Surface coating technology company Hardide plc (HDD) states that it “is pleased to announce” that it has successfully completed a fundraising. Should it be?

‘Self-care’ products group Venture Life (VLG) commences a trading update with that it “expects to report revenues for the six months ended 30 June 2022 of £18.9 million, a growth of 36% over the same period previous year” and adds “order book remains strong and is ahead of the same period last year”. So what of a current share price response up more than 9% at 35p?

Previously writing on security and surveillance systems company Synectics (SNX), in April with the shares down to around 116p I noted concern of what was required for the full-year with the shares on the watchlist. So what of now half-year results?

An "excitable" Monday on the markets! I see that it has helped pull the FTSE 100 back to a small loss year-to-date. Well at least it is a lot better than peers in all the rest of the developed world. Meanwhile, did you see the headline that “Asda and Morrisons drop prices to help struggling shoppers”. So what does that mean for names such as Tesco (TSCO), J Sainsbury (SBRY) and Ocado (OCDO) among others?

Hello Share Dabblers. This old punter has never recommended a furniture purveyor before. My own modest gaff doesn’t have much woodwork less than 100 years old and some of it is Elizabethan. The modern equivalent can’t hold a candle to it, in my predjudiced view. But most of the world doesn’t agree and plain, simple and chunky styles of new furniture seem to be selling well. Especially as Covid has kept more folks at home for longer. They’ve decided to pep up their living and bed rooms with newer-style furniture.

Packaging group Macfarlane (MACF) has announced results for the 2021 calendar year and that 2022 trading in the early months has been “encouraging” and that it is confident it will deliver further growth.

This morning Johnson Matthey (JMAT) issued just the sort of news that investors will not have wanted to see, announcing its intent to exit the battery materials sector and as a result its share price has plummeted.

Designer, developer and international distributor of toys, games and giftware Character Group (CCT) commences a trading update today with that, “The re-opening of the bricks and mortar retail sector following the easing and, subsequently, the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in many of our markets has had a buoyant impact on sales generally”. So why are the shares currently, at 572.5p, more than 17% lower?…

Previously writing on building products manufacturer Epwin Group (EPWN), in May with the shares at 107p I noted “indicators of consumer confidence strengthening”… but value here?. The shares last closed at 106.75p but are currently above 110p on the back of a half-year trading update. So what’s the latest?…

Developer and manufacturer of healthcare and industrial products Scapa Group (SCPA) “is pleased to announce the successful completion of the placing… we believe there are strong tailwinds emerging in our two business segments, Healthcare and Industrial, and a strengthened balance sheet will provide flexibility to fully realise potential opportunities in a post-COVID-19 environment”...

A Friday “Trading Update and Impact of Coronavirus” announcement from industrial chains and related power transmission products company Renold (RNO) failed to halt a falling share price – and now both Chairman Mark Harper and Finance Director Ian Scapens have responded buying shares…

A rough day in the markets as worries about the coronavirus, supply chains and much else linger. If you noted my call that sub thirty quid was a potentially interesting level for Carnival (CCL), I guess today is the day for acquiring a few. Naturally, I will be joining... but onto something more boring…