It is always interesting times in the world’s financial markets, but sometimes it is more interesting than average. And as for sectors and stocks, Barratt Developments (BDEV) is one of the more fascinating names in the FTSE 100 at the moment given the obsession with the housing sector and the company’s over 50% share price fall year-to-date. And it is probably a good thing that I do not own the stock myself as it is down a further 5% this morning after publishing a trading update.

Plenty has happened in markets and the broader business economy over the five months since I last wrote about Dunelm (DNLM), “the UK’s #1 homewares retailer, with a growing presence in the furniture market” HERE. Maybe I have better things to do, but I still have failed to visit one of its 175 “mainly out of town, with many offerings made-to-measure blind, curtain, shutter and accessories fitting service, and cafes” stores across the land. I guess that was wise as the shares are now down c.45% year-to-date (albeit still remaining a few percent above the early April 2020 COVID-19 low). How has trading been recently?

Windows and doors retailer and manufacturer Safestyle UK (SFE) has announced the grant of share options to CEO Mike Gallacher and CFO Rob Neale under its ‘2017 Performance Share Plan’, arguing it “incentivise the Executive Directors to deliver both earnings and share price growth”. So what of this at a current 30.8p share price?

A Friday before a bank holiday weekend intra-day “Update on Capital Markets Day” announcement from Safestyle UK (SFE). Now, why don’t I think it is going to be good news from the company which describes itself as “the leading retailer and manufacturer of PVCu replacement windows and doors to the UK homeowner market” I wonder?

Floor coverings company Airea (AIEA) states it “is pleased to announce the appointment of Mederic Payne as Chief Executive Officer”, emphasising he “is an experienced business leader with a strong background in multinational home improvement retail and wholesale”. Following also half-year results from the company last month, what’s the situation here now from a 28.5p share price?

Self-proclaimed ‘global lifestyle brand’ Ted Baker (TED) has announced interim results, emphasising “our balance sheet is materially stronger than we had envisaged this early in the plan… we are confident that we have the right strategy and team in place and that we are setting the business up for future success”. The shares have currently responded to around 120p, er more than 10% lower!…

Previously writing on “photonic systems, components and instrumentation for applications in the Aerospace & Defence, Industrial, Life Sciences and Scientific Research sectors” company Gooch & Housego (GHH), last month I concluded emphasis of long-term hopes usually means nearer-term difficulties and here “industrial laser demand remains at below ‘normalised’ levels… the timing and pace of the industrial laser market recovery remains difficult to predict… There remains significant global economic uncertainty”. With a more than £265 million market cap, at this juncture my stance remains sell. The market cap is now, at 998p per share, £250 million following a further trading update…

Photonic systems, components and instrumentation for applications in the aerospace & defence, industrial and sciences sectors company Gooch & Housego (GHH) has updated including that its “manufacturing locations in the UK, USA and China are now fully open, thanks to measures that were quickly and efficiently put in place by our site teams, minimising the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic for our customers whilst keeping our employees safe… Trading levels in June and July reflected the recovery in the company’s manufacturing capacity and some of our larger customers’ manufacturing sites reopening… our order book remains robust”. The shares though are still not much above levels from when I previously wrote on the company in April…

Previously writing on self-styled “world leader in the design and manufacture of supercapacitors and energy management systems” CAP-XX (CPX), in June with the shares at around 4p I noted argues “increasing confidence”, but what about that cash burn?. The shares are currently below 4p today on the back of results for the company’s year ended 30th June 2019 – and despite CEO Anthony Kongats emphasising “it has been a very busy year, and ultimately a successful year for the company”. Hmmm…

Building materials group with “leading regional or national positions in the merchanting markets in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands”, Grafton (GFTU) has issued a trading update for the third quarter of 2019 – this “brings forward a planned update scheduled for 12 November 2019”. Uh oh – that doesn’t tend to be a good sign…

‘UK agency specialising in data science’, Jaywing (JWNG) “is pleased to announce that it has been notified that entities associated with two of its major shareholders have acquired the company's existing secured loan facility of £5.2m owed to Barclays Bank plc… and provide it with additional working capital” – and the shares have soared to a current 6p…

Maintel Holdings (MAI) has updated including first half of 2019 “adjusted earnings per share at 30.0p (H1 2018: 25.9p)… interim dividend per share proposed at 15.1p (H1 2018: 15.0p)” and that it “continues its transformation into a cloud and managed services provider with growth of 32% in unified communications seats on our ICON cloud platform and revenues from cloud and software customers now representing 20% of overall turnover… Underlying demand for our services remains high and our new business pipeline remains strong with some significant project opportunities”. The shares have responded to 425p – er, approaching 3.5% lower!...

Previously updating in early May, “data science led agency and consulting business” Jaywing (JWNG) noted “a year of solid progress… We have seen encouraging growth in Epiphany, our online performance marketing division, and also in our fast-growing operations in Australia… Jaywing will announce its preliminary results for the year ended 31st March 2019 in July” but also “ongoing challenging market conditions within the UK and continued uncertainty surrounding its anticipated withdrawal from the European Union”. Now a further “Trading Statement” – and at an intra-day 11:37am. Uh oh…

An 07:41am “Trading update” from floor coverings company Airea (AIEA). Hmmm – a difficult sector currently and a rushed ‘update’?...

Late last week I observed ahead of a capital markets day by the self-styled 'world's most exhilarating chocolate brand' Hotel Chocolat (HOTC) that 'I will enjoy pacing through the slide deck and comments. However, what may have helped nibble the shares slightly up today is the assertion that the (no doubt) very normal style presentation agenda will culminate in a tasting session of various products'. So what was said?...

Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB1) has updated including “adviser numbers have continued to grow… the majority of our Appointed Representatives continue to hold strong growth plans for 2019 and 2020… we believe MAB is ideally positioned to continue increasing its market share, and to focus on wider group success and profitability through new opportunities and broadening our addressable market”. The shares have currently responded, er, towards 580p – more than 5% lower…

Promotional and retail licensing space company SpaceandPeople (SAL) has announced 2018 results and that “since the end of 2018 we have been awarded a new, multi-year contract with Hammerson in the UK, and our investment in venue development personnel is delivering a good new venues pipeline in the UK” and “as a result of the improved margins and reduced overheads across the two German divisions we are confident they will deliver a positive contribution to group cash flow in 2019”. The shares have currently responded… er, to 12p – more than 17% lower!...

Its latest results statement commences “CAP-XX (CPX)… a world leader in the design and manufacture of thin, flat supercapacitors and energy management systems, is pleased to announce its interim results for the half-year ended 31 December 2018”. The shares have though responded currently more than 7% lower, to around 7p…

Revolution Bars (RBG) has announced results for its half-year ended 29th December 2018, including revenue up over 6% to £78.5 million and that one of its brands, “Revolution has been reviewed, the issues identified, and workstreams are being implemented to restore it to growth. Our confidence in achieving this is underpinned by the good performance of the new Revolution venues, while the recently refurbished sites are also seeing uplifts”. The shares have responded currently to 66p... approaching 17% down on the day…

A “Trading Update” from “provider of temporary physical structures, seating, ice rinks, furniture and interiors”, Arena Events (ARE) includes in its first paragraph; “The group experienced strong revenue growth across the UK, US and Middle East divisions with the acquisitions contributing as expected”. The shares have though responded to the update… currently more than 30% lower on the day, at around 40p! Hmmm…

Back in August I mused about Headlam (HEAD), which claims to be 'Europe's largest distributor of floorcoverings, providing the distribution link between suppliers and customers across the UK and Continental Europe'. Since then the shares have fallen further and today's update has deepened that trend…

In September, previously writing on Goals Soccer Centres (GOAL) I noted it stating “trading in H2 has started well” but also US and financial risk – and concluded to continue to avoid. Now a “Post close trading update” – and the shares currently more than 15% lower on the day, towards 60p…

Following “Trading Update” = Trading Shocker!, a “Director/PDMR Shareholding” announcement from ASOS (ASC)…

Previously writing on interactive broadcast and gaming services company Cellcast (CLTV) just over a year ago, it was argues more optimistic about trading… but fund redemption problem – with the shares sliding from just below 5p and I concluding to certainly presently avoid. Now an intra-day (2:45pm) “Trading Statement”. Uh oh…

Hello Share Scratchers. At this merry time of year, I usually recommend Diageo (DGE) for your share list. The reason is obvious...

A 12:45pm “AGM Statement” from FW Thorpe (TFW) included “orders for our main business, Thorlux Lighting, were slow in the first quarter but have started to recover in October and November… other parts of the group continue to perform well”. Does such really justify an approaching 14% share price decline? – the shares sliding below 250p…

Take a look, if you wish, at the share price graphic of the property company IWG (IWG) - formerly known as Regus - over the last year and which is down 20% odd today. The phrase uninvestable comes to mind. Big ups, big downs and - at the end of the year - what have you got to show for it? A share price back to where it was the last time I wrote about IWG turning down a bid for its business here.

A “Christmas Trading Update” from Quiz plc (QUIZ) is headlined “Strong trading across the Group's omni-channel business model”, yet from a 161p per share July AIM listing and almost 190p re-reached in October, the shares are currently little changed at around 150p. Hmmm…

Shares in veterinary group CVS (CVSG) are currently sliding despite an AGM Statement commencing “the board is pleased to announce that in the four month period ended 31 October 2017 the group's total sales grew by 20.6% and like-for-like sales grew by 4.3% compared to the same period last year”…

Writing last month on July AIM-listed Quiz plc (QUIZ), I noted “trading update”… but what about profit & cash? The fast-fashion womenswear company has now announced results for its half-year ended 30th September 2017…

Having IPO’d on AIM at 161p per share in July, shares in fast fashion womenswear retailer Quiz (QUIZ) initially rose towards 200p before recently sliding back towards 170p. However, having announced that it would release a trading update for the six months ended 30th September on 11th October, the stock rebounded to a 187p close prior to the announcement. The following updates with it currently retreating to 180p…

Shares in Portmeirion, Spode, Royal Worcester, Wax Lyrical and Pimpernel homewares group Portmeirion (PMP) are currently slightly lower despite it “delighted to be reporting an eighth consecutive year of record revenue”, this up by £8 million (11.7%) to £76.7 million…

Engineering and technology recruitment agency Gattaca (GATC) has announced what it emphasises as a “solid” performance for its half year ended 31st January 2017, though the shares price reaction suggests uncertainty…

UK and Europe online electrical retailer, AO World (AO.) has announced results for the six months ended 30th September 2016 emphasising “a great start to the year, with group revenue and profits growing well as we continue to deliver on our long-term strategy”. The shares are though little changed at 168.5p…