Markets continue to wobble
Oh dear, more uncertainties afflicting global markets as a consequence of the attacks on Iran and then the ramifications. They are dreadful and for the innocent people involved but as for the financial implications, on capital markets, maybe retrenchment reflects the ‘need’ for profit-taking it seems. This is even discounting unintended consequences, such as...
Uncertainty as US attacks Iran
So, early Saturday we awoke to news that bombings had taken place in Iran and the inevitable retaliation as a consequence. The weekend oil price jumped significantly and the world waits to digest the consequences.
It is too early to predict outcomes but the hope will be for a short, sharp shock and a return...
Dollar doldrums and silver surfing
Quietly and gently and perhaps almost unnoticed, the US Dollar had been seeing a drift downhill before strengthening again over last week. Against Sterling it has now been the lowest since September 2021, having fallen by over 26% since the Pound’s trough in July 2022.
We are not so unhappy as we have currency in...
Some growth but inflation bites
It’s been good to see some economic growth with an unexpected 0.3% figure in November. Services and production rose and construction fell. The results at least counter some of the previous slippage but won’t be giving a great annualised figure regardless – but all helping.
Likewise, whilst we read a colossal 700,000 graduates are unemployed,...
Silver prices surge
Happy Christmas one and all
A very Happy Christmas to one and all! Hopefully you and your families had a lovely day yesterday? Let’s also trust for a settled, positive 2026 with resolution to long-outstanding issues like the Russian aggression against Ukraine and some dynamic and long-term solutions for Israel and the Palestinians.
We have had some good economic news...
Is the economy in good hands?
So we enter a new era with Labour ‘less trusted on the economy than Liz Truss’ Conservatives according to the last YouGov Poll. Indeed, the descent of the Labour dream seems to have been as sharp as the fall in YouGov’s share price now somewhat sorry for itself too and like Labour’s fortunes.
I predict...
Trump/Musk split but record wealth levels for us
Volatile US stocks
Volatility led by the US has escalated quite dramatically. It's impacted market values – especially some US tech cos and Nasdaq has drifted 10% now but the concerns over tariffs and the Ukraine situation and the US reaction to it, let alone clumsy politics and diplomacy, have not helped. Suddenly Nvidia and Tesla aren't...