my excuses for today’s relative silence from me and warns you on why the next week may also be silent.

I gather that many Supply@ME Capital (SYME) owning morons are jerkling themselves off on the idea that the legal action will a) stop the share price slide and b) that the action is against that evil so and so Tom Winnifrith. I am afraid that on both counts the morons will be disappointed. But the tweet below shows there is a threat.

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?