The latest deal from Optibiotix (OPTI) is a three year distribution agreement with a company called SilvEXPO Ltd to distribute and commercialise OptiBiotix's own label CholBiome products containing its cholesterol and blood pressure reducing LPLDL strain in Russia and Kazakhstan...

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 %) - and if this position has increased (red), reduced (green) or remained unchanged (black) since last week...

Columbus Energy Resources (CERP) “is pleased to provide an update on business, operational and financial activities during Q4 2018”. However, this includes “gross revenues of US$3.23 million achieved (Q3 2018: US$3.85 million) - reduction due to lower average production and lower oil price achieved over the quarter”. Hmmm…

Hello, Share Scroungers. There’s increasing evidence that the moggy we picked up at the local cat rescue service is of the rare and valuable Norwegian Forest breed. Should I sell him to burnish the fallen value of my shares? Of course not. And to worry about share prices is probably a useless concern, anyway. Because I continue in my view that share values will soon bounce back.

Having questioned on November half-year results from online electrical retailer AO World (AO.), can the high growth company rating really be justified?, today a “Trading Update”…

Over almost fifty years Nigel Wray's record of making money from value investing is almost unmatched on this side of the Pond. That is why he is referrred to as Britain's Buffett. So what makes him back a stock? How can you invest like Britain's Buffett

In this podcast I thinkI agree with Dan's tip. I then look at Independent Oil & Gas in light of Jim Armitage's article in the Evening Standard which takes this scandal forward some more. I cover ramp dog Chesterfield (CHF), Marks & Spencer (MKS), Gear4Music (G4M), Halfords (HFD), Starcom (STAR), UK Oil & Gas (UKOG), Angus Energy (ANGS) and the zero scenario, and Carclo (CAR). Tomorrow I may have better things to do than a bearcast as is the case every January 12. Or maybe not!

A “Christmas Trading Update” from fashion retailer Quiz plc (QUIZ) states revenue “increased by 8.4% in the six-week period from 25 November 2018 to 5 January 2019 against the comparable period last year”, with “the group's UK standalone stores and concessions revenue increased by 1.6%”. The shares have responded, er… approaching 30% lower, towards 25p!...

Oh dear, Oh dear. Is that the smell of burned Bulletin Board Moron fingers I detect? Flybe (FLYB) shares were 16p last night. This morning it has announced an agreed takeover from Virgin and Stobart (STOB) at just 1p per share. And that is generous. Lucian Miers and I did warn you.

Yourgene Health (YGEN) - the company formerly known as Premaitha - has announced the launch of the Sage™ 32 plex test, a new high throughput non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and analysis solution for clinical laboratories...

Previously writing on Carclo (CAR), I noted last summer as the shares headed down towards 90p that I’d want to see at least some consistent financial delivery before having confidence here. Today a “Trading Statement” – and shares in this fine-tolerance, injection-moulded plastic parts manufacturer currently down more than 30% on the back of it, at 55p!...

San Leon Energy (SLE) “is pleased to provide an update with regards to the OML 18 reserves-based lending facility held by Eroton Exploration and Production Company Limited, the operator of OML 18”…

It has now been exactly a year and two days since VSA completed its “due diligence” on AIQ (AIQ) and brought this cash shell to the Standard List. And what a year of shame it has been.

Previously writing, in November, as shares in InnovaDerma (IDP) fell towards 100p, I concluded that there looked good reason for scepticism – with the company still needing to show delivery to suggest current year revenue and also, of course, bottom-line forecasts are achievable. Now a “Trading Statement” – and the shares down approaching 16%, below 80p, in response…

Hello, Share Followers. Halfords (HFD) is a famous high street name. But a respected brand can still lose favour among customers. It’s a bit odd here though as Halfords can steal a march on its more online rivals - as it sells a lot of stuff that needs to be seen in the flesh and is not so easily bought over the net. Bicycles for example...

In today's podcast I look at Brighton Pier (PIER) in some detail and am almost tempted to make a small speculative punt on my pal Luke Johnson. I look at Debenhams (DEB) and Marks & Spencer (MKS) and at Imaginatik (IMTK). Finally I have a few questions ( again) about Wey Education (WEY). Oh. There is also a sexist joke in there and if you are offended I really don't give a damn.

Software business Imaginatik (IMTK) announced this morning that it had disposed of all of its assets and has sold its business, and pre-market open I saw a lot of people saying what great news it was.

A “Trading Update” from Brighton Pier Group (PIER) – and the shares currently down around 30%, at circa 45p. Uh oh – after the recent Patisserie Holdings (CAKE) debacle (and with its continuing share suspension), doesn’t look like things are getting any easier for ‘Lucky Luke’ Johnson…

Where to start? This is laughable unless you are one of those suckered in to buying shares in Angus Energy (ANGS) by the diarrhoea of pre-placing ramp tweets from shameless Big Dave Lenigas. Then it is a bit of a tragedy. Today’s newsflow is hilarious.

Another day, another bout of UK retail Christmas trading updates…