When I last wrote on one of my tips of the year Sage (SGE) I observed that i retained clear hopes 'of a 7 or an 8 in front of the share price in 2019. Buy'. Well blow me down...the shares finished last week in the 740s, following the publication of its latest trading update. 

So much for Woodford’s problems being the nasty press! Only this week, Neil Woodford was complaining bitterly about all these nasty hacks out to destroy his reputation at the Woodford Patient Capital Trust (WPCT) AGM which our very own Tom Winnifrith attended. But MorningStar is a different kettle of fish and its analyst has put up a new report on Woodford’s Equity Income Fund (EIF) which is, quite simply, devastating. In the light of the new report, I would suggest that even the most sycophantic IFA cannot recommend to its clients that they leave cash in this fund. Prepare for an even greater tsunami of redemptions.

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.   

This week saw a bit of a landmark as Neil Woodford’s Equity Income Fund (EIF) crashed below £4 billion in value. It was £4.7 billion at the of February, and £4.4 billion at the end of March – but it peaked at over £10 billion. It is an astonishing collapse of confidence in Woodford. But the end-April numbers revealed a few surprises.

I am speechless. Someone has anonymously donated £11,361.24 to the Rogue Bloggers for Woodlarks appeal. And I don't think it is Neil Woodford so there will surely be more to come. Maybe it was Neil (TW Note: I know who it was but am sworn to protect their identity, which is all the more credit to them. It was not Woodford). The anonymous benefactor left a clue so can you guess who it was HERE.

I was going to give the Visual Capitalist charts a rest for a few weeks, even though they are popular, because we don't make them ourselves. But I noticed this morning that they are produced in my hometown of Vancouver. So I looked at their site to see if I knew any one who worked there. I don't - but I saw that they literally occupy the old office space of my last business there. If that's not a reason to run another one, I don't know what is.

Africa timber production and trading company Woodbois (WBI) - the former Obtala - has announced results for the 2018 calendar year and emphasised “$10m in additional trade finance funding being committed during the first quarter of 2019… signifies a landmark breakthrough”…

Union Jack Oil (UJO) has announced results for the 2018 calendar year and that “the company eagerly awaits the results of the current drilling of West Newton A-2 appraisal well, the result of the Planning Appeal at Wressle and the re-processing of 3D seismic in respect of Biscathorpe. These ventures are expected to provide a steady stream of newsflow throughout 2019 and success at any one of these projects has the potential to dramatically transform your company”…

Today's Bearcast is late and I did no training walk as I feel a touch under the weather. On Thursday I quizzed Neil Woodford about Proton Partners International (PPI) and he bull-shitted for England. On Friday he chucked another £10 million of other folks cash down the Proton pan which opens up a whole new can of worms in terms of valuations which I discuss in detail. Neil has yet to donate for Rogue Bloggers for Woodlarks despite my polite AGM request and 70% of bearcast listeners have not chipped in either. Please rectify that HERE

Concepta (CPT) has announced its calendar 2018 results which are truly ghastly. But that is all rear view mirror stuff and so at 3.7p the shares are, we suggest, a gamble but a BUY.

Wey Education (WEY) suddenly seems to have become very popular and the share price has pretty much doubled in recent weeks, but I’m struggling to see what the attraction is with this company and why people would invest at this level.

From the FCA's spreadsheet of short positions required to be disclosed to it, the following shows the shorted AIM shares with positions from 2018 and thus far in 2019 (by net short position %, those in bold not on the list at the start of 2019) – and if this position has increased (red), reduced (green) or remained unchanged (black) since last week...

Avesoro Resources (ASO) is a good example of what can happen to a share where there is a forced seller and generally low liquidity in the trading of the shares.

Hello, Share Puddlers.  It’s very possible that the next leader of the Tory party will be a tougher negotiator than Mrs May. This would be more likely to end in a no-deal Brexit. So how will this affect the companies we share shifters invest in? Here are some precautions you might take.

Columbus Energy Resources (CERP) “is pleased to announce that it has been granted a Private Petroleum Licence for the Bonasse Licence Area in the South West Peninsula of Trinidad”, with Executive Chairman Leo Koot adding “without it, we would not have been able to drill the upcoming well… I am confident that even a modest discovery in the SWP has the potential to transform the company”...

Previously writing on gaming industry online marketing company Veltyco (VLTY), last month I questioned directors provide bailout loans… but what about after more than a few more months?. Now a “Trading Update”…

I start with a comment on the amazing generosity of one person donating more than £11,000 to Rogue Bloggers for Woodlarks yesterday. It was not Neil Woodford though I did ask. Anyhow: to the 75% of you yet to donate think of me this weekend on a) my last training walk ahead of 33 miles next weekend and b) entertaining a visiting mother in law. As you think of my weekend, please donate HERE. In the podcast I discuss Woodford's latest bad news, Maistro (MAIS), Blur as was, UK Oil & Gas (UKOG) and Staffline (STAF). I also offer advice to Andrew Monk on which 1 AIM stock he should buy today for his mother's IHT Portfolio.

Let it never be said that Neil Woodford is a forced seller of anything, for yesterday we learnt that once again he has topped up with yet more shares in Kier Group (KIE) and a few more Redde (REDD). Except that as at yesterday’s close, his Equity Income Fund had dropped through the £4 billion mark, according to Morning Star. Only at the end of March the fund was worth £4.4 billion. I wonder what he has been selling…..completely voluntarily, natch.

Previously writing on recruitment and training group Staffline (STAF), in March I concluded announced contract wins likely useful further business – though not sufficient to alter a view that some clean delivery with strong net cash generation is now required here (and that before even considering any Brexit-related future uncertainties). Today a “Trading Update” commencing, “The ongoing Brexit uncertainty is impacting the UK labour market”. Uh oh…

Retained losses are £27 million and counting, the shares have collapsed from 82p at IPO to just 0.4p, Blur (BLUR), now rebranded as Maistro (MAIS), has been a disaster for investors but at least its founder Phil Letts and his ghastly wife who was also on a fat salary have been able to buy and upgrade a Country mansion, as we noted HERE.  Today as it issued another lack of profits warning and warned of another cash crisis, Maistro says it is going to delist from the AIM Cesspit.