News

Market Update 18th September 2023

News: 19 September 2023

Market Update 11th September 2023

News: 14 September 2023

There are surely no three words less likely to engage a reader’s attention than “the Federal Reserve”. The mere mention of the world’s premier central bank is enough to induce an oddly simultaneous shudder and yawn. But please bear with me.

Market Update 4th September 2023

News: 07 September 2023

It has been a strange summer in a strange year. A former US president has been arrested and charged with 91 felony counts across 4 states. He self-declared his height and weight in line with Muhammed Ali in his prime. He’s a one-man crime wave, but there is an idea going round this might help him get re-elected in 2024.

Market Update 7th August

News: 08 August 2023

Higher interest rates themselves do not directly affect inflation. Rates have been increased because the Banks believe that this will lower economic growth, and therefore the demand for goods and services.

Market Update 31st July 2023

News: 31 July 2023

Then we have Mr Sunak’s assertion that in 2050, having achieved net zero, “a quarter of our domestic energy needs will still come from oil and gas.” It is not clear what he means by “domestic”.

Market Update 17th July 2023

News: 17 July 2023

Beyoncé has crept into economists’ interest more recently for reasons beyond her musical talents. Sweden’s recent high inflation spike was linked to (blamed on) Beyoncé’s tour appearances and the rise in hotel and restaurant prices around that time.

Market Update 3rd July 2023

News: 03 July 2023

If parts of the equity markets finished the quarter in good fettle, the opposite is true of the bond markets. The vigour with which many Central Bankers say they will attack inflation is spooking investors.

Market Update 26th June 2023

News: 26 June 2023

So let me come to the Bank of England and the Federal Reserve. Readers will know that I am not a great fan of the incumbents; the words ‘asylum’ and ‘lunatics’ spring readily to mind.

Market Update 5th June 2023

News: 05 June 2023

Which is the egg and which the chicken? Were we all tight-fisted fusspots all along, or did the supermarkets make us this by fighting over each other to give us an ever-wider range of ever-cheaper stuff that we don’t actually need?

Market Update 30th May 2023

News: 30 May 2023

Last week’s inflation update here in the UK was miserable. Confounding hopes of a sharp drop in the annual rate, the ONS’ latest calculation showed prices rising by an annual 8.7%. More alarmingly, the so-called ‘core’ inflation rate rose sharply to 6.8%.