Seven weeks ago I admitted that I got “the horn for the world of sack kraft paper and paper bags” and thought Mondi (MNDI) shares were cheap. It is good to see the shares up over 10% over the last month, including an over 4% increase today due to a sale in Russia.

I don’t need a new computer at the moment but when I buy my next one I am pretty sure that I will use Currys (CURY). A couple of months ago, I shared why I thought it was smart to copy the move of Fraser Group (FRAS) and buy shares in Currys at the then just below 50p level. How is that getting along?

I have shared with you before that I am a big fan of Essentra (ESNT), and its vision “to be the world’s leading responsible hassle-free supplier of essential industrial components”. I know that sounds a bit boring, but it is kind of striking and useful especially as the company is hoping to double its revenue and triple its operating profit over the rest of the decade (or so).

A year ago, I concluded an article by observing that “Hull is not about Lib Dem success, Philip Larkin poetry or being the ‘City of Culture 2017’...it is clearly all about Cranswick (CWK) share potential!”. Before we get onto today’s rather good update from the company which is “passionate about producing only the best quality food, efficiently and sustainably in well invested facilities across the UK”, I am very grateful for the reader who pointed out that in my analysis of Hull I had missed out that “Siemens has its blade factory there” and “Peter Levy from Look North of course should not be overlooked as lead ambassador”. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to add those extra insights and now back onto Cranswick.

I wrote earlier this year that I was going to buy some shares in the Carex, Childs Farm, Cussons Baby, Imperial Leather, Morning Fresh, Original Source, Premier, Sanctuary Spa and St. Tropez producer PZ Cussons (PZC). Judging by its third quarter update and the conference call I listened to on Thursday, it feels to me as if the FTSE 250 consumer company is making good progress.

I know that the world of corrugated box packaging and the like is not very interesting, but if you want to hold a FTSE 100 company in your pension fund portfolio which is not a commodities name you could do a lot worse than DS Smith (SMDS). I last loved up the stock a couple of months ago when the price was c. 265p a share. As I write this morning it is nearer 320p a share, so I hope you purchased a few back then. But if you didn’t don’t worry, I believe the stock is still cheap.

I guess I have been a professional analyst and investor for the last twenty-six years, but obviously as a buy side and not a sell side operator. As I may have said before, I learnt early on that the more I could ignore brokers and do my own research, the better I would do. And that still remains my thought today as I still think, a bit like the academic world, the biggest risk is that you end up knowing more and more about less and less. And that brings us to today’s Q3 update from Reckitt Benckiser (RKT).

The thing about being an investor is that not everything goes your way. However, like any challenge or issue in life, what really matters is how you react. I have been a fan of DS Smith (SMDS), a leading multinational packaging business, I last talked about at length a few months ago. It has not been the greatest year for many stocks and DS Smith is among them. However I am not surprised that following today’s update in respect of the period since 1 May 2022, the shares are up this morning. Even more importantly, I think it is still a key FTSE 100 position for me.

It has been a funny last 13 months, but fortunately the financial markets have been the last of my challenges. Obviously I am still not the next Peter Lynch, but I keep on learning (something) even if it was a quarter of a century ago now that I first rocked up in the City. And whilst I could ramble on at length about a few winners this year, one of the more dull stocks has been Carnival (CCL) which I am currently up on 0.25% year-to-date.

Previously writing on Braemar Shipping Services (BMS), last month with the shares up to above 263p I noted ‘ahead of previous guidance’. How’s the balance sheet now?. So what do half-year results today show?…

Hello, Share Creepers. This old punter rather likes all the high street banks at the moment. But Lloyds (LLOY) may be the best of the bunch if you’re looking for a rising share price. The stock reached a year high a week ago. But that was still only about 50p compared to £3 or so back in the day.

Hello, Share Masters. It’s been a while since I’ve commended the National Grid (NG.). That’s because it’s one of those boring shares that don’t move very much. The share price just went up a bit though and I suspect that’s because of the imminence of the big climate conference coming to Glasgow.

Previously writing on TP Group (TPG), last week with the shares at 5.25p I concluded that I again suggest swift changes are needed. These are already looking to be forced with a boardroom change General Meeting requisition from Science Group (SAG) and the shares currently remain on the watchlist, whilst the group might also want to get round to updating its ‘our shareholders’ website too! Science Group has since announced a further acquisition of shares, so what’s the situation now?…

Yesterday I briefly mentioned that Headlam Group (HEAD) was holding a capital markets day later on Thursday. Whilst it was good to read from the floor coverings distributor that ‘total revenue for the year-to-date is now in-line with the 2019 comparison’, what else did the capital markets day tell investors?

Previously writing on sports, leisure and mobility equipment group Tandem (TND), in February with the shares at 545p I questioned sustainable growth or not?, concluding the shares still on the watchlist. They have since been above 700p but are currently 565p despite an AGM Statement today including “revenue for the 25 weeks to 22 June 2021 approximately 14% ahead of the same period in the previous year” and “forward order books are at record levels with group outstanding orders currently totalling £34.7 million compared to £10.7 million at the same point last year”. So what’s going on?…

Previously writing on industrial mobile data computing and managed services company Touchstar (TST), with the shares at 74p in April I concluded that with, although “to date we have successfully managed this issue… signs of component shortages and strain are evident within our supply chains”, for now only on the watchlist. The shares last closed at 72.5p but are currently rising above 80p on the back of an “AGM Statement”, so what’s the news?…

Fully-listed Egyptian gold producer Centamin (CEY) offered up its first quarter report this morning and the big news is that once again the outlook is unchanged. Given the ground movement issues revealed last autumn and the consequent reduction in gold produced and higher costs, it is pleasing to see that the company’s response is thus far working out as planned.

Malcolm was absolutely correct last Tuesday when he wrote HERE that Johnson Matthey (JMAT) ‘is a company which depends on its securing a good market share of the electric future and it’s certainly trying hard to succeed in this competitive field’. As I observed last September, ‘it is kind of tough to value potential 2030 themes, but it is nice to have a few of these things sprinkled into a broader corporate business which is already sensibly set’. In short, I have owned the stock for a while and currently sit on a nice profit. There have been two recent sets of numbers on this one during the last couple of weeks.

Previously writing on Aeorema Communications (AEO), in October I concluded at a 21p share price that the shares were certainly still on the watchlist. Today results for the company’s half-year ended 31st December 2020 and the shares currently at 28p…

A trading update from manufacturer of touch sensors Zytronic (ZYT) includes “the downturn in sales experienced in the second half of last year has now levelled out at approximately £2.0m for the quarter to 30 September 2020 and the first quarter of this financial year to 31 December 2020”. So why are the shares currently 10% further lower to 135p?…

TV and video streaming technology company Amino (AMO) was an initial pick for 2020 from me at a 134p offer price. The shares approached 150p in early February, but I concluded at 123p to sell in March as coronavirus impacted, the noted performance might see it best to take the small hit now and, perhaps, look to re-enter down the line. The shares last closed at 115p but are currently above 120p on the back of a “Trading & Dividend Update”…

Whilst I am far from being a chav, I am seemingly as obsessed with Burberry (BRBY) as Essex’s finest and today’s interim results give me another chance to comment. Back in July I observed that ‘my perception is tucking the shares away for the longer haul remains smart…just do not expect me to announce I have bought something at one of their stores’ and both sentiments still seem bang on for me today…

I have said before that I think the sell-off in fully listed Centamin (CEY) following its ground movement troubles is way overdone, and marked the stock as a buy. But with the shares heavily down again – this time not on news from the company, but on Pfizer’s news on its Covid vaccine – you can now pile in for just 113p a pop. With another update from the company due in just three weeks, do you feel lucky, punk?…

What an interesting last twenty-four hours in the financial markets. As always with big market shifts, sustainability comes with the reality of the headline new information flow. Aside from the obvious efficacy of any vaccine or treatment mitigation, the key to watch out for in my humble opinion is what happens with bond yields. I know hard-nosed equity investors forget about the bond market, but the reality is that it is a multi-asset relative world. So rising bond yields associated with stronger hopes about an economic recovery have a huge impact in terms of sector choice and market rotations. And from the perspective of having a bunch more ‘value’ than ‘growth’ stocks in my portfolio, I hope it continues. I am not sure how to pigeonhole DCC plc (DCC)…

Over time packaging company DS Smith (SMDS) has been a real friend to me, as well as giving me plenty of geek opportunities to talk about packaging (which is now formally my third favourite geek area to talk about after ball bearings and tyres). Back in July I wrote that ‘if the share is still below three quid, expect me to be supplementing my holding…corrugated board is much sexier than Mr Market is perceiving it’. Well as I write the share price just about is still below three quid and I have built up my shareholding further over the last few months. Judging by today’s update, I am not ruling out doing so again…

Call me a complete weirdo, but there is something about the name RELX (REL) which completely gets on my goat. There are a couple of reasons for this, but the only one I am going to share with you is that I thought the old name of Reed Elsevier is far classier. I wonder what the bill was (way back in 2015!) for thinking up the new name? All I know is, when you (still) have to provide a pronunciation guide (“REL-EX” if you were wondering), it ain’t a good look. Anyhow, the ‘X-factor’ of just sticking the twenty-fourth letter of the alphabet at the end of a logical name is so…2015 but I have to grudgingly admit that the company – which describes itself as a ‘global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers’ – is a good ‘un…

Corporate deals always provide insight. If you have been around for a while, then you will know that a bunch of deals struck in 1997, 1999 and 2007 typically did not age well. The jury remains out for the last couple of years but, suffice to say, the old mantra of ‘price is what you pay and value is what you get’ is still hugely relevant. That ramble brings us to my old mucker Biffa (BIFF), which is active in the waste and recycling business…

Back in June I observed about one of my tips of the year that ‘we might even see Playtech (PTEC) shares having a run at a year-to-date gain before the end of December rolls around’. After a huge roller coaster ride year-to-date, yesterday the share was just 10p shy of the four quid early January level. After today’s H1 numbers, the shares in the online gambling software development and financial trading company are more like 10% shy. So what is going on?…

About a year ago I wrote about buying the floorcoverings distribution name Headlam (HEAD) below four quid a share, even if ‘dancing with a company intimately linked with consumer spending and the property markets at this time of seemingly great uncertainty’ are still apparent. Well the call went well and the share topped out at just over five pounds either side of the turn of the year. However, chuck in a slug of Covid-19 and the resulting consumer caution and hello just sub three pounds a share today…

Forget reading the multi-part regulatory news disclosures from insurance behemoth Aviva (AV.) today, just click on the webcast re-run and listen to the first fifteen or twenty minutes presentation by the company’s new CEO Amanda Blanc. It has been a long time since I was so impressed by the initial clarity of expression in a large cap corporate turnaround plan…

As I noted in early June, ‘I know there has been a little bit of controversy between writers on this website about certain sectors, but allow me to double down on the tobacco space (as an investor naturally, I’ve never touched the horrible stuff personally)’. What followed was a value love-up for British American Tobacco (BATS), which complemented my positive positioning in Imperial Brands (IMB). In a world however of technology behemoth love, tobacco is not so much in favour…

A year ago almost to the day, I observed about health and hygiene company Reckitt Benckiser (RB.) that ‘this one has always been a buy for me in the lower £60s range’. Well despite going via the mid £50s in the early days of the market decline, this has ultimately worked out well as you would expect from a company whose brands include Dettol, Vanish, Nurofen, Finish, Harpic and Durex. Many would have regarded at least one – if not more – of these products as ‘must-haves’ during the darkest days of the pandemic. So no great surprise to see today’s first half numbers being described as showing a ‘strong underlying performance coupled with Covid-19 tailwinds’…

You may recall back in September I rhapsodised about waste company Biffa (BIFF) observing - after pacing through its capital markets day presentation - that 'the company is exposed to themes such as tighter regulation, recycling and participation in energy from waste'. A quick look at the shares over the last nine months showed that my hopes of a three quid share price proved correct. Having done all the difficult work, I really should have got back in the stock after it nearly halved at the time of the March lows. Anyhow, here we are in June with the share having regained about half the decline and today's full year numbers update is really in two parts – as are so many corporations reporting up to 31st March…

Previously writing on aircraft charter and aviation safety & security consulting and training company Air Partner (AIR), last month with the shares responding above 50p I concluded its planned shareholder updates approximately every four to six weeks during the crisis look something worth monitoring. On the watchlist. Today a further such update, with the trading overview...

Suffice to say my observation back in June that Joules (JOUL) was a retail 'jewel' did not survive the Christmas trading season very well. You live and learn though and the shabby update from a few weeks ago centred on a ‘disappointing online sales performance due to an internally generated stock availability issue through the important end of season sale event, the cause of which has now been addressed’. And why? ‘Stock availability issue’. Goodness...that sounds so M&S (MKS)-like from a couple of years ago...

As noted yesterday, I am currently enjoying a short stay at one of the Premier Inn locations of Whitbread (WTB). Thumbs up from my personal bottom-up perspective and - as per the above link - you know my positive thoughts on the stock. Now onto another company I have written positively on over the last year and that is GVC Holdings (GVC)…

Fully-listed Egyptian gold miner Centamin (CEY) - my tip of the year at 117p or so - has announced that the proposed possible offer from Canadian-listed Endeavour is off, after the two sides failed to reach agreement over valuation. Shares in Centamin are off by 8% on the news, to 117p, though we also now know that Centamin’s final dividend will be a tasty 6 US cents, above the previous stated target of at least 4 cents as I had suggested was on the cards. Added to the interim of 4 cents, that makes 10 cents – around 7.7p. At the current share price, that comes out at a yield of 6.58%...

Fully-listed Egyptian gold-miner Centamin (CEY) saw its shares riding high on Tuesday in the wake of news of a potential bid from Canadian peer Endeavour Mining in the form of a proposed all-share deal which valued Centamin at around £1.5 billion. The shares, having been knocking around 110p moved up to 130p at the top – beating the intimated deal price of 126.27p – but have since dropped back and closed last week at 118.55p as the market appeared to lose interest. So is it now a buy?

A couple of weeks ago I noted on BT Group (BT.A) that I thought fairer value was lurking in the upper half of the 200-300p share price level. Anyhow, a big new potential buyer of some of the company's assets has come into town over the last 24 hours...although I am not convinced that Jezza and his merry band of magic money tree followers are promoting re-nationalisation of part of the company's assets because they think it is cheap…

Mr Market giving you a kicking now and again keeps you suitably humble. Back in August I self-congratulated HERE about how 'one of my better portfolio performers year-to-date has been FirstGroup (FGP) which I have loved up a number of times in the last eighteen odd months on these pages, ever since the bus and rail company was silly enough (admittedly under a different management team) to turn down a bid from private equity'. Well that was all fine and dandy with both an activist shareholder AND the company coming up with its own plans to create value by splitting the company up. However today's update has pushed the shares down 20% odd percent as I write. So what has gone wrong given the value creation plans continue apace and full year numbers were reconfirmed?...

You all know I am a Marks & Spencer (MKS) shareholder and - as I described here a couple of months ago - my basic view that the recent harsher and focused management style of Archie Norman and Steve Rowe has given the company the most viable future potential backdrop for a generation. I still think this despite being down on my two quid odd average in price and the recent resignation (or push out?) of the CFO, who I do not think was up to that sort of a job. Today's half-year update ('far reaching change - delivered at pace') is a classic interim statement…

I last wrote about the 'leading European supplier of building materials' SIG (SHI) back in early July, observing that it was failing to cost-cut its way to growth due to the business being operationally/economically geared. Well the latter points are very obvious today with a trading update which notes a 'deterioration in trading conditions has accelerated over recent weeks, and political and macro-economic uncertainty has continued to increase'. Oh dear...but today's 22% share price fall has pushed the shares below 100 pence...

Looking back a couple of months to my appearance on Tom's radio show many of the views I expressed there have aged pretty well. Long/buy calls such as Barrick Gold (GOLD in the US) and easyJet (EZJ) have performed appropriately whilst dogs such as Metro Bank (MTRO) and Dignity (DTY) keep woofing. I remain amazed that shares in bad boy St James's Place (STJ) have so far shrugged off a bunch of disaster stories about its overcharging culture...you can guess my continued negative thoughts on that one. However, one share which I mentioned and has not behaved as I would have hoped in the last couple of months is Imperial Brands (IMB)...

Back in May I suggested buying shares in Ferrexpo (FXPO) at 207p on the basis that the sharp fall in the share price on the news of the resignation of the auditor was overdone and that a rally to 250p was likely. The good news for those that saw 250p as a target was that it was hit in short order, with the shares going on to 285p...

I have written a couple of articles on the Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casino operator Rank (RNK), concluding last time that 'Rank is not so dank after all...the share still remains below the (interesting) 160p level. Worth a punt!'…

I have to thank Malcolm for being the contributor on this website writing most recently on the oil/energy services name Wood Group (WG.) back in July. His musings seem very akin to my own earlier in the year that 'if you have a decent stake like me then chill and write down the circa five quid level to add another slug'. That latter musing has been an unprofitable call to date but today's first half numbers have reiterated my faith in the name…

Shares in ConvaTec (CTEC) - whose products are used for advanced chronic and acute wound care, ostomy care, continence and critical care and infusion devices used in the treatment of diabetes and other conditions - have come a little more my way recently as I discussed here a couple of weeks ago. Today's regulatory news announcement by the company caused me - however - to raise my eyebrows slightly…

I have written about GVC Holdings (GVC) a number of times this year, after making it one of my tips of the year back in late December. I have been critical on many occasions this year, predominately because of the ludicrous share sale by the Chair and CEO just days after loving up the full year numbers and prospects. Rather appropriately the share sale was at 666p. The number of the beast, indeed! Today's interim numbers read well on an overall basis...

If I write about anything that is consumer-facing on this website, you can bet somewhere in the text will be a semi-funny joke about why I have not contributed directly to said company's corporate results because I am almost personally post-consumption. Naturally, that does not apply to the rest of the family and because my excuse about the importance of the global corporate earnings season was wearing a bit thin this school holiday, in lieu of a holiday to the Costa del Horrible, the Domino's Pizza (DOM) online capability has recently acquired a new customer…

Hello, Share Swipers. On reading my annual report of ITV (ITV) a few months ago, I noted that my former lodger, Sir Peter Bazalgette, the chairman, was puzzled by the low share price. I suppose he would say that, but I think he has a point...

Hello, Share Jumpers. As the PPI claims August cut-off point nears, I can’t shrug off the uneasy feeling that I must be entitled to cashback. However, as I never borrow money and my last mortgage was taken out before the ark sailed, I must push the thought behind me. Nevertheless, PPI leads me to think of my shareholding in Lloyds Bank (LLOY)...

A month or so ago, I noted that Reckitt Benckiser (RB.) was a 'lower £60s buy in anticipation of a share price beginning with a '7' plus some solid dividend wrap-around...and a call option on that full split potential'. The rationale for this was not just the company's range of top products (Vanish, Nurofen, Dettol, Durex, etc.) nor even just potential upcoming split or a recently announced management evolution which I think is overdue. It was also centred on the likely resolution of the company's legacy problems with its ex pharmaceutical unit Indivior (INDV)...

I found it interesting that the comment that was written to my article about the challenges of high headline dividend yields asked about my views on Imperial Brands (IMB). I took the view that for the tobacco giant it actually was more of an opportunity than a threat because I could not see the scope for the dividend to be cut because of what I perceive as the strengths of its cash flows. And actually this is how it seems to be working out...

Hello, Share Twiggers. Recently, I suggested you take a peek at AFH Financial Group (AFHP). Well, that makes a good start – the shares rising smartly on its half-year report. Yet, I still don't think it's too late to consider this zappy wealth management outfit. The figures are nearly as good as they get in these dangerous days. Earnings and revenue are soaring...

Hello, Share Hitters. Shares in Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) have been pounded of late. This often happens to our big banks after improving results cause a share jump, though are soon forgotten. The shares are also down on Brexit fears and a falling pound. But they are beginning to look cheap to some. And it’s a hard thing to sell shares which pay a dividend of over 5%...

easyJet (EZJ) shares have been under the cosh in recent weeks due to the rum mixture of consumer spending being under pressure and the inevitable Brexit uncertainty. I know the latter is a bit of a 'go to' for many corporate names, but for a company such as easyJet it actually matters if any new impediments occur to travel or restrictions on ownership. The latter has been a real hassle for the company because of a need to show majority control by European Union-centric investors in order to keep maximum corporate flexibility...

Hello, Share Troopers. Are we still 'Going Well with Shell, Shell, Shell?' The words of the famous Bing Crosby TV advert of the 1950s still seem pertinent here. The oil jumbo Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA) & (RDSB) is my biggest holding, mainly for the high dividend. But I also have hopes for the share price, which, given the rise and rise of Brent Crude, seems too low to me...

I have been a supporter of the shares of Imperial Brands (IMB) for a while now, including noting back in September last year that 'the shares should be in the £30s at the very least. I remain a non-user of their products...but a buyer of their shares'. Well that might be my aspiration...but reality has been somewhat shabby with the shares currently revisiting the sub 23 quid level for the second time in six months. So what is going on?

In many ways the announcement of more confetti from AIM-listed Minoan (MIN) is a big disappointment. After all, it has an asset worth many times its market capitalisation, several multiples of the enterprise value and is also carried on the books in the recent (audited) full-year results at heavy multiples of market cap and EV. And we are told that there are interested parties who want a piece of the action – so why not just sell it? Well, it is more complicated than that...

If you want exposure to copper and are looking to invest in an earlier stage outfit that is already in production, then your choice of UK listed companies is actually fairly limited. The majority are either still at the exploration/development phase, or are large FTSE listed miners, and in many cases copper is just one of many metals that are being produced, with the odd exception...

When I last wrote up a set of numbers from Tesco (TSCO), I concluded that '240/250p is a fairer price for Tesco today and I have seen nothing from its results or those from its sector peers to dissuade me from this'. The short view would be this remains fully on track and my core view on the shares remains positive. Today's edging up of the shares (as I write) deeper into the 230s pence zone reflects this and tells me still to be long of the stock...

So another week of Brexit-related excitement awaits. I have almost given up trying to predict the next twists and turns but there is always a practical impact and we have seen this from easyJet (EZJ) this morning…

The market has been slaughtering even the larger companies over any sort of disappointing results recently, but for me that further strengthens the argument to buy shares in Centamin (CEY).

I made a brave positive call on Thomas Cook (TCG) in late November after its share price shocker, noting that: 'The stock is cheap (less than 4 times EV/ebit) but clearly not without risk. Would I roll the dice here as a 2019 punt wrapped up in politics and climate realities? You know - rather than buying one of its holidays - just maybe I would given the range of assets'...

Regular readers will know I like a bit of geek chic in my investment choices and the surprising rise in importance of the packaging sector as both part of the structural rise of the e-commerce sector and as a way for fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) names to differentiate their offering in a competitive world, may have surprised a few people. It certainly has excited me over recent years and a year ago - as I noted here - DS Smith (SMDS) was riding high. The 2018 35%+ share price fall however is striking…

Panmure Gordon is house broker to AIM-listed Turkish gold miner Ariana Resources (AAU) and is therefore not impartial – so you can takes its latest musings on Ariana with a pinch of salt if you wish. However, with the shares at 1.4p Panmure has upped its price target from 2.75p to 2.82p in the wake of Ariana’s Q3 numbers. Naturally, with a boat-load of this stock myself (so I'm not impartial either) and a target of at least 2p, I think Panmure are complete geniuses...

One of those earnings days with lots going on...and among all the scandals, political intrigue and nobbled confidence levels, three larger cap buy ideas…

easyJet (EZJ) shares lost a bit of altitude yesterday and it was not really clear why, with profits growth of 41% aided by a revenue expansion of 17% and helped by the company pushing up ancillary seat revenue and continuing to push out an ongoing cost saving programme. Meanwhile income investors were well served with the ordinary dividend being pushed up 43%. The share is now yielding basically 5%. However, and despite dubbing itself the ‘best performing airline in Europe in 2018’, shares in the company fell back around 5% due seemingly to the ‘B’ word...

At the height of the recent market volatility, I wrote a piece talking about some shares that I would buy. The first name I mentioned was Burberry (BRBY), reflecting my thought that it was an inherently strong brand with good exposure to the still growing luxury consumption theme in China. I am pleased to see that today's first half numbers reflect this…

Time for another write-up on Imperial Brands (IMB)...and no doubt time for a bunch of criticism in the comments about how this is an uninvestable sector. Well I do not smoke, would not want my children to smoke/use tobacco-based products but - in a modern world of information and regulation/taxation - I respect the right of adults to do so and I remain perfectly comfortable in investing in the sector. Otherwise, where do you draw the investing line? Alcohol? Defence? Gambling? Clothing names who directly or indirectly use child labour and lots of water? Energy and mining names due to their use of the world's assets? You get the gist...

AIM-listed Turkish gold miner Ariana (AAU) has this morning updated the market on exploration from Salinbas – part of the Hot Gold Corridor in Eastern Turkey. Having reaffirmed my view that this stock is a buy based on production news the other side of the country, it is pleasing to see share shares respond even if it is this morning’s news which did the trick, rather than my devilish analysis! The shares, having been 1.25p to buy, are now 1.45p to buy...

AIM-listed Turkish gold miner Ariana Resources (AAU) has again announced record gold production from its joint-venture Kiziltepe plant, part of the Red Rabbit project, during its third quarter this year. Production is up to 7,588 ounces of gold (plus 70,346 oz of silver) for Q3 to bring the total for the year so far to 19,625 oz – as against the guidance of 20,000 oz for the full year. Way to go! If they keep that up, the total for the year will be in excess of 27,000 oz – a classic case of underpromising and overdelivering.

Aside from a couple of brief comments on its new discount offering Jack's, the last time I wrote substantially on Tesco (TSCO) was six months ago - when I concluded that there was another leg in the share price to come, which duly resulted. But the wheels have come off the shares in the last couple of months. I still remain unconvinced by Jack's but in the wider scheme of things in the Tesco empire it is a rounding error. I think the real issue however is that Tesco is now no longer a recovery stock and - as we all know - it is easier to travel than arrive…

We all know UK retail is in a tough spot but problems for Kingfisher (KGF) are ironically not in the UK, where today's half-year numbers were correctly discussed as a 'solid performance' benefiting from continued growth at Screwfix and the self-inflicting wounds at peers that aided B&Q. The trouble is a 15% fall in underlying pre-tax profit mainly due to a 30% fall in profitability in the group's second-largest market France…

It is not new news that the retail backdrop is challenging but the last time I mentioned homewares and related company Dunelm (DNLM) I confirmed that despite my continued inability to buy anything from one of its emporiums, I was loving the shares up.

You probably read in the last day or so that the emerging markets have formally entered bear market territory, down 20% from the highs of late January. The reasons for this are inevitably multifarious but simplify down to the hassles of higher interest rates (led by the US) and a firmer dollar plus, of course, trade war fears. All of these have helped expose cracks in emerging market domestic policy - such as the unsustainable economic policies of Argentina and Turkey.

I see the housebuilders got another share price stuffing yesterday on fears that the Help to Buy policy (which I have lampooned on this website recently here) might come to an end. I see the updates today from Barratt Developments (BDEV) and Berkeley Group (BKG) have hardly reignited the shares despite all sorts of 'record results' comments from the former. Well when the average house price is around six times income (and a way higher multiple in London) then value there is not. However...

An update this morning from AIM-listed Minoan (MIN) regarding the sale of its travel and leisure division and reduced boardroom fees offers investors good hope that the sale is now, at long last, progressing. This is good news which I suspect will unlock the development of Minoan’s main asset – the Cavo Sidero project in Crete – and I am looking forward to the coming weeks with anticipation.

A wise reader recently suggested to me that perhaps I could pause occasionally with the incessant cynical kicking of the dross at the bottom of AIM and/or Mr Woodford and spend a bit more time trying to highlight quality small cap stocks that people could put on their watch-lists. Well, I’ll take up the challenge and start with a decent looking stock that announced its full-year results last week, namely Arcontech (ARC).

Who would have thought a stodgy stock like Royal Mail (RMG) would be such a trading counter? Over the last year alone it has moved between a sub four quid share price and pushing 630p a share...and when I look back over the last year it has been one of my top active selection larger cap names. I have not owned the name for a few months now but it has come back on my radar today as its regulator Ofcom has just slapped it with a £50 million fine.

You always have to watch your biases in the world of investment. There are some shares or sectors that for personal, historical or other exogenous/endogenous reasons you just love or hate. Regular readers will know that Randgold Resources (RRS) has been one of my structural favourites for many a long year, with the stock one of my largest (and most successful) holdings during the final part of my institutional fund management career, contributing to outperformance and the like.

I loved up Old Mutual (OMU) as an African-influenced play a couple of UK Investor Shows ago, but what ultimately pushed the shares up was that it split the business into its constituent parts including the wealth management business Quilter (QLT) – which announced its inaugural independent results today.

This may surprise a few people given my pessimism on the housing market and the housebuilding sector but I am not bricking it about the world of bricks. Now maybe it is because I am a sentimental old fool who lives near an area whose heritage is wrapped up in the world of bricks, but my simple observation is...

It has been a busy, busy week and sad sacks like me are going to be bent over a hot laptop during the weekend catching up with the multitude of earnings numbers published by corporate names around the world this week. Turning to London-based results specifically, some good news within the UK market today for the old stalwart BT Group (BT.A).

Mechanical and refractory engineering company Goodwin (GDWN) is “pleased to” report results for its year ended 30th April 2018 – and the shares have currently responded more than 23% higher, to 2300p, on the back of the announcement…

It is no huge surprise that today's set of numbers from PZ Cussons (PZC) are not the finest ever seen because it told us so forty days ago as I wrote up at the time HERE. Of course the actual publication of a set of full year numbers always provides further insights and information...but it is hard to sugar coat a 15% odd fall in profits, a nudging down of overall revenues, debt pushing out a bit and the c. 4% dividend yield only held.

AIM-listed Greek resort hopeful Minoan (MIN) has announced yet another extension to its loan from Hillside. The terms are largely the same, but a further 1.7 million warrants at 6p are being issued, and the loan is now on demand, with a long-stop date of 31^st August. This is in relation to the announcement last week that the sale of its travel and leisure business is on the way. With a long-stop date of 31^st August, one might assume that at long last something is going to happen!

AIM-listed Turkish gold producer and explorer Ariana Resources (AAU) announced its second quarter production numbers from its JV Kiziltepe mine this morning, and the numbers blew me away. With an annual target of 20,000 oz of gold production, it achieved 7,171 oz – a 47% increase quarter on quarter.

The numbers from Greene King (GNK) today are pint glass half empty or half full as per your inclination. The good news is that the attractive 5%+ dividend yield is held and covered by cashflow generation. Additionally those wonderful attributes for a pub group - sunny weather and a World Cup - have helped out. As the company notes itself: 'positive momentum has continued into the new financial year, aided by good weather and popular sporting events'.

As the old saying goes, 'where there's muck there's brass'. Rubbish and recycling company Biffa (BIFF) shareholders have had an alright ride since the company came back to the market in late 2016 but today's update contains the fascinating assertion that the company's CEO Ian Wakelin has 'advised the Board that he no longer wants to hold a full time executive role and that he therefore intends to leave the Company once the Board's succession plan has been implemented'.

In pretty unsurprising news, overnight UK Government Investments - which manages the UK government's Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) stake - announced that it had sold a 7.7% stake at around a 3% discount to Monday's closing price. This sale raises around £2.6 billion and reduces the government's holding from just over 70% to a mere 62.4%. I like RBS stock here as I wrote just over a month ago. The metrics are improving and the times are changing...and part of that change is the government progressively becoming a smaller and smaller shareholder.

AIM-listed Turkish gold miner Ariana (AAU) has posted its FY17 results. As promised, there are some details of the Kiziltepe joint venture, the results got a clean audit (as opposed to last year which raised the need for more funding) and Ariana has offered the clearest indication yet of an end to dilutive placings. Overall, it makes a pretty happy read.

Something a little different today from all those worthy growth at a reasonable price type companies I normally ramble on about. Whisper it quietly, but I think that FirstGroup (FGP) is cheap here. I know that a transport company is never the most popular name - and I await the opprobrium from the TransPennine Express train and related users in the comments section - but hear me out, after all, got to be greedy when others are fearful and all that.

AIM-listed Ariana Resources (AAU) has offered an update on its gold resource at Tavsan, part of the Red Rabbit joint venture in Turkey which also includes the already producing Kiziltepe mine. There is plenty of good news.

My second tip of the year, AIM-listed Bowleven (BLVN), announced on Tuesday that major shareholder Crown Ocean has once again been upping its stake – it now holds 29.03% of the equity. I took the cue and did the same (though not 29%!). Crown Ocean is, of course, the shareholder which rocked the boat last year and forced out the old board by calling two EGMs and supported the new fellas as they proposed to turn the company into a holding company with rather lower costs.

Picking shares should be easy, right? Find a company where both profits and cash flow generation are improving plus where investor sentiment is shot to bits and the Gods of both fundamental analysis and investor psychology should be on your side.

We should not laugh about colostomy bags as there is a reasonable chance of being hooked up to one at some point. Good news then that medical products company ConvaTec (CTEC) notes that at its 'R&D centre in North Wales, scientists and technicians show off a better lubricated catheter; a tighter sealant for an “ostomy” bag used to collect colostomy waste; and an agent that, when applied to an infected wound, changes colour according to the severity of infection to allow more rapid treatment'.

I had a bit of a rant yesterday about three FTSE-100 behemoths that were dividend-heavy but consensus buys and not offering - in my opinion - value. I don't think BT Group (BT.A) is in this grouping however despite being dividend-heavy and suffering a falling share price today because basically it is very out-of-favour.

Cynical bear offers up the bear case HERE. here is the bull case. Sensible investors want to hear both sides of the story. BB Morons only want to read folks with whom they agree. This website is committed to free speech and is not targeting Versarien (VRS) owning morons, who want to hear only one side of the argument, as customers. Back to Big Sofa...

Shares in my first tip of the year for 2018, Berkeley Energia (BKY) remained around the 57p offer price until starting to drift last week and continuing this. The company has updated with a quarterly report…

My buy tip from last May, Frontier Smart Technologies (FST), has reached my target price of 200p earlier than anticipated having had a strong start to the year from a share price perspective, so I thought I should update on my current thoughts.

I have not made any money on my Greene King (GNK) purchase of HERE a couple of months or so ago but I have not lost a fortune either and the super summary one-liner is that by the time next autumn rolls around, I think you have made good money on this one. I am relaxed because the interim results were not a shocker despite the 8% odd fall in operating profit and the use of the word 'challenging' in a semi-liberal fashion.

Hello, Share Pushers. Of all the shares which are undervalued at the mo, ITV (ITV) must be among the leaders. I’m not the only one who thinks so. JP Morgan also describes ITV stock as ‘undervalued’. The market often gets things wrong, of course, but it’s hard to see why ITV is not attracting as many investors as it might be.

The last time I wrote about Imperial Brands (IMB) HERE, there were a few overly excitable comments made. As noted last time, I have never smoked but have no moral hang-up to investing in the sector. If you do...then I guess you have stopped reading or I look forward to your comments. Anyhow, since my original piece the stock is slightly down but only by a percent or two and full year preliminary numbers highlight an improving second half of the year showing a touch of revenue and EPS growth.

Whitbread (WTB) has had an up-and-down year since my last update on the stock - HERE. The Costa and Premier Inn operator unsurprisingly has been impacted by the changes in perception towards the strength (or not) of the UK consumer and this has pushed the shares between a £36 and £42 range this year. Today's interim results have again pushed the shares towards the lower end of this range despite the company reiterating its hopes for the full year.

Bathroom and kitchen products manufacturer and supplier under the Triton Showers, Vado, Croydex, Abode, Norcros Adhesives, Johnson Tiles, Tile Africa and TAL brands, Norcros plc (NXR) has recently updated encouragingly on trading, yet the shares have thus far responded quite modestly – and only returning them to the 180p at which they commenced this year.

I have never smoked and have no plans ever to but I am enough of a libertarian to take the view that if individuals want to light up after knowing everything that medical science has discovered about tobacco over the last couple of generations then that is their business. And so I do periodically invest in the tobacco sector.