Economic growth and a little calm
Have been listening to this strange noise outside today – the pattering of much-needed rain. I appreciate if you are on holiday here it’s not so good but the ground needs it desperately so please forgive us!
Pleasing to see the latest Quarter’s economic growth rate at 0.4%. It is still lower than it should...
FTSE flies but what’s inside?
Welcome to a new all-time high for the FTSE100. Remember, it’s just a number and it’s the contents which are important and what are powering the underlying indices. Banks have been very strong (Lloyds’ results yesterday saw the shares at their highest since 2009) and now Rolls Royce is a major component too.
Oils are...
The good, the bad and SpaceX
Some news’ improvement amongst the negative developments in the Middle East (again) - US inflation went down to 3.5%, somewhat unexpectedly. That should give some respite in interest rates and the strength of the Dollar. Meantime, here at home our economy grew by 0.1%, led by services.
It’s not much and it is primarily a...
PM resigns – will uncertainty reign?
Goodbye Sir Keir, hello tomorrow. Sadly, I fear he won’t be missed greatly and with negligible legacy to remember though we must recognise that any such change creates opportunity for uncertainty. It may seem that a certain new MP is crowned without competition.
We can then only hope he will have better economics than the...
Unexpected growth in economic area
Shockingly (as we weren’t expecting it!) but the economy grew 0.6% in the first quarter – not quite sure how! Apparently, it was ‘services’ primarily. So, the extra 0.1% over what was expected is being headlined by the Government as wonderful news but sadly one swallow does not a summer make.
On the same day,...
Wobbles at the top?
Market chaos silver lining
Good afternoon. Early days but the agreement to a ceasefire was much welcomed by the markets. It is an odd world when sometimes you are grateful that some of your assets fall in price, because they were the hedges against other things you have been holding.
So, when oil and energy stocks slumped last Wednesday...
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...