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.

This is not about Banks – This is a Valuation and Private Asset Crisis

Markets are in a fluster over US banks, but that’s not the real problem. There is a looming crisis about to roil markets stemming from inflated  valuations in the Private Asset sector. This is going to get really messy. Hard Hats on!

This is not about Banks – This is a Valuation and Private Asset Crisis2023-11-01T15:29:20+00:00

Aston Martin and the UK – Who Are We Kidding?

Aston Martin’s extraordinary rally on the back of a F1 podium place squeezed out the shorts as fans backed their belief by buying the stock. The reality for the UK is bleaker – the UK budget next week (March 15) will do little to inspire global enthusiasm for the decaying economy. The UK needs something visionary and new!

Aston Martin and the UK – Who Are We Kidding?2023-11-01T15:29:20+00:00

Directionless Markets – the biggest threat and an opportunity for instability.

There is nothing as dangerous for markets as directionless markets and a deep threat board. Place your chips accordingly…

Directionless Markets – the biggest threat and an opportunity for instability.2023-11-01T15:29:20+00:00

Note to Sir Keir Starmer: Clarkson’s Farm and the Hamble Quarry demonstrate how Bureaucracy is killing UK Growth

Labour Leader Keir Starmer has announced growth is a core mission for the next UK government. He should look how Clarkson’s Diddley Squat Farm and the threat to obliterate my village of Hamble with a wholly unnecessary gravel quarry demonstrate how the UK’s local planning and over-regulation stifles growth, hope, and expectations. The process isn’t fit for any purpose. Bureaucrats have anything but the interests of local people in mind. Big money walks all over them.

Note to Sir Keir Starmer: Clarkson’s Farm and the Hamble Quarry demonstrate how Bureaucracy is killing UK Growth2023-11-01T15:29:20+00:00

Ukraine – how will it finish? How badly will Russia lose?

Nearly a year on Ukraine is unbeaten. How will it end, and how will markets react? Putin is upping the stakes, hoping he can bluff and threaten his way to a result. It’s not about Ukraine surviving, but what happens if Putin loses badly and Russia collapses as a failed state. Sanctions don’t work – what else can the West do?

Ukraine – how will it finish? How badly will Russia lose?2023-11-01T15:29:20+00:00

Market wobbles, but remains unaware of the bigger problems

Markets wobbled yesterday on the current litany of fear: interest rates, inflation and Ukraine. The bigger issues are just how unsustainable current equity valuations remain, and where to invest in range-bound markets.

Market wobbles, but remains unaware of the bigger problems2023-11-01T15:29:20+00:00
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