“There are fewer sadder sights than politicians playing musical chairs with people’s lives in order to better their own.”
For us in the UK we had the spectacle of the Makerfield by-election to keep us entertained this week, underlining the way that politics remains one of the greatest spectator sports in this country. It would so far appear that if there is any impact from the rise of Andy Burnham is slightly negative for the bond market. Ironically, our future Prime Minister has intimated that the bond market can do what it wants. Indeed, the bond market was the undoing of Liz Truss, who blinked and hence failed to deliver what could have been the last chance this country had to avoid economic disaster. This may have been an example of the tail wagging the dog, given how bond markets are not elected, governments are.
Delta Gold Gold Rush
The first I heard of Delta Gold (AQSE:DGQ) was ahead of its listing on Aquis late last year at an Aquis Event. Yes, I used to go to these events religiously as CEO of an Aquis listed company. I was keen and thought it would make a difference, if only in terms of my knowledge / learning. Obviously most new listings on Aquis do not see the share price 10x, and so I parked the name of the company and what it does in the quantum computing space waiting to see how things develop. In fact, they developed very well, the company caught the zeitgeist and retail investors made out like bandits, helped along by an investor, Purebond Limited, that had invested at an early stage in multi-bagger Guardian Metal (GMET). This was a green flag, as of course was myself charting the shares all the way up to 210p on a continuous basis.
However, at that point, 200p plus, one would imagine that one or two people would have had their fingers burnt should they have been short of the stock, or been convinced that the company is just hype. I had no axe to grind either way as I have no association with DGQ at all. Indeed, I have no association with most listed companies, unless they are a PR / IR client. Therefore, most of the companies and most of the analysis is as objective as it can be, and my support for DGQ was because it was a momentum play. Of course, there are some in the market who may either be short, or have failed in the markets themselves who want to see others lose money, and will do or say anything they can to achieve this. Such an approach has never been my bag. But it is sad that such shenanigans go on in this day and age, and how well they are hidden.
Pri0r1ty Intelligence Group (PR1)
At the other end of the scale in terms of IPO success, so far, has been PR1, a group that came to market with a decent concept. However, it could be argued that the concept of an AI solutions group was great, apart from it was the bandwagon of the time, and that subsequently the company even after its Halfspace deal only makes pocket change. This is not enough to warrant the company being listed. Last week the company said “At eight months into the current financial year, and incorporating changes in our revenue recognition policy, the Company has contracted revenue in excess of £0.4 million and a growing sales pipeline, evidencing real customer traction and the strong foundations built during FY25 and into FY26.” Well, less than £1m for a listed company and all concerned are wasting their time, apart from paying accountants, advisers, lawyers and exchange fees, which has some merit. What will be interesting to see in coming weeks is whether the nascent recovery for PR1 shares in recent days is one that is the forerunner of a positive change at the company, or merely a respite?
Colin Bird
I was recently looking at a list of people who found success late in life. Most successful people are those who find success early in life and keep going. But the example of Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame who started that business at 65, is an example to everyone that it is never too late to be a winner. This brings me to Colin Bird, who after years of banging the drum regarding the junior explorer / developer space, sees the stars align on his listed companies. Of course, the way has been led by Namibia rare earths play Kendrick (KEN), where crucially the company was funded through market newcomer Temeraire Partners as adviser last month. But now that Bird is in play, one would expect any or even all of his other listed companies such as Bezant (BZT) or Galileo (GLR) to come to the boil too.
