About Bill Blain

ill Blain is a published author on financial markets, contributor and editor of the Morning Porridge. He is a well-known market commentor, and a practicing investment banker in the alternative private debt and equity sector. His day job combines his role as Strategist for Shard Capital, the leading investment management firm, and heading the firm’s Alternatives Group – financing Private debt and equity deals, and direct lending transactions. His clients include sovereign wealth funds, hedge funds, insurance and pension managers, credit funds and family offices.

Defence: too complex, too difficult, which is why you must invest!

Defence is among the most difficult areas to invest. Who would become an analyst after 30-years as a Cinderella sector in the wake of ESG and peace dividends? Now, the imperative for new defence investment is crying out for private capital. That puts a clear premium on knowledge, contacts and skill to invest. Here is a solution.

Defence: too complex, too difficult, which is why you must invest!2026-04-30T14:22:10+01:00

Malta, The King, The Gulf and whatever next….

Interesting times indeed. Mr Market seldom looks beyond the end of his own nose, but the World is looking increasingly fraxious these days. Big nations have ever bigger problems. Maybe smaller ones will do better? The end of strong states often results in smaller nations competing harder to thrive, leading to competitive frictions!

Malta, The King, The Gulf and whatever next….2026-04-29T10:19:27+01:00

Gilts Wobble as Much as Starmer…

The spike in Gilt Yields says it all. Its crisis – again – in Westminster as Starmer is mired in crisis with no obvious way out. Yet again we learn a political lesson – good  political leaders are a scarce commodity. The British electorate is losing faith in politics. What will global investors think?

Gilts Wobble as Much as Starmer…2026-04-22T11:33:59+01:00

Robots, Competition and Total Addressable Markets.

Past performance is not a guide to the future. Tesla trades on a massive PE because folk believe Elon Musk will repeat his success in EVs across AI, Capacitance, Robotaxis, Autonomous Driving and Robotics. But hype, showmanship, undelivered promises and increasing competition are leaving his ventures in the literal rear-view mirror.

Robots, Competition and Total Addressable Markets.2026-04-21T07:34:11+01:00

Day Trading vs 60-year K-Waves

The markets are on a tear convinced normalisation is around the next corner. Yet they ignore the reality the Iran war has done significant damage to the global outlook – even if Tehran and Washington kiss and make up tomorrow. I don’t claim to understand the madness of markets and their ability to keep fooling themselves, but I do follow economic history and how events change outcomes.

Day Trading vs 60-year K-Waves2026-04-20T07:17:03+01:00

Sports Investments on a Wobble

I have no interest in golf – it’s a good walk spoilt. But the rumoured collapse of the rogue LIV Golf Tour, and the disinterest fans are showing in attending Trump’s price-gouging Football World Cup, may be hints the sports investment bubble is about to burst. If it does, it could trigger a confidence wobble across private capital. It could also spell opportunity!

Sports Investments on a Wobble2026-04-17T08:02:08+01:00

UK Gilts.. Nothing To Worry About

Damn the torpedoes! Full steam ahead. The recent 10-year Gilt auction was a screaming success. There is plenty of demand at the right yield – 5% for 10 years! The cost of servicing debt is high, but to create growth the government needs to fix the economy by borrowing more. Global investors know that when assessing the UK’s yield premium. The UK would do better to borrow more rather than less!

UK Gilts.. Nothing To Worry About2026-04-15T09:36:27+01:00

Porridge Extra – The Political Economy of Bat Tunnels (From The Battle For Hamble)

The Battle For Hamble is an examination of how bureaucracy has Broken Britain using the Hamble Quarry to illustrate Corporate Greed, Bad Planning, and Economic Illiteracy.

Porridge Extra – The Political Economy of Bat Tunnels (From The Battle For Hamble)2026-04-14T10:14:22+01:00

What Orban’s end means for Europe and Populism

Viktor Orban was a curious beast. A pragmatist and a populist who tried to play off Moscow, Washington and Brussels. Hungary is not yet solved, but it could be a transformational moment for Europe in terms of Populism and Unity.

What Orban’s end means for Europe and Populism2026-04-14T12:59:16+01:00
Go to Top