The UK’s steel-making industry is a national embarrassment. Key national infrastructure was handed to foreign owners who let it languish. It makes a mockery of strategic resilience and illustrates how the UK’s broken planning system operates against the national interest and economic growth.

The irresistible force of Trump has hit the immovable rock of Economic and Market Reality. The inconsistencies of Trump’s tariff policies - the centre-plank of his economic understanding - have been exposed as bogus. It begs the question – What Next? Which is why markets are braced for even more dislocation.

Up, down, shake it all about. Current markets are driven by short-term rumour and sigh about what Trump might do or say next on tariffs. However, the real threats are longer-term – how the global economy is increasingly vulnerable not just to trade and economics, but also the growing weakness and unravelling of US military might. The implications for global security could change everything.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has the most difficult job in the world. How do you explain to a cabinet of financial imbeciles the USA is on course for a stock market crash, recession, inflation and a possible collapse in the US Treasury Market? It’s high risk - Trump is a “shoot-the-messenger” kind of guy.

The market is probably overstressing on Trump – but he does make a lot of noise. A bigger danger may be the broader signals and the future of the USA as economic hegemon. At a time when the US Debt clock is spinning so fast you can’t read the numbers, could the USA withstand a Dollar, Treasury and Political Competency Crisis? Let me explain by taking you to the top of a very steep mountain.

When future economic historians try to figure out the pivotal moment in the Decline and Fail of the American Century, its likely last week will figure in their thinking. Trump’s actions will have profound implications for bond and tech markets – and the time to start building these consequences into portfolios is NOW!

I’m delighted to announce we’ve signed an agreement in Cairo to build a new $7 bln private sector petrochemicals plant in Egypt, a development that could herald a new era of economic growth and the emergence of the future Middle Sea economy for the Middle East, Europe and North Africa.

 Who would possibly want to be a billionaire? Hated by the mob, a victim of evil governments holding you back with tax threats while denying your basic human rights – like a platinum gold bank account! Give me poverty anytime…

Valuations in the USA look insane. Surely stock prices must be a bubble? Maybe. Maybe not – the USA has created a self-driving technology machine, a conveyor belt of tech innovation that’s set to continue delivering value and corporate profits. To understand it – ditch traditional thinking about economies.

One year after the Hamas atrocities, the tragedy of Gaza and South Lebanon continue. The region remains on fire, and could ignite further conflict and instability including inflation, recession and impact the US election. To understand what happens next – how did we get here?