Gold stocks seem to be very much on the radar at the moment, with the price of the yellow metal looking very strong against a back-drop of worldwide concerns over coronavirus and investors looking for a safe haven.

Ariana Resources (AAU) has updated emphasising “record gross quarterly income of US$12.78 million… gross income for the year is US$45.1 million from production of 27,985 ounces of gold, exceeding its full year production guidance of 25,000 ounces”…

This is an easy way for SP Angel to show it really is a serious Nomad. Does it think that Versarien (VRS) boss Neill Ricketts lied about share sales he made? If so will it issue a corrective RNS tomorrow and/or resign? Let me start with two tweets made by Ricketts after he dumped £153,750 of shares on 4 January 2018.

KEFI Minerals (KEFI) has announced the passing of all resolutions at the Tulu Kapi gold project’s joint venture (TKGM) General Meeting, and this having “cleared the way for the closing of the ANS equity subscription”…

Hello, Share Bunnies. You may remember that I often like the look of companies with customers who’re least likely to get into trouble and refuse to pay. Well, Idox plc (IDOX) is hardly like to come across rogue payers as it deals with nearly every local authority in Britain...

Another day, another announcement from fully-listed NMC Heath (NMC) regarding the share shenanigans of its founder and now former co-chairman. Today we learn that the good Dr Shetty appears to have taken out a 7 million share short position and had been using his shares as part of a general pledge to secure a current $30 million term loan! Did we know about this before the start of the year? Er…

I start with the rising flood waters here at the Welsh Hovel, which are now about two or three yards from the bottom step leading to the back door. Then it is onto Coronavirus, where it is starting to sink in as to how bad it could be in terms of fear and our behaviour if not actual deaths. Then onto what filing management accounts means and the question of possible securities fraud at Dev Clever (DEV), which I have flagged up with the FCA today. Then, as per the screenshot below, it is the changing behaviour of Neill Ricketts at Versarien (VRS) and what that tells us about the regulatory hole he is in and why Canaccord quit as Nomad. Finally a comment on Bahamas Petroleum (BPC), its piss poor death spiral and crazy valuation.

Previously writing on remote meetings technology group LoopUp (LOOP), in December it was trading & share price having slumped… guess what “Measures relating to 2018 and 2019 options grants” are? That was after a prior 67.5p share price close – the shares had recovered somewhat to last close at 82.5p but are currently below 60p on the back of a “Trading Update”…

As Dev Clever (DEV) is not on AIM but on the Official List it is the FCA that bears sole responsibility for regulating its activities and which should now be investigating whether the company has committed blatant securities fraud. I have written to the chocolate teapots explaining why an urgent investigation is needed into the company and its directors.

Early this month I noted announcements from Plant Health Care (PHC) which had helped the shares to 12.5p ramptastic and concluded I’d certainly wait and see on “well positioned” – and currently continue to avoid. Now (natch) “Placing and Subscription”…

For all the chatter from certain City folks with degrees in Chemistry, and others, about how a new name and a new management team would transform the fortunes of the Woodford Patient Capital Trust (WPCT), the belated release of the December 31 2019 factsheet shows what a diabolical mess the vehicle now known as the Schroders UK Public Private Trust (SUPP) is in. Is it beyond redemption? Have the City establishment stopped pretending yet?

There will be some who say that shorting a stock because it is exposed to the fallout from Coronavirus and what may well soon be a global pandemic is Tasteless. They probably have no such complaints about going long of a company with a test for the product. I am sure we all pray that this human tragedy ends soon. But the reality is that right now it is growing and, notwithstanding today’s sell-off, many of us reckon the market in certain stocks fails massively to discount the downside risks.

A rough day in the markets as worries about the coronavirus, supply chains and much else linger. If you noted my call that sub thirty quid was a potentially interesting level for Carnival (CCL), I guess today is the day for acquiring a few. Naturally, I will be joining... but onto something more boring…

Are the CFO and NEDs at Versarien (VRS) up to the job? Is it storing up more bad news until the finals? Are its boasted net assets now effectively bogus? Compared to the looming cash crisis, the Nomad quitting, and the unravvelling of RNS lies these might seem less than critical issues but they do matter.

Hello, Share Cashers. There’s a perception that fresh food companies will have a hard time of it as a growing population forces up prices. It’s called food inflation. But the fear seems overdone, especially for big nosh producers that try to deal in what customers really want. As a long time vegetarian, I keep a close eye on food companies that avoid meat and fish. And as vegans are a fast-growing army, I imagine that meatless firms will probably go from strength to strength. Which brings me to today’s choice...

The consensus in the US markets right now seems to be that things are getting a little crazy out there but that Trump will keep the show on the road until November, when, in the absence of a stock market rout, he will trounce Sanders or Bloomberg in the election. Therefore, there is little to worry about until then.

In today's bearcast I discuss how little shorting actually takes place on the AIM Casino, I look at Eurasia (EUA) where the slience is deafening, Versarien (VRS) and at Hammerson (HMSO) where Andrew Monk should thank me for warning him off but should NOT be tempted to bottom fish after the dividend is cut this week. And 8% yield, post cut, is still illusory. Finally, I again ask you to sponsor the , now 5, Rogue Bloggers for Woodlarks HERE

I was more of an observer than a participant in the financial markets on Friday as I was travelling back down south of the border after a brief sojourn in Scotland.  I was not surprised that Hammerson (HMSO) shares fell after it announced more asset sales at a discount which only nudges - rather than dramatically reduces - their material debt burden.   And I read in the press today that all sorts of excitements potentially await in their results this week including a big dividend cut.  Well quelle surprise.  

This has nothing to do with shares or investing or anything. It's the end of the weekend and we've organised a quick pub quiz. Grab your own beer, there are no prizes, and for Pete's sake, no Googling! Only I get to do that. If you are so inclined, please enter your score in the comments. The highest score still won't get a prize.

It was reported by Reuters on Friday that founder and now former co-chairman, the good Dr Shetty, of fully-listed NMC Health (NMC), which has been gradually revealing stunning undisclosed share transactions by Shetty and two associates, has appointed California-based Houlihan Lokey Inc to advise on strategic options for….portfolio and debt restructuring, according to a familiar source.