Previously writing on manufacturer of plastic and paperboard packaging Robinson (RBN), in August with the shares at 112.5p I concluded the forecasts looked challenging and continue to avoid. So what of a trading statement today?…

I mentioned en passant in yesterday’s expose of an accounting Red Flag at AIM-listed Tern plc (TERN) that one of the surprises in the FY20 Annual Report of Tern concerned boardroom pay. For FY19 the total cost of the directors came in at £409,300. So what happened to the directors’ costs as Covid struck?

There are no numbers in a latest RNS from MyHealthChecked (MHC) but those close to the company talk of numbers for this year which are off the wall. As such you would currently be insane to sell – when the market twigs these shares will surge well past 10p…

I am almost speechless with rage at Bonkers Boris’ latest lockdown. There is a huge debate to be had, with professors, (academic) doctors, journalists and others all with an alternative view to the one peddled by Bonkers. But they will not be heard, are junked and now TalkRadio has been removed from Youtube in an outrageous act of censorship and denial of free speech. There ARE hard questions which need to be answered. George Orwell wrote 1984 as a warning, not a blueprint. But amid all this, and all the uncertainty caused by yet another lockdown (if at first you don’t succeed, defy logic and try again) something is definitely turning my way..

The gamesmanship is in full play between the UK and its former EU partners. Reading the runes, it looks as though no-deal is the front runner, but you never know what may happen at half a second to midnight so I’ll wait for the fat lady to warble her final aria before giving up hope that common sense might, in the end, prevail. But if the talks fail to see a deal signed sealed and delivered, my sense is that this will prove a great reason for keeping gold-exposure high.

AIM-listed Haydale Graphene (HAYD) has announced the great achievement of its Functionalised Graphene Antibacterial Masks project going into production with partner IRPC Public Company. Put up the bunting, get the champagne ordered……or perhaps not, for surely it has missed the boat.

It has been a while since I have written about ITV (ITV).  Regular readers will know that I switched my CEO crush preferences to Aviva’s (AV.) Amanda Blanc a few months ago here . So what is going on at the broadcaster?

Hello Share Takers. There are a few companies that are already growing because of the Covid outbreak. I’m not talking about all those hopefuls who are chasing tests and making sanitisers. But a few that are already making a solid contribution to fighting the pandemic. One such outfit is EKF Diagnostics (EKF)…

Without being too rude, Malcolm Burne – Chairman of fully-listed Golden Prospect (GPM) – has seen it all before during a long career involved in gold. This morning Golden Prospect announced its interims to June which showed a 63.6% increase in net assets and a 54% increase in net assets per share – not bad for six months.

Rolls Royce (RR.) is one of the most famous British companies, and even though it no longer associated with the car brand, it is still renowned around the world for its engineering prowess. But despite its reputation, it has struggled in recent years and the arrival of Covid-19 in combination with a poor set of results for 2019, not to mention impending debt repayments, caused the share price to plummet back in late February and throughout March. Since then, apart from a brief recovery in early June when the markets bounced back, it has seen a further decline and is now trading at close to an 85% discount compared to where it was a couple of years back…

One hopes that the FCA is actively investigating the clear market abuse engaged in by Dev Clever (DEV) with its May 13 subscription announcement. If you wanted any more evidence that this grotesquely overvalued company was slippier than the slippiest of eels, it was provided today with a trading statement which is nothing of the sort.

“Filta Group Holdings PLC (FLTA), a provider of fryer management and other services to the catering and hospitality sector, is pleased to announce that it has secured an exclusive licencing agreement with NTH Solutions, a support services group wholly owned by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, to utilise its hypochlorous acid based broad-spectrum disinfectant, along with NHS accredited training, as part of the Filta Sanitation Service”… and the shares have currently responded to 107.5p, approaching 19% higher. Hmmm…

Remember, as I warned you in my first ever video show, that bosses at Novacyt (NCYT) will get millions of pounds in a few weeks if they can keep the Novacyt share price where it is. The higher it goes, the more they get. They will get the bonus in hard cash, potentially exhausting most of the company’s bank balance in the process. What happens thereafter is of no consequence for Graham Mullis & co, October 17 is ching ching day. To that end, the company is in ramping overdrive and Mullis can now almost smell the cash heading into his bank account. 

Red Rock Resources (RRR) has updated investors with news on Australia; “movement between States restricted, with isolation imposed in Melbourne and parts of Victoria”, Kenya; “a daily curfew is in place from 9 pm to 4 am”, Congo; “no international flights or internal flights to and from Kinshasa are yet permitted, but international flights are beginning to operate from 15^th August” and “the recorded cases in South Africa are nearly 12 times the level in the next worst affected African country, Nigeria” amidst various COVID-19 stats… but what’s the real company-specific import of its latest announcement?…

Hello, Share Graspers. Truth be told I’ve just had a pretty poor week. One of my biggest investments, the futuristic battery maker Ceres (CRW) has continued an unexplained fall. It began when a big fund sold about 5% of the shares. Though as I opined at the time, that was understandable and no reflection on Ceres. This was a fund that buys interests in bargain companies and comes out as a matter of policy when the shares have a bumper rise.

Our response to Coronavirus divides us ever more. I argue that wrecking the world economy will cause untold misery and was the wrong response to a virus that largely polished off fplks who were already on St Peter’s short list for a fairly imminent interview. For this I am  branded “irresponsible” by one reader today while others accuse me of callously wishing to deny many more years of happy and active life to their 95 year old grandparents or parents. So what if deaths across Europe are falling to sod all, the lockdown jihadists warn of an imminent second wave. But deaths, even in the US, are falling. This pandemic is tailing off which is a problem if you are Avacta (AVCT)

Michael O’Leary and RyanAir (RYA) boasts that it has, or had, one of the strongest balance sheets in the industry. But is its stated cash balance the true balance or is it inflated by shitting on its customers. Let me introduce you to my brother-in-law and his family….

There are some sectors where I am incredibly wary of buying in general at the moment, but amongst those there are companies that have the strength to survive the current situation with Covid-19 and will do very well long term, so there is an argument for buying them as an investment.

I see that Barry “The Tit” Gibb at broker Turner Pope has produced a gushing note on Avacta (AVCT ) today. Maybe that will help a few more Turner Pope clients to flip the stock they got in the recent 120p placing. Or maybe The Tit just wants a distraction from wittering an about Tomco (TOM), shares in which remain suspended although it has, today, been forced to admit that its RNS that accompanied a Turner Pope placing yesterday, contained a massive porky.  Back to Avacta, when your cheerleader in chief is “The Tit” you know it is right to be bearish.

Fast-fashion company Quiz plc (QUIZ) has announced a “Proposed Restructuring of Retail Store Portfolio” – and the shares have currently responded to 7.5p, up more than 11%...

AIM-listed online ladies-wear outfit Sosandar (SOS) has updated the market on its forthcoming FY results and the company’s response to Covid-19. On the surface there is much to celebrate – which perhaps is why the shares are up a very impressive 36% as I write. But there are a few niggles to concern…..well, actually, rather a lot.

The economic low tide of Covid-19 has shown many businesses to be naked below the waist, with insufficient equity to protect their sensitive parts. It is a good moment to consider why so many firms run this risk, and if a change in government policy might be in order. I believe that it is.

Covid-19 has had a big impact on many companies and quite a number of them now look priced to pretty much completely fail and go bust.

Hello, Share Shifters. I find myself on the horns of a horrible dilemma. And once again, it’s due to Uncle Tom Winnifrith. He has written a couple of immaculately researched pieces on this legendary website warning that a company in my portfolio is overvalued. Indeed, he says the valuation of medical pioneer Avacta (AVCT) is 'bonkers'...

A “Sale of first Antimony and Update” announcement from Tri-Star Resources (TSTR)...

I do not deny, nor have I ever denied, that Novacyt (NCYT) is a winner from Coronavirus but the data out today must make you reflect on the past, present and future and conclude that the valuation, £213 million at 372p, is just insane.

KEFI Minerals (KEFI) “has conditionally raised £3.7 million, before expenses, through a placing… at an issue price of 0.65 pence per ordinary share”, with Chairman Harry Adams arguing it “stands KEFI in promising financial shape and highlights the upside offered by its asset base”. But haven’t we heard similar before?...

Zytronic (ZYT), a manufacturer of products for electronic displays, has announced results for its half-year ended 31st March 2020, with hopes including “our growth markets within the APAC countries where the pandemic has had the earliest effects will hopefully return to normality quicker than others”. A still little more than 100p share price though compares to 250p hit early in 2020...

Entertainment marketing company Reach4Entertainment (R4E) has updated on its response to the COVID-19 outbreak…

Markets in general have had an amazing upswing since reaching the bottom of the Coronavirus sell-off. I don’t think it will last, but there is one area where the market seems to have gone utterly bonkers – and that is where a company puts out news of anything to do with Coronavirus, whether it is a test, a potential cure, tracking technology or some other spurious news and my slam-dunk sells have been at it too, with two of the five riding on the back of speculation that they will suddenly make the big time.

Shares in AIM-listed jam-tomorrow IoT investment company Tern plc (TERN) have been on the rampage again. Having sunk to sub-4p in the wake of its last placing, which had been intended to raise £3 million but only notched up £0.8 million propped up by management support, the stock closed last week at 11.25p, having peaked at 15.75p on Thursday. What gives?

The company's oily chairman Lyin' Steve Sanderson has dissembled about how paltry is the cut he has temporarily taken in his £700,000 annual pay package. Shareholders have lost 97% of their cash in less than 3 years and have just been diluted again with a bailout placing this week so what does AIM dog UK Oil & Gas (UKOG) do? Its latest tweet is just hilarious. Firstly what is the last thing the world needs now?

KEFI Minerals (KEFI) has updated including “despite the need to adjust and reschedule many tasks due to COVID-19, the company remains focused on the preparations and finance milestones to enable major site activities to start at Tulu Kapi from October”, with it also noting “an important new development”...

Previously writing on B2B information services provider Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM) I noted, with the shares further down from more than 1300p in January towards 900p, there also clear further deterioration potential in the events schedule for its financial year and in the financial position. Now “Updates on the strategic review and covid-19”...

Previously writing on Nanoco (NANO), with the shares falling below 13p I noted financial concerns which don’t provide much of a negotiating position for takeover discussions. Today half-year results…and “Termination of Formal Sale Process”...

Quartix Holdings (QTX) has updated including that “trading for the first three-month period to 31 March 2020 was strong, and consistent with meeting market expectations for the year” and “the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company's profitability has therefore been very limited, given the recurring nature of… subscriptions”. The shares though remain below the approaching 300p of earlier this month, at around 250p...

Shares in self-styled “premier technology solutions provider to leisure, entertainment and cultural markets” Accesso Technology (ACSO) have recently recovered to around 200p, but are currently more than 10% lower, at 175p, in response to a latest business update...

Apparently, last night the BBC aired a celeb packed fund raiser, its Big Night In. It was another occasion when multimillionaires urged we poor plebs to hand over our hard earned cash to a “good cause”. This time it is Coronavirus or rather the fight against it. My own views on Covid 19 are clear, I regard it as the biggest policy blunder in British History driven by utterly crazy GroupThink. But I digress slightly.

Hello Share Plodders. It’s all beginning to look more optimistic don’t you think? A human trial for a vaccine started at Oxford University. Many more tests being rolled out. The number of sad deaths down. More countries easing themselves out of lockdown. New research shows the virus can't stand summer temperatures. So many good signs, that you may be surprised shares are still languishing.

Gear4music (G4M), “the largest UK based online retailer of musical instruments and music equipment”, has updated on trading – and the shares have responded 11% higher to 277.5p...

‘Performance nutrition company’ Science in Sport (SIS) “is pleased to announce the completion of the placing… raising gross proceeds of approximately £4.5 million… at a price of 37 pence per share” – and the shares have currently responded up to around 40p...

A “Business Update” from Braemar Shipping Services (BMS), including “we are pleased to report that in our first trading month of the new financial year, our financial performance has held up, in line with our March update” – and the are shares currently approaching 15% higher on the back of the update, to back above 100p...

Hello, Share Spanners. A look at the daily trades for a recent recommendation of mine has recently shown quite a bit of profit-taking going on. But I’m hanging onto my shares because I think the upward action is far from over. And indeed Avacta (AVCT) is up by another 25% on its latest news...

Previously writing on bioplastics and radio frequency technology company Biome Technologies (BIOM), I noted substantial bioplastics growth and there enough longer-term potential to see it still on the watchlist, but with the shares at 260p the bottom-line picture saw me continue to avoid. Today a “Trading Update”...

A 25th March “Loans from Directors and Grant of Warrants” announcement from remote tracking technology company Starcom (STAR) included that there had “been some delay in the fulfilment of certain orders by the company as a result of international restrictions” but that it “has remained under pressure from customers to fulfil existing orders and continue supply of its products. Since the majority of the company's products are utilised in the movement of cargo rather than people, activity has remained at a high level”. Today an intra-day (12:11pm) “Trading Update”...

I quite like the 'three brains' moniker bestowed upon me by the editor of this website, as an amusing caricature of reality. Naturally a huge slug of (ongoing) hard work, a bunch of insightful academic and commercial experiences over the last thirty plus years and the old standing on the shoulders (and thoughts) of true giants have materially contributed to anything I offer on these pages. Patently I still bog it up sufficiently to keep me on my toes but insufficiently to drive me into index fund-purchasing early retirement. And, naturally, I enjoy the 'game' element too. It is still nice to be right (sometimes). On a slightly boring regulatory news day, the thoughts of Halma (HLMA) capture my attention...

Another sub-prime lending crisis has been brewing in the US - and in terms of cars in the UK too -  in recent years, and it seems likely that Covid-19 will be the pin that finally pops the bubble.

Hello, Share Tweakers. It’s with some unease that I suggest you take a look at today’s choice. That’s because Tom has said that he doesn't rate it. And only a fool disregards his astute analysis. But I am sometimes a momentum player, and the company I have in mind could turn out to be a short-term winner...

A “COVID-19 Update & Notice of Results” announcement from Proactis (PHD) including that its business - “business spend management solution provider” - “is based primarily on a recurring revenue, long term, SaaS based contract business model which offers robustness and security in periods of short-term uncertainty and a high degree of visibility… the group has continued to trade well”. The shares have currently responded up to above 20p, but are still down from more than 50p early last month, interesting?...

Covid-19 has changed the world. Well perhaps not the virus itself but the governmental response, which I continue to see as the biggest exercise in GroupThink madness the world has seen. But the change has come and a clear victim is Hammerson (HMSO), a heavily indebted owner of retail properties. Its last stated NAV was 601p, the shares trade at 84p. Either this is the cheapest stock going or something is so wrong that it could be horribly expensive...

A “Notice of Full Year Results and Covid-19 Update” from interior furnishings company Walker Greenbank (WGB) – and the shares a further more than 6.5% higher to 47.75p...

“Further to its announcement of 19 March 2020, Escape Hunt (ESC) provides a further update on mitigating actions taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic”. The shares had fallen below 3p before that March announcement, closed that day at 3.5p and are currently 3.75p...

A “Trading Update” from provider of complex assemblies for power products and applications, Volex (VLX) – and the shares currently more than 15% higher at 144p – taking them further towards January highs of approaching 170p and despite a March low of 80p...

I previously wrote on recruitment software group Dillistone (DSG) in February when it updated including that it expects a 2019 adjusted pre-tax loss “of £0.30m (2018: profit £0.02m)… is confident that it will deliver a pre-tax profit prior to exceptional items in both H1 and H2 of 2020”. Now a “COVID-19 and Results Date Update”...

One of the better performing U.K. stocks in my portfolio since the start of the elevated market volatility has unsurprisingly been PZ Cussons (PZC). Naturally, I looked towards a range of its Carex and Imperial Leather products to supplement the health and hygiene resilience of my own household…and more often than not my local supermarket was sold out. The company reflects this unsurprising reality today with an observation in its trading update statement that it experienced 'exceptionally high demand' for such products. However, this was not a complete home run...

Brick model events and shows group Live Company (LVCG) has updated including “first quarter revenues on target… is pleased to confirm that no events have been cancelled” and financial manoeuvrings including “to show his support for the company during these unprecedented times, David Ciclitira, the company's Chairman, has provide a secured term loan of £500,000 (less fees and expenses)… on standard commercial terms”. The shares have currently responded though to below 14p – more than 15% lower…

Manufacturer of computing, power and communications products and value added distributor of electronic components, Solid State (SOLI) previously featured on this website in February with it concluded finnCap looking for full-year adjusted earnings per share of 41.5p, rising to 43.6p next year… suggest a now forward circa 15x earnings multiple for such growth. There remains potential to outperform forecasts, but also, as always, risks – and these with the shares up from sub 400p as recently as August. As such, the above together now see us opt to play it safe here and bank a 30%+, less than four months gain. Sell. Now a “Trading Update & COVID-19 Update”…

A “COVID-19 and Banking Facilities update” from Revolution Bars (RBG), including “the board is pleased to announce that, subject to final documentation, Natwest has agreed to increase the facility to £30.0m” – and the shares currently at 19.5p, more than 26% higher…

An update from “recruitment consultancy working across the UK and Asia” Nakama Group (NAK) includes that COVID-19 “will adversely impact” trading – though the shares were already down from 0.85p early this year to 0.55p, so why currently a further fall to 0.35p?...

Hello, Share Trundlers. A few days ago, I suggested a small medical pioneer might see a share rise because of its association with a substitute for human antibodies. This proved to be a correct assumption as the share has doubled since then.

“Van Elle Holdings plc (AIM: VANL), a leading UK geotechnical engineering company offering a wide range of ground engineering techniques and services to customers in a variety of UK construction end markets, announces that further to its COVID-19 update announced on 26 March 2020, the company is undertaking a placing to raise gross proceeds of approximately £6.67 million”. The shares are currently circa 6% lower in response…

A 17th March “COVID-19 update” from cinema group Everyman Media (EMAN) stated “the group has significant headroom in its loan facility and is in dialogue with its lenders on covenants to maintain liquidity through this period of uncertainty”. Now “the company has conditionally placed 17,500,000 ordinary shares at the placing price of 100 pence per ordinary share… together with our existing funding arrangements, this placing significantly strengthens our balance sheet providing further working capital and allows us to pick up where we left off”. Hmmm...

Online travel agent group On the Beach (OTB) has made a “COVID-19 and Banking Facilities Update”, including noting “this environment of limited demand and therefore limited revenue” – the shares though, at around 250p, are currently 25%+ higher in response…

Self-styled “one of the world's leading language, intellectual property support services and localization providers”, RWS Holdings (RWS) has updated including “all RWS divisions remain fully operational” and “in recent days, the group has noted increased demand for services within both our Life Science and Moravia divisions, as our teams help with the clinical trials for new COVID-19 vaccines, translate training material for COVID-19 related antibody testing devices and provide additional services to the group's technology customers, who are recording higher usage of their online communication and social networking platforms. However,”…

Readers will know that I am a gold bull and think it is a dead cert to go up in the current crisis as governments spend money they haven’t got and central banks roll out the printing presses. Also noticeable is the lack of physical gold supply in the US which has already forced COMEX to change the contract details to allow delivery in London as opposed to New York – a bit of a problem, given that there are no flights to put it on! But why are Gold Futures in June trading $50 above the spot price?

A “Coronavirus (COVID-19): Update” from “leading direct marketer of promotional products in North America, the UK and Ireland”, 4imprint (FOUR) – and the shares currently approaching 4% higher towards 1900p… so some positive news?...

AIM-listed Haydale (HAYD) has announced an initial four-year distributer agreement with Dalian Yibang Technology Co Ltd (DLYB) offering exclusive distributer rights to market Haydale’s electrically conductive graphene-enhanced masterbatch in China and Taiwan. All well and good – and it does indeed appear to be good news – but for all the jam tomorrow, what about cash today?

Photonic components & systems manufacturer Gooch & Housego (GHH) has updated including “areas of life sciences driving extra demand” and “in general we are now seeing improved demand from Japan, S.Korea and to an extent from China… as at 31 March 2020 our order book was at £91.7 million (31 March 2019: £93.2 million)”. The shares though remain down from more than 1400p earlier this year to below 1000p…

Hello, Share Breakers. As I’ve suggested before, pharmaceutical companies, both gigantic and small, could benefit from the heightened interest in all health matters. And I would guess that the one that comes up with a vaccine for COVID-19 might do even better. So which companies are looking for a vaccine?...

A 11:58am “COVID-19 and Business Update” from self-styled “supplier of multi-media content and digital solutions for leading brands and global businesses” Immedia (IME) – and, as tends to be the result of intra-day updates, the shares materially lower; currently heading towards 10p, down more than 25%...

Since Cynical Bear’s coverage of the Tinkler vs Rest the Board fiasco back in 2018 (when Tinkler and Neil Woodford lost), shares in Stobart Group (STOB) initially trod water and then went into a bit of a tailspin, closing 2019 at a shade over £1 a pop. But then Covid-19 struck: bearing in mind one of its two prime assets is an airport, it has been bad news ever since and the shares are currently just 50p. So what of today’s announcement?

A “COVID-19 Update” from “UK developer of beauty, personal care and life sciences products” InnovaDerma (IDP) – and the shares currently more than 20% higher, towards 46p. What’s the good news?...

Previously writing on audio-visual systems for organisations-focused MediaZest (MDZ), in December I questioned its actions “based on market conditions” as it stated or based on dire balance sheet conditions?. Now a “Trading and Covid-19 update” – and the shares down again…

A 5:05pm “Proposed Cancellation of Dividend / COVID-19 Update” from value footwear retailer Shoe Zone (SHOE) – this with the shares down from approaching 190p in February but up from recent lows towards 60p, at 75p…

A “COVID-19 update” from marketing company M&C Saatchi (SAA) includes “all group companies continue to operate and serve our clients, with the majority of offices currently operating a remote working policy… we continue to pitch for new business and there are still some areas where demand for our services remains steady, e.g. our talent and influencer businesses” and that it “remains confident about the liquidity status of the group for the foreseeable future”. The shares are currently still above 31p, however…

Provider of ‘fresh prepared’ meals, salads, desserts and pizza & bread to customers including leading retailers, Bakkavor Group (BAKK) has updated including emphasising its “attractive” sector and that “we are responding to the impact of COVID-19 from a position of strength”. However, already down from circa 140p in February, the shares are currently further below 100p on the update…

I have had my issues with recruitment sector stocks on this website over the last couple of years, calling investors in PageGroup (PAGE) 'bonkers' or 'overly hopeful' on the basis that 'the problem is that recruitment names are always very geared to the economic cycle' and the assets walk out of the door each evening. Now in a world where we have all learned to use the word 'furloughed' (I guess there are worse American inventions) unless you are providing a bunch of workers for key industries such as food retail and healthcare, it was no huge surprise to see Page's sector peer Hays (HAS) observing that 'the rapidly escalating impact of Covid-19 has driven a very material deceleration in client and candidate activity'…

A bit of a storm has been blowing up at AIM-listed cash-hungry biotech dog ValiRx (VAL). A General Meeting had been proposed for shareholders to agree to the issue of yet more confetti in order to keep the Grim Reaper from the door but the government decreed Covid-19 lockdown intervened and the meeting could not happen. Yesterday the GM was reconvened with shareholders unable to attend or vote – and two of the three resolutions were passed. But what of legality?...

Previously writing on services provision to remote locations (primarily in Africa)-focused RA International (RAI), in June as the shares were heading back above 50p I questioned has the year-to-date really then been “encouraging”?... I also suggest a greater reliance on delivery of contracts in half of a year - particularly for “remote locations in Africa and the Middle East” - creates the platform for a potential profit warning. The company has since noted “profitability broadly in line with expectations” and now a “COVID-19 update” – and the shares now 32.5p…

Aircraft charter and aviation safety & security consulting and training company Air Partner (AIR) has updated including “the unaudited management accounts for February and the flash report for March show that each month generated profits well ahead of both budget and the prior year. The current indication is that the group has delivered around £2.4m of underlying profit before tax in the first two months of the year” – and the shares have currently responded above 50p, up from sub 20p as recently as early last week…

Vimto, Feel Good, Starslush, ICEE, Levi Roots and Sunkist soft drinks company Nichols (NICL) has updated including “trading in the first two months of the financial year was in line with management's expectations… given the level of global uncertainty, the board is not currently able to provide financial guidance for the year ended 31 December 2020… The group entered this financial year with a strong balance sheet, with more than £40m of cash and no debt”. The shares are currently more than 4% up on the day, approaching 1250p…

Previously writing on technology products principally for the gaming and broadcast industries company Quixant (QXT), with the shares towards 160p I concluded hopefully my prior warning was heeded – and, with that, I question whether the “softness in demand” is really worse than should have been reasonably anticipated? As such, I also remain wary of the company’s confidence for the future – and particularly so with the market cap still more than £100 million (currently circa $130 million). I continue to avoid. Now a “2019 Trading and COVID-19 update” – and the shares currently around 60p, a further more than 20% lower on the latest news…

Updating at the weekend on technology provider to media and entertainment network operators Amino Technologies (AMO), with the shares at 118.5p I concluded I maintained a cautious view having particularly noted from results a month ago, “working closely with its customers and supply chain partners to meet… demand while accommodating higher ex-factory leadtimes” and after a previous (October 2018) profit warning was “reflecting an intensification of external macroeconomic headwinds”. Now a “Covid-19 Update, Dividend and AGM” announcement from the company…

Shares in self-styled “FX risk management and payments specialist servicing corporates and institutions internationally”, Alpha FX Group (AFX) were already down from 1350p reached in January to 940p – and this also following a results statement just the week before last. Now though a “COVID-19 Trading Update” – and the shares currently 560p!...

An “Operational Update in relation to Covid-19” from Goldplat (GDP) includes that “its operations will be temporarily curtailed due to restrictions imposed by various Governments to combat the global Covid-19 outbreak”…

If you ask me to name five 'quality' longer-term FTSE-100 constituents, then I would probably include Johnson Matthey (JMAT) on that list. Naturally though, its corporate longevity and range of typically high barrier to entry businesses (recycling and refining of precious metals, clean air and car emissions regulation focused, plus batteries and value-adding fine chemicals) has not stopped it avoiding the recent plunge. Today's update (thanks to the FCA for allowing this – you know my thoughts on the postponement / suppression of reporting) includes a profit warning, but that is par for the course, although with a bunch of cost suppression comments…

Picking shares that are worth buying at the moment is a real minefield as the situation with Covid-19 is changing all the time. It would be very easy just to sit here and say ‘sell everything’ and you could probably stick a pin in a list of stocks at the moment to pick a sell recommendation, and the chances are that it would go down, at least in the near time!

A “Contract manufacturing agreement for COVID-19 test” announcement from Yourgene Health (YGEN) – and the shares currently more than 30% higher on the back of it, to 15.75p…

Previously writing on “occasion wear and dressy casual wear”-specialising Quiz plc (QUIZ), in January with the shares slipping below 17p I concluded including the “medium-term” in this context tends to mean the near-term ain’t looking good… I again retain prior bearishness here. The update then has now been followed by a “Trading Update and COVID-19 Impact”…

AIM-listed jam-tomorrow IoT investment company Tern (TERN) has offered the market a Covid-19 update. Emphasising its recent £0.8 million fundraise several times (but not mentioning it was trying to get £3 million and failed magnificently) Tern wants us to think the portfolio is well prepared…..let’s see what the ShareProphets RNS Translation Service thinks!

Another day, another bunch of COVID-19 updates. Naturally, we should expect nothing else. As discussed now multiple times on these pages, the key to maximise a company's chances of being a corporate survivor remains a combination of a prudent and smart management team with solid financing…

Previously writing on McBride (MCB), in January with the shares at 67p I concluded the noted performance and current trading and strategic uncertainty sees me retain the stance of bargepole / sell. The shares closed yesterday at 59p – and now from this company which describes itself as “the leading European manufacturer and supplier of Contract Manufactured and Private Label products for the domestic Household and professional cleaning and hygiene markets”, a “COVID-19 Update”…

With the current state of the markets there isn’t a lot that I would exactly be rushing to buy at the moment, as I think that even the good companies that have strong enough balance sheets to survive relatively unscathed, could well go a fair bit lower yet.

Shares in Walker Greenbank (WGB) are down from 77.5p on my previous update last month and now from this interior furnishings company a “Covid-19 Update” which sees the shares currently towards 30p, a further approaching 10% lower on the back of the announcement…

I am not sure anyone on this website has written about SSP Group (SSPG) before. This may be something about the rather anonymous name of the company. You would know it better as the operator of Upper Crust, Cabin Bar and Ritazza (among other names) food and beverage concessions 'in travel locations, operating restaurants, bars, cafés, food courts, lounges and convenience stores in airports, train stations, motorway service stations and other leisure locations'. Well you can spot the problem in today's backdrop, especially if you have a business that operates 'at approximately 180 airports and 300 rail stations' around the world. Today's update from the company comes in two parts…

A “US Facilities Update” from optical components and systems manufacturer Gooch & Housego (GHH) includes that it anticipates that a likely COVID-19 related legal order’s impact would be “limited” on its operations in Keene, New Hampshire “given a significant proportion of the products and services provided by the facility are expected to be exempt from the scope of the order”. Shares in the company are currently at 754p – down from above 1400p in early February…

Most recently writing on half-year results from Aeorema Communications (AEO), I concluded this remains a possible pick for recovery on the watchlist. Now an announcement; “Earnings Enhancing Acquisition”…

A “COVID-19 Update” from property, energy, transport, water, defence and government services & resources professional services group RPS (RPS) – and the shares, already down from having reached 180p last month, currently a further approaching 14% down on the day towards 40p…

Previously writing on Aeorema Communications (AEO) – Cannes Lions festival postponement sees loss now anticipated…, I concluded the shares have currently responded further lower towards 16p, capitalising the company at circa £1.5 million. There will be further detail with half-year results due by the end of this month, but still currently a possible pick for recovery and on the watchlist. Now those results have been announced…

To be fair to fully listed ITV (ITV) it has to be commended for this morning’s update at regards Covid-19 in much the same way as one should applaud the statement last week from Next (NXT) as Chris Bailey did. It should also be commended for chopping the FY dividend to conserve cash in this uncertain time – that is the responsible thing to do. But the shares have been marked down, suggesting there are problems – although as Chris Bailey points out, they are surely far less severe than at CEO Carolyn McCall’s old stamping ground over at Easyjet (EZJ)!

Transport technology and services company Tracsis (TRCS) has updated including “we expect the Rail Technology & Services division to have resilience as it derives most of its income from highly recurring product sales and we will continue to remain focused on the delivery of a number of large multi-year client contracts, with staff being able to work on development whilst at home. We do however”…

Previously writing on ‘retail, promotional and brand experience’ company SpaceandPeople (SAL), last month I reviewed some trading & dividend growth… so why further share price decline? – that to 11.25p. The shares are currently sliding below 5p, following “Notice of Results Update & Dividend Cancellation” and “Appointment of Executive Director” announcements…

I talked about the ongoing 'company playbook on Covid-19' earlier in the week and the steady stream of updates about uncertainty and credit lines continue apace in today's regulatory news disclosures. It is all about resilience and persistence and - to put it horribly bluntly - survival for corporate names. Those who exhibit such traits will have higher market shares in a couple of years time (on the assumption of a return to normality naturally)…

Previously writing on audio, heating/cooling, housewares, laundry, luggage and small domestic appliances “value-focused consumer goods” company UP Global Sourcing (UPGS), last month with the shares at around 60p I concluded I do see longer-term recovery potential from here, but the current financials and manufacturing situation see this only, for now, on the watchlist. Today a “COVID-19 update”…

Earlier this month I updated on Aeorema Communications (AEO), concluding, with the shares lower to 23p, that this “live events agency” was another to watch as a possible recovery stock but I currently avoid. Today a further “Trading Update”…

A “Statement re Current trading and COVID-19 update” from fashion retailer Superdry (SDRY) sees the shares currently more than 30% further lower on the back of it, below 70p…

Previously writing on Revolution and Revolución de Cuba bars operator Revolution Bars Group (RBG), in October I concluded including will the still clear challenges allow the expected reduction in debt levels though?... currently continue to avoid. Today from the company a “COVID-19 Update” – and the shares currently a further more than 20% lower on the back of it, below 20p…

Self-styled “premier technology solutions provider to leisure, entertainment and cultural markets”, Accesso (ACSO) has announced results and that it has appointed Numis as nominated adviser and broker. The shares are currently more than 30% lower towards 100p in response…

Don’t laugh: having wondered if it was a spivvy buy following the placing last month to raise £5 million I did indeed nip in for a few shares. Thankfully it was not many, and this morning the company has offered up an update on the effects of the Corona Virus. As Tom Winnifrith said the other day, the question for many AIM Casino outfits is not whether they are cheap or not, but whether they will survive the pandemic at all – and the jury is out on that here because of missing data in this morning’s statement. Time to throw away the Adam Reynolds keyboard and answer my question!

I previously wrote on The City Pub Group (CPC) in January with the shares at 197.5p, noting from the company “the Rugby World Cup did not have the impact that we expected. Political uncertainty culminating in the December Election… unhelpful weather during November and December… disruptions on South West trains… Following some delay… we also completed the refurbishments of the two former Jam Tree sites” and concluding I’d wait to see trading further playing out before being comfortable – the market cap still not far off £120 million. Tom also warned in Bearcast just yesterday – and today a “COVID-19 update”, and the shares down to 55.5p…

A 12pm “COVID-19 update” from cinema group Everyman Media (EMAN) includes “trading over recent days has been impacted by COVID-19 and the delay of major movie releases” and now, “following guidance provided by the UK government yesterday, the board of Everyman has taken the decision to close its venues to guests until further notice”…

I previously wrote on “the UK's largest integrated property services group, including the largest estate agency and lettings network”, Countrywide (CWD) in 2018, noting the shares down towards 17p and concluding so it’ll still be net debt and adjusted EBITDA is of course adjusted bullshit earnings – even maintaining an ‘adjusted’ basis there was a £2.5 million operating loss and £5.8 million post-tax loss in the first half. With also the new funding not coming cheap - it net, “approximately £129 million” - this certainly currently remains on the bargepole list. I now update with the shares down towards 75p BUT…

Self-styled “a world-leading esports provider”, Gfinity (GFIN) has updated concluding “having taken steps to significantly reduce the cost base and realign the operating model, the board is confident that Gfinity remains well positioned for growth when the trading environment rebounds”. The shares have currently responded to below 0.5p, more than 40% lower…

Time Out Group (TMO) has updated including that “it is only in very recent days that we have observed any change in footfall to the Time Out Markets and delays to advertising campaigns”. Though now also…

Another week starts, another day of losses in the market. You may recall my musing of a week or so ago concerning where we were in the different stages of market psychology. Clearly the early throes of panic/capitulation apparent then have upped their ante very considerably. We can all try to be experts on virus profiles and related but the reality of the situation is obviously short-term earnings uncertainty. You can see this in today's large cap regulatory news updates…

Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM) has updated concluding “we have made no changes at this stage to events originally scheduled from July up to and including September. Euromoney's financial position remains strong with net cash at the end of February 2020 of £12.2m and unused committed facilities of £240m”. However, already down from more than 1300p in January, the shares are currently further down towards 900p…

Leisure travel and distribution & logistics group, Dart (DTG) has updated including that it “expects group profit before foreign exchange revaluation & taxation (excluding any impact of hedge ineffectiveness) for the financial year ending 31 March 2020 to be significantly ahead of current market expectations”. The shares have currently responded higher towards 1050p, but remain down from approaching 1950p last month…

Having updated early last month, today branded hostels company Safestay (SSTY) makes another “Trading Statement”. The early February one included “performance in the first month of 2020 and forward bookings for Q1 are very encouraging, a positive signal for the coming year, which will also benefit from the acquisitions made last year”. Now…

Shares in Braemar Shipping Services (BMS) had fallen from more than 220p in January to last close below 140p. Today a “Pre-Close Trading Update” including “trading results for the second half of the year are anticipated to be approximately in line with market expectations*”… and the shares currently further lower towards 130p…

A “COVID-19 Update”, intra-day (2:15pm) from “the UK's leading online retailer for beach holidays”, On the Beach Group (OTB). Uh oh…

If I can quite easily live with the volatility of Rolls-Royce (RR.) year-to-date and see an overt opportunity to buy more as detailed HERE, I cannot say the same for my other tip of the year Playtech (PTEC). Back in late December I noted that the business was 'misunderstood', that the gambling technology business 'continued to trade strongly and grabbed the top spot in the online betting and gaming market for the first time' and that its loss-making finance business had restructuring options. Meanwhile activist investors were lurking. Well...