Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10242493/Is-Botswana-variant-sudden-Covid-surge-South-Africa.html. No end to testing in sight...
Be careful playing with this. I think sentiment has turned, but it is strange to go from very bearish to very bullish in a matter of days with no news and a single rumour of a DHSC settlement. It is no fun getting sucked in by greed only to be sat on a big loss shortly after and "trapped".
It might not be a good idea to go trumpetting about how much profit you are making with a DHSC dispute ongoing and approvals pending. A shareholder revolt now might be detrimental to our interests. But what do we need to force a vote on calling an AGM and removing the entire BOD
Forgive me for saying so but that £3m impairment is to year end. There is no certainty as to whether any Novacyt products will be approved for the UK, save that Promate is temporarily allowed. Imagine then what the full impact could be over 12 months if no products are approved. It would seem most unlikely, but with no timescale or guarantee of approval they are being cautious.
This must have been planned before the current takeoff of cases in Europe. It may explain why UKHSA have only approved a few tests. Whether they will have to backtrack, we shall see. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10198985/Operation-Rampdown-Codename-revealed-Government-papers-dismantle-key-Covid-measures-year.html
At this time last year many analysts were predicting covid would be over by now and testing would decline sharply. Most of Novacyt's revenue is currently coming from covid testing and the demand for testing has actually increased over 2021. If Novacyt have managed to maintain or build market share, provided they get UKHSA approval, why should revenues be much lower? But that is aside from the expected £100m in cash expected at year end plus £78m owed by DHSC.
I wouldn't trust Boris as far as I could throw him but he is just the puppet and his strings get pulled by a few wealthy businessmen and corporations. Money is more important than lives. UK Covid cases rise by a fifth as Boris warns of winter outbreak https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10195721/UK-Covid-cases-rise-fifth-Boris-warns-winter-outbreak.html?ito=native_share_article-top
You say things peaked in the UK three weeks ago. I'm not so sure. Firstly, the typical cold and flu season has not yet peaked yet - covid may follow a similar pattern being a respiratory virus suited to cold, damp winter weather which spreads best indoors. Secondly, immunity from vaccines wears off over time without a third booster jab and roll out is slow. Thirdly, many people have abandoned measures such as masks and are interacting more. Fourthly, there is an increasing proportion of AY4.2 variant - whilst 15% more transmissable doesn't sound much it spreads exponentially much quicker than Delta and much faster than flu. Fifthly, we still do not know how long natural immunity to Delta lasts - Kier Starmer has had covid five times now. It serms herd immunity for covid may be elusive.
The only problem with that article is that it is a bit like complaining that Royal Ordnance and Vickers made a small fortune selling bullets and cordite in WW2. Of course, anyone making test kits would do well in a pandemic. This might explain why the BOD are staying quiet.
Say China suddenly decided to invade Taiwan and the government thought we need to spend a lot more on defence asap. The director of a shipbuilding company takes a big defence contract to build four aircraft carriers. Share price goes through the roof and Sid, the director gets a £10m bonus. Shareholders see their share price soar.
Then several months later the government decide they can't really afford those ships and would really like to back out of the contract as embarassing questions emerge about the cost of the ships, the lack of competitive tendering and whether a bribe was paid to get the contract. The government then allege breach of contract as they say the ships can't run on ecodiesel, although they had only actually specified the ships must have efficient engines. Sid then leaves the company, buys a yacht with his £10m and sails off into the sunset. Shareholders see their shares plummet. What happens next? Company has spent a fortune building the ships. Will the government stump up some cash to avoid it blowing up into a big scandal? Could Sid be sued? Could the Junior Minister who gave out the contract face claims of misfeasance in a public office? Could the ensuing scandal bring down the government?
Has anyone read it? Interesting if he is mentioned as I assume they must have evidence of any wrongdoing for fear of libel. Boris got a right roasting at a press conference today with numerous questions on sleeze. This could yet bring down the government.