Previously writing on castings and engineering group Chamberlin (CMH), in December I questioned do contract awards justify the current approaching 90% share price rise? – concluding, with the shares at more than 40p, I’ll monitor for some sustained improved trading momentum but the financials at this juncture see me certainly continue to avoid. There’s now followed attempted no-one watching o’clock “Trading Statement”, research update and “Holding(s) in Company” announcements…

Of course it is! Muddy Waters may be laughing all the way to the bank with reference to NMC Health (NMC), but it must be kicking itself in San Francisco for having missed out on fellow good Dr Shetty outfit Finablr (FIN). The last we heard from Finablr was a week ago when the company announced that, like NMC – which has now ‘fessed up at least in part – The Company has very recently been made aware of purported arrangements between Dr BR Shetty, His Excellency Saeed Mohamed Butti Mohamed Al Qebaisi and Khaleefa Butti Omair Yousif Al Muhairi which may be relevant to their respective interests in the Company's shares. With at least 56% of the company’s shares pledged and perhaps more if similar undisclosed arrangements to the ones at NMC have been made, there is surely an urgency for the board of Finablr to get to the bottom of this.

Previously writing on homeware and fashion retailer Laura Ashley (ALY), on its latest results in August I concluded there looks much to correct – and then there is of course the current general retail climate. As such, I’m not surprised to see the shares respond currently further lower. Still presently on the bargepole list. The shares had jumped over Christmas and the New Year but are currently back below 2p on a “Response to press speculation”…

Muddy Waters must be laughing all the way to the bank right now – or it would be if Carson Block and his team were not in bed. Fully-listed NMC Health (NMC) – and a member of our elite FTSE100 (at least for now) – has announced the departure of its co-chairman and founder, the good Dr Shetty, along with two placemen appointed by principal shareholders Dr Shetty, His Excellency Mr Saeed Mohamed Butti Mohamed Khalfan Al Qebaisi and Mr Khaleefa Butti Omair Yousif Ahmed Al Muhairi. This is in addition to the departure last Friday (again with immediate effect) of the abovementioned Mr Khalifa Butti Omeir Bin Yousef as the scandal of undisclosed share pledges, sales and transfers has become marginally (but only marginally) less murky.

Today we have the shock news that Versarien (VRS) has a new Nomad. Not a better Nomad, SP Angel is clearly massively inferior to Canaccord and this begs the question whether Versarien lied to investors on February 10. I have thus written to the Oxymorons at AIM Regulation and to the FCA with a question so simple that even they should be able to answer it.

I have been kicking around the fund and wealth management industry for more than a couple of decades now and have seen plenty of business launches, deals and consolidation. The big trend at the moment - and frankly of the last little while - has been consolidation. Call it driven by cost-cutting potential, distribution realities, Mifid-II influences or the impact of the rise of passive/robo investments on the level of fees that can be charged. Anyhow, what strikes me as insightful is the price these deals are being struck at…

Yet again Versarien (VRS) has announced a change of Nomad. This cannot be interpreted as anything other than bad news.

Hello, Share Farmers. The big British banks have share prices stuck in the mud on roads which should be taking them north, but are not. And yet the compo paid out in PPI cases is nearly over. The deadline was on August 31st, 2019. Yes, that sparked off a huge number of last-minute claims, but many of those will be spurious anyway and the rest will soon be mopped up...

Looking at the chart for Pharos Energy (PHAR) I wouldn’t blame you for coming to the conclusion that it is best avoided as it has been on a steady downwards trajectory for several years and with little sign of any relief.

In today's podcast I discuss Carnival (CCL) and the Coronavirus, Optibiotix (OPTI) and Versarien (VRS)

As if news out on Friday morning for perpetual disappointer Zenith Energy (ZEN) was not bad enough, the RNS served up at nobody is watching hour 6:30pm just heaps more misery on long suffering shareholders.

My guest in this week's show which is sponsored by Open Orphan PLC (ORPH) is my old pal, the Dark Destroyer Matt Earl. We discuss how a bear can make money in this market, Tesla (TSLA), NMC Health (NMC), Finablr (FIN), Burford (BUR), IQE (IQE) and in real detail Mark Slater, Sam Antar and Future (FUTR) in the wake of Matt's bombshell dossier of last week. If you like this podcast and can't wait seven days for more of the same and are tired of being a cheapskate you should listen to my Bearcast every day.

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.

Remember when I wrote back in December  about cruise holidays (and with particular reference to Carnival (CCL) that 'naturally you will never get me to go on one as spending seven or ten days on a big tub, having to be polite to the same group of people at every meal, whilst simultaneously eating far too much sounds like some kind of personal hell'? Clearly I forgot the propensity for such boats to be disease havens too, as recent news events have shown.  

Is there anything better than sitting back and reading a well-written article on a lazy Sunday? Every week ShareProphets features some long form journalism that you'll find of interest. Grab your cuppa and enjoy these five articles. 

Chris Akers ramp AIM-listed Asimilar (ASLR) saw its shares suspended on Friday after the company announced it was buying a stake in Sentiance, an AI company in Belgium. But hang on, I thought another Akers ramp, Mesh Holdings (MESH), was supposed to be buying that!

Excluding ShareProphets Radio 24, the most read non-Tom article this week is ITM Power – a great 5 bagging share tip... but where’s the share price going now? by Peter Brailey for the second week. He's off the leaderboard at #11 or #18 if you include Bearcasts. 

In this podcast from the Welsh Hovel as it is battered by Storm Dennis I discuss Nostra Terra (NTOG) ahead of a podcast with former site editor Flip Flop Ben Turney on Monday, Gervais Williams and his rile in this sorry tale and his problems and the fate of Sirius Minerals (SXX) and why certain tedious establishment suits need to start being honest with folks who have lost millions.

Perhaps you remember the farce that was Lenigas Cuba (LGC)? It was not an IPO that covered David Lenigas in glory. The merde seems to have continued....

Tired of Bulletin Boards where, just now and again, someone dares to point out inconvenient truths like the fact that CEO James Draper is a liar and the fact that the company needs a bailout placing within months? Would you rather discuss with like minded souls whether you will invest your Bidstack (BIDS) derived millions in a fleet of Porsches orf a fleet of Ferraris? Fear not! Here is the answer, a bear free paradise for you and your fellow morons to tell lies to each other and say how wonderful the latest podcast with Justin the Clown Waite was.  Fear not, bears will not be permitted to join and spoil your paradise. Fabbo.Hat tip BC.