One problem is that these companies are so vulture like you can’t trust them to be honest about their earnings. Most of it is hidden in sister and daughter companies abroad to minimise domestic taxes. And much of the rest is used to pay interest on ‘loans’ that the true owners give to the company to make it seem like the company is in debt.

I’m not saying you’re wrong. Those companies are guaranteed to survive because the state props them up. But for the small-time trader, there might not always be much in it for them.