A little bit over three years ago, I observed that Ashtead Group (AHT) is “still a geared play on US economy Inc”. And because I am only smart enough to follow some of my own insights, I failed to capture the rise from the sub twenty quid share price then to about a 5400p level today. Naturally though, the share price has been somewhat more volatile over the last eighteen months as the Federal Reserve raised interest rates and the average American economic thinker has had to worry about the impact of this.

Previously writing on transport data technology group Cordel (CRDL), in August with the shares up to 6.5p I noted I retained concerns. The shares most recently closed again at 6.5p, but what of them currently up to 8p on the back of a “New USA Major Contract Announcement”?

Infection prevention products manufacturer Tristel (TSTL) has announced results for its half-year ended 31st December 2022 emphasising “achieving 16% revenue growth and a 16-fold increase in EBITDA”. So what of the shares currently up to 330p, but still down from when I previously concluded bearishly a year ago?

Previously writing on behavioural science-based business improvement company Mind Gym (MIND), in October with the shares up to 97.5p I noted it emphasised “Significant H1 momentum driving growth”, but questioned how effectively?. Now it has announced results for its half-year ended 30th September 2022.

Iofina (IOF) has announced third quarter production from its five IOsorb production facilities in Oklahoma, USA, of 143 metric tonnes of crystalline iodine and that it has now completed all agreements with a new brine supply partner to construct a latest plant in Western Oklahoma.

Hello Share People. It’s hard to see National Grid (NG.) not powering ahead in the future. For one thing it has a monopoly in this country, at least. And the world seems to be moving towards ever more consumption of electric power as more inventions hit the marketplace. Like electric cars, buses and trains, for instance.

Hello Share People. You might imagine an outfit that supplies the building trade might have had a hard time of it. What with lockdowns, rising material costs and supply problems. But Ashtead Group (AHT) has bucked the trend.

Hello Share Followers. There’s no doubting that finding companies with a reasonable chance of growing their share price is getting more ticklish by the day. But one outfit that might bring home the sheaves is Shopify (0VHA). It provides small businesses with all they need to run an online service.

Hello Share Scratchers. The Footsie’s not upwardly mobile these days. Let’s see why. Well, there’s a strong presence of that great enemy of share price progress: uncertainty. And most of that wobble is caused by the super powers. Russia’s behaviour is unacceptable and world will never forgive her. Yet Putin continues to want back the whole of the Soviet Block.

Hello Share Wranglers. Like most infrastructure jumbos, Balfour Beatty (BBY) is making a strong recovery after the setbacks of Covid. So confident is the company that in the first quarter of 2022, it has re-bought nearly £20 million's worth of its own shares. And that's not all. It expects to have repurchased £150 million's of its stock by the year's end. The outfit happily boasts that it will continue to make higher profits for the rest of 2022.

Hello Share Changers. National Grid (NG.) doesn't get much coverage by financial journalists. That’s because it’s an old reliable that continues to do what it’s always done. But if you want a bit of stability in your portfolio, while you launch more speculative punts elsewhere, then it could be a sensible share to hold. And these days, the capacity for the grid to grow its share price looks strong.

Hello Share Snafflers. There are companies that work hand in hand with other businesses to make them more efficient. There’s a perception that successful enterprises don’t need such outside help. But that’s not what the big techies believe. And nearly all of the industry giants use the expert services of Spirent Communications (SPT). It monitors and tests the equipment and running of big communication companies to make sure they operate at maximum efficiency. Because if your system doesn’t work properly, you’re in dead trouble with your customers.

Staffing group Impellam (IPEL) has announced it has agreed to sell its US-based light industrial business Corestaff for $19 million (approx. £14 million) to US private digital staffing company Swipejobs and is to subsequently pay down net debt and fund additional investment.

Previously writing on celebrations, craft, gifting, stationery and creative play products group IG Design (IGR), in November with the shares at 245p I noted it not seeing an improvement in supply shortages and inflationary pressures and that I remained cautious. Today a “trading update” and the shares, having last closed at 255p, down to 115p. So what’s the situation?…

I am trying to remember when I last went to a Hotel Chocolat (HOTC) store. I certainly bought a few Christmas presents in late 2019…and a couple of bargains in early 2020. Anyhow, whilst historically liking the products, I did pass on its 355p money raising in July last year…and that was a mistake given the share price has been at/above 500p for the last four months. So how do I feel after today’s trading update for the ‘13-week period (“Q2”) and the 26-week period (“H1”) ended 26 December 2021’?

Previously writing on payment software for business communications company PCI-PAL (PCIP), in September with the shares at 76p I noted announcement of patent lawsuits filed against it, to “defend itself robustly” but that the valuation looked to demand, at least, smooth delivery and that I continued to avoid. So what following patent case and trading updates, and the shares currently further lower below 70p?…

Hello, Share Pickers. With cold night drawing in, you can expect plumbers to be busier. Mending worn-out boilers, ancient radiators and leaky pipes brings me to today’s choice for your further investigation.

Previously writing on Mirriad Advertising (MIRI), in July despite the shares slumping to 34p I concluded the valuation looked to remain plain daft; strong bargepole / sell. The company has today announced results for the first half of 2021 headlined “New deals, significant inventory and record US commercial activity drive adoption”. Having last closed at 32.5p, the shares are now below 30p – so what’s the story?…

Hello, Share Jumpers. This old punter is rather surprised at the way Ashtead (AHT) maintains and often improves on its lofty share price. The City seems to love this company which has grown big on hiring out tools and plant to build with. It obviously has very good management that keeps on bringing in the sheaves. Sadly, I disposed of my shares a few years ago.

OptiBiotix Health (OPTI) has announced further growth with an agreement to extend the territories of its deal with Seed Health.

Hello, Share Collectors. Though it’s only ten days ago I last reviewed Water Intelligence (WATR), such is the topical optimism surrounding this company that I believe another mention is justified. The outfit has just issued a trading update for the first half of 2021, and it’s very encouraging.

Hello, Share Herders. It’s pretty sultry around here at the moment. Thanks to climate change we may be in for a long hot summer. Not just here, but all over the world. In Canada and the USA, folks are being carted off to hospital as they struggle with record temperatures of 125 degrees. All this heat makes water the most precious commodity on the planet. Which brings me back to an old favourite; Water Intelligence (WATR).

Power Metal Resources (POW) “is pleased to announce the execution of an agreement to acquire two exploration properties in Nevada USA” and results from further geochemical soil sampling and geological mapping on the Morula target at the South Ghanzi project in the Kalahari Copper Belt, Botswana. What’s the detail and potential import?…

Hello Share Turners. The seesaw impositions of Covid restrictions and the easing of them has predictable effects on the economy. So we should be able to see immediately which Footsie share prices will rise this week and which won’t? But no. We need to research educated guesses about much later developments in the Covid saga.

Hello, Share Trackers. How’s this for a good set of numbers? One of my favourite shares, Water Intelligence (WATR) has just reported for the year ended December 2020. Group revenue rose by 17%. And the pre-tax profit – always the more important figure – was up by 78% on last time.

A trading update from cosmetics company Warpaint London (W7L) includes that it “is pleased to report that improved trading has continued to be experienced in the first quarter of 2021… sales for the first three months of 2021 are ahead of the same period in 2020”. The shares have responded currently more than 13% higher to 123p, but what’s the detail?…

Hello Share Miners. It’s no surprise that armchair gamesters have grown during the lockdown. In terms of number and also bodyweight, I should imagine. Millions will have gained the habit for the first time to add to the zillions of established players. So it makes sense to research a few companies which produce and flog video games. You might want to look at TinyBuild (TBLD), for example.

Hello, Share Scoopers. One of my most likely shares to rise (in my humble reckoning) has just shared some news which could brighten its prospects in the fairly near and far future. We can thank President Biden for these glad tidings. The new administration seeks to modernise America’s drinking water, sewage and stormwater systems. It will also ‘tackle new contaminants, and support clean water infrastructure across rural America’.

Hello, Share Fanciers. A short time ago, I reported on a new order from an American customer for alternative mobile coffee cups from British green pioneer Biome Technologies (BIOM). The firm’s full year figures are now out and at first blush they’re not that encouraging. But this is a company producing futuristic products which are likely to become more fashionable. So with a small dip on the share price, I think we’re looking at a buying opportunity.

Hello, Share Checkers. One of my oldest holdings – and one whose share price simply trundles on – is changing. It’s buying and selling assets which could improve profitability in the green revolution.

Hello, Share Casters. What would you say about the quality of a company with Google and the British government on its list of customers. Pretty good, eh? 1Spatial (SPA) has these gold-plated clients and more besides. It’s a software data company which has does magical things with 3D maps and other desirable digital items.

Hello Share Munchers. The rosy prospects of one of my humble commendations continues to grow. Water Intelligence (WATR) has just collected another big customer in the USA and has signed up to boost its services to another. I humbly suggest that its present rate of expansion may feed into the share price for some weeks to come…

Immotion Group (IMMO) “is pleased to announce it has signed a contract to provide a new Undersea Explorer VR Theatre”. The shares have currently responded to 4.85p… more than 9% lower! So what’s the story?…

Previously writing on UK developer of beauty, personal care and life sciences products InnovaDerma (IDP), I concluded whilst the shares are still materially lower than the around 60p of my previous update, currently remaining cautious on the financials here, I continue to avoid. The shares headed towards 85p in the summer and last closed at 65p, but are currently heading towards 50p on the back of a trading statement. So what’s happening now?…

Michael Pento President and Founder of Pento Portfolio Strategies does not mince his words. He says that  “We see now a rebound in the virus, the closing of the economies, and a fiscal cliff that is going to be absolutely devastating… The cliff is coming because you can’t print trillions of dollars and borrow trillions every few months. No economy in the history of planet earth has ever been able to do that without destroying its currency and bond market. I don’t think the US will be any different.”

Plant Health Care (PHC) has updated emphasising “the company’s revenue growth in the first half of 2020 is a strong performance, which demonstrates the merits of exposure to agriculture, as an essential industry” and “Covid-19 has had limited impact on the business to date”. The shares though are currently still at 9.625p, down from 15p+ in February…

Updating on OptiBiotix Health (OPTI) earlier this week we noted interest from larger partners and shorter partner discussions as sales are significantly developing. Now “a non-exclusive license agreement for its SlimBiome® trademark with Evolution_18 and related launch of fibre gummies containing OptiBiotix's SlimBiome® proprietary weight management technology”…

OptiBiotix Health (OPTI) has announced “a non-exclusive license agreement for its SlimBiome® trademark with Smart For Life, Inc. and related launch of cookies containing OptiBiotix's SlimBiome® proprietary weight management technology in the USA and Canada”...

Hello Share Rattlers. It seems to this old punter that insurance companies might be the cautious choice in these difficult times. When folks feel insecure they buy more policies and are prepared to pay more for them. And one of the best as far as profits go is Prudential (PRU)...

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...

Hello, Share Squeezers. Time for another look at how the Brexit farce is likely to affect our shares before Christmas. The can of the final outcome is once more being kicked down the road. And as far as the City is concerned, the dithering and delays are a good thing.

Hello, Share Savers. Some of my colleagues use Sage (SGE) for their accounts and to keep their businesses in top shape. But I’ve sometimes had doubts about the share price. Like many British technology giants, it’s faced stiff opposition from competitors.

Hello, Share munchers. There are firms which do IT. There are companies that offer their services to them as IT consultants. And then there’s at least one promising outfit which trains graduates and others to be consultants who then support the IT function of other companies. FDM Group (FDM) is such an outfit. And, as we all know that IT is a minefield of complexities, that has to be a useful service. The corporate world seems to think so as FDM has a few thousand experts placed with companies around the world...

An AGM statement from Yourgene Health (YGEN) includes that it “is delivering rapid growth in line with our expectations” and “confident of the growth strategy we have set ourselves to deliver enhanced shareholder value”…

Hello Share Pushers. The hotel game is a funny old business for share shifters like us. The sector rarely seems to act in unison. Where one chain does well, another doesn’t. And it’s hard to fathom the reasons. Except that you’ll have noticed that some pubs are full whereas the one down the road is empty. For some subconscious causes, one pub becomes trendy and its nearest rival does not. Same with hotels, I fancy...

Hello Share Takers. The victory of our new prime minister caused the stock market to take its biggest leap for some months. And though it did retrace the next day, the Footsie is bounding up again, as I write. It may be the noisy optimism of the bloke, but there are other reasons why the Boris effect is energising the market.

Hello, Share Smashers. It’s not often I look at funds rather than individual company plays, but this one looks interesting. The onerously-named Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund (SEQI) has some rather unusual companies in its portfolio, compared to many funds which run well-known names...

Hello Share Slushers. I’ve oft remarked how important the oil price is to share shifters like us. But there’s never any harm in re-stressing points which are so important. Obviously, when it rises we can expect shares in Footsie oilers, like Royal Dutch Shell  (RDSA and RDSB) and BP (BP.) to react accordingly. Just as they’re doing now. But the oil price is more significant than that.

Hello, Share Splashers. As the weather warms up, let’s probe a company which has a lot to do with domestic swimming pools. Water Intelligence (WATR) doesn't supply them, but it keeps a close watch on them with some whiz-bang technology. And it makes a lot of income by finding and stopping up leaks (may I topically plug my famous share winners' book Poolside Tycoon at this stage)...

Hello Share Cringers. They tell us that 90% per cent of our worries never materialise. This could be the case with all those Brexit fears. And it seems that the Big City agrees. Because despite all the cynicism, share prices are holding up remarkably well. But there are some headwinds that are now’t to do with Brexit.

Hello Share Pushers. With the price of oil once more rising, if only slowly, investors will be happier to own oil shares. But it might be more prudent to take advantage of the demand for the black stuff by buying into firms which are not actual producers, but instead the companies which supply oilers...

Hello, Share Bunnies. As the Brexit mess becomes even messier, we need to continue careful consideration of what will happen to our shares. These are the choices. If we *crash out of Europe, the pound will take a hard knock. If we have a soft Brexit, it will shoot up. * TW Note, incorrect word used by those who want to stay in Europe but do not dare admit it like Malcolm.

Hello, Share Jinglers. What shares should we look at now as our break from Europe gets ever nearer? One suggestion of a big enterprise that should not be affected by the big change, whichever way it goes, is the National Grid (NG.)...

Hello, Share Flashers. One of the biggest business turnarounds in recent years is how advertising is changing. Though many of us are irritated by the seemingly unstoppable surge of adverts on the telly, the truth is that more adverts are being swapped over to big techies, like Google and Facebook. So it’s not entirely surprising that WPP (WPP), the giant marketing, P.R. and advertising agency, has reported lower revenue for the third quarter of 2018.

Hello, Share Carriers. Despite Uncle Tom’s denouncement of me as a money tree worshipper, I bring to you another more optimistic view of our shares and why I don’t think we should be selling right now. And it’s all because I’m one of the very few denizens of Shareland who see that there is a cynical strategy going on, which, as usual, began in the USA. 

Hello, Share Riders. My very recent 'northern offensive' to the Scandinavian countries and Russia has strengthened my happy suspicion that the world economy is forging ahead. And if the world’s GDP is growing, so will global share prices. And that surge will drag up British stocks, even if our own economic growth continues to be dire. TW Note: stop reading the fecking Guardian, the UK economy is still growing at a rate most European countries would envy. No more fake news please.

Hello, Share Comrades. Having only just arrived home from my Northern offensive of Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Russia, I haven't time to research an individual share for you to consider. So allow me to explain instead that once again the quantum physics of Schrodinger's Cat has worked in my favour.

Hello Share Carpeters. The Footsie led a disappointing dance downwards last week. But will the slide continue? I don’t think so. There is still a lot of unjustified fear over Brexit. There is still overdone anxiety over trade wars. And while the City is worried stiff over these issues, the bulls among us are cheerfully listing the market’s plus points.

Hello Share Pushers. First of all, an admission of bias. I avoid investing in gambling firms. This is because I like to think my money goes into making stuff or providing services which actually add to world values. And I think most gambling is often a waste of money with little concrete being produced. I realise this is kill-joy puritanism, but I can't help it.

Not much has got me fired up so far this week looking at the various regulatory disclosures but I did notice an article in the newspaper that purports to be America's leading financial journal yesterday with the worrisome headline of 'Barclays Mulls U.S. Push as Activist Looms...Executives debate whether greater exposure to the U.S. retail market could both generate revenues and fund its U.S. operations more efficiently'…

Hello Share Scoopers. There’s been scary talk about the effect of US trade sanctions on British shares. The Chinese are adding fuel to this fire by claiming the tariffs on them will affect the whole world. Well, they will. But in a good way. If the Chinese and other nations which are being targeted by Big Donald cannot buy American goods without their costing a lot more, than they will buy stuff from other places. 

Hello Share Smashers. If I haven't covered Ashtead (AHT) for some time, it's because I sold the shares. And yet I wished I'd waited a bit longer.

Hello, Share Moochers. The biggest cliche in the book is the markets hate uncertainty. And there’s oodles of uncertainty about the trade war that’s building between the USA and China. But aside from the clash of the Titans, how will the issue affect shareholders here in Blighty?

Hello, Share Slickers. The world’s biggest oil company Exxon Mobil has posted disappointing numbers. As a result, the shares dipped 5%. Analysts were expecting profits to jump on the big rally in oil prices.  But get this. The company actually announced 4th quarter net profits of £8.4 billion. Yes, $8.4 billion!

Hello Share Crunchers. We have a little saying in our family. ‘There’s always something…’ Meaning, however well things seem to be going, there is invariably a major snag to  contend with. 

Hello Share Swiggers. I had a lot of money invested in BP (BP.)  shares and was happy as a pig in muck with a galloping share price and juicy dividends. But that was before the big leak in the Gulf of Mexico, followed by a crash in the oil price.

Hello Share Spotters. As many members of her Cabinet are pressing Mrs May and her chancellor to ease back on austerity, I’m reminded that the growing national debt seems to deny that there is any real frugality at all. 

Private investors often seem to have very short memories, and although many have previously been badly burned by putting money into Mosman Oil and Gas (MSMN), some were flocking back into the company again today, sending its share price rocketing.

Hello Share Takers. It’s ironical to call Avacta (AVCT) one of my favourite shares when it has only made a modest profit for me so far. And it’s taken a long time to do that. But it does seem to me that this medical pioneer is onto something. And a little talk with a couple of its big cheeses at last month’s stunning UK Investor Show strengthened that feeling.

Hello Share Chirpers. Once again, hostilities threaten the world. The Americans have launched a missile strike on a Syrian airfield. The Russians and the Iranians don’t like it. The Middle East is in even more turmoil.

Hello Share Finders. One of the more stable shares in my bag is becoming even more favourable to this old punter, given the current uncertainties of the world economy and that it has not really kept up with the rising Footsie.

Hello Share Twirlers. Though the Footsie has been striding ahead, it would have done far better if the oil price had behaved itself. We are not just talking oil shares, but the whole of the share economy. A weak oil price has a negative effect all round.

Hello Share Trundlers. It’s only with extreme caution that I commend any British banks to your eagle eye, having lost a stack of my own money on them even since 2007. But I am rather more hopeful about all of the big British ones now.

Hello Share Tweakers. Everyone has a few shares in their bag which they consider as super reliable. This faith can sometimes backfire, as we all know to our cost. But it’s not a frequent happenstance.

Hello Share Trudgers. I’m going to suggest again you look at Diageo (DGE), one of the world’s biggest drinks companies. If you look at your FaceBook pages, you’ll see snaps of loads of friends and relatives, leering with a drink in their hands.

Hello Share Tickers. The big change of presidents in the USA has frightened some investors into thinking that any stocks with links to America are to be avoided. At least until we become a bit clearer as to what’s what.

Hello Share Movers. After a long and happy relationship, I’ve dumped all this family’s shares in the tool and plant hire company Ashtead (AHT). There are fair reasons, I feel. Though they are nothing to do with the company itself.

The bulls among us are rejoicing at the beginning of the new year. But what’s causing the Footsie to beat its all-time highs? 

Writing last month on NCC Group (NCC) on the back of a confusing profit warning or not announcement which included “difficulties with” and “challenging” previous acquisitions, I noted despite this and a £47.5 million net debt position, the company looked to “continue with our measured acquisition strategy and anticipate acquiring additional boutique cyber security consultancies over the next few months”. There is now an announcement of “Acquisition of US cyber security consultancy”…

Hello Share Crashers. It seems to me that there is a headwind against the over-consumption of sugar. The Government warns against eating too much and so do all sorts of health writers. And when what you sell is under scrutiny, then you have to be concerned about future profits.

Hello Share Scrapers. The Dow continues to fall. The days when it topped 18500 seem long gone. Happily, the progress of America’s big indicator no longer seems to influence British shares very much. Perhaps it’s because the Brexit vote has given us more of an independent status in the eyes of big investors.

Hello Share Zappers. If you’ve had the misfortune to buy a new part for your boiler after your central heating failed to re-start this Autumn, you’ll know that bits and pieces of the plumber's trade can be quite pricey these golden days. I bet the makers of these essential things have quite a high margin of profit. After all, we know that the cost of some raw materials that make them are a lot lower than they used to be.

Hello Share Spinners. Well, that was a dismal end to the week. All caused by problems with the German banks. It seems however fast the Footsie goes up, there is always another whammy waiting round the corner. But let’s not be too despondent. This could be another of those things the City does so well - the nine day wonder. Soon the German bank crisis will be forgotten and we should see our shares rising stoically once more. 

Specialist wine seller Majestic (WINE) has announced, despite its retail operations “trading on track”, Naked Wines UK and Australia performing “on plan” and “a return to growth for Lay & Wheeler”, that “EBIT for the current financial year ending 3 April 2017 is expected to fall below current market expectations”. Uh-oh…

Hello Share Toilers. One of the best shares to hold at the mo, in my humble opinion, is Ashtead (AHT). It has burst through yet another all-time new high as I write. And there’s still more to go I fancy. After all, the P/E ratio I have is still less than 16.

Hello Share Sponsors. As I write the price of Brent crude is $43  a barrel. That’s a lot worse than the $51 dollars it reached a few months ago. And the fall has been reflected in the share price of nearly all oil companies. For example, the share price of Royal Dutch Sell (RSDA) is off by about 5%.

Having on 18th May been “pleased to provide” a trading update, “delighted to announce several new client wins” and “look(ing) forward to updating the market further at the time of the group's full year results”, security systems provider Newmark (NWT) today just “provides” a trading update. Uh oh…

Writing earlier this month, I remained optimistic on both of my share tips of the year. Post recent developments and amidst current market volatility, I now update…

MS International (MSI) is a good solid AIM industrial company, with specialisations in defence equipment, fork-arms and petrol station superstructures. It’s the type of business which will probably never light up the bulletin boards, but it should! And today’s results show that performance continues to power ahead.

Hello Share Poodles. As so many of us hold shares in companies involved in the ebony nectar, it’s seems a good wheeze to once again bring you bang up to date on how the price of Brent crude should fare in the next few months. Because there’s little doubt that the value of the black stuff has a huge bearing on share prices. And not just those of oil companies, but nearly every other listed firm as well. It’s a question of high oil prices raising general confidence.

Having recently noted boardroom change aplenty but questioned trading change at Goals Soccer Centres (GOAL), the company has now announced completion of a strategic review, resulting in that “four strategic priorities have now been set”, and a 100p per share, £16.75 million (gross) placing. These are targeted to “help strengthen the group's market leading position, improve ROCE and increase value for shareholders over the longer term”. Hmmm...

It has been too long since I revisited AIM-listed biotech Scancell (SCLP). Much has happened since I picked it as a share for 2015 but it is egg-on-face as the shares have more than halved, with (so far) no value-enhancing corporate deal on the table. The clinical trial on the company’s lead product, SCIB-1, is done but there have been funding questions – correctly called by Tom Winnifrith. Now we have an EIS-qualifying open offer on the table alongside a placing, with some detail of plans going forward. Still holding my shares, the question is what to do?

I take this as a reader request. Happy Birthday K. So is the USA booming, a bubble or bust. I do my best to answer.

Hello Share Pushers. As the old shares lose more and more value, the reasons given for the slide back become ever more bizarre.

Hello Share Players; What's the biggest jewellery chain in the UK? Signet (SIG). And in the USA? Signet. And in Canada? Signet. I've recommended this glittering share before, having seen my initial investment rocket. But the success tram keeps on rolling up the high street.

I suck at knockout betting, but it is still nice to make money when your results don’t come in. Regular readers of my World Cup commentary should now the importance of banking profits to my strategy and I apply the same discipline to the odd little flutter I have. All my multiples in the second round are dead (apart from my Greece +1 and USA +1 double handicap), but thanks to the in game odds offered on Mexico and Greece to qualify in their games on Monday, the opportunities were there to hedge the results, bank profit and save some powder for my last pick today – the USA to qualify instead of Belgium.

My World Cup Challenge is over, with a total return of +8.91 points. Short of my 20 point goal (which was always a stretch), an 89.1% return within a fortnight isn’t too shabby. Perhaps I should have included more multiples, but this little experiment has paid great dividends. I’ve learned a lot during this World Cup, which I will take into the autumn, when the various continental international qualification campaigns start. I plan to write about these, nearer the time. Remember that the scoring system I use is only consistently effective in league formats. Even so there are a couple of fixtures in the second round, which are worth covering today and offer extremely attractive risk rewards. I’m half tempted to include these as World Cup Challenge picks, but the reality is that anything can happen in knockout games, so these are much more of a gamble.

So this is it, the last day of my World Cup Challenge. With Ecuador, down to 10 men for most of the second half, desperately clinging on to a draw against the French, my Ecuador +1 pick took my score for the tournament to +9.08, or a 90.8% return. Possibly I should quit at this point, but there are some hugely compelling odds on offer today, so my hope is to end with a flurry.

What an incredible day yesterday was. If only my Internet hadn’t conked out at a crucial moment, I would have banked even more profit, immediately before Ivory Coast conceded that ridiculous penalty to send them crashing out of this year’s tournament. England’s failure to beat Costa Rica meant my 6.5 price pre tournament pick of the Three Lions not winning a game came in (and don’t worry Alan, I won’t include that result in my World Cup Challenge) along with a host of other bets. We have now two rounds of betting left, with one fantastic double to bet on.

Time really does just fly past.  It has been about a couple of months since my last Highlights publication – apologies for that – but the ever expanding range of activities under the Financial Orbit banner has kept me very busy.  The good news is that new articles have been appearing on www.financialorbit.com every day despite the busy schedule…and the even better news is that I am looking to augment this with a restyled highlights piece each Saturday of four or five pages in length (of which this is the first one).