Harry Hindsight is the world’s greatest market trader – he’s circling round the opportunities presented by inflation and the risks its presents. He’s short bonds, credit, stocks, Brexit and the UK.
Boris in his bunker is a great example of delusion. Eventually those who do not know themselves get sniffed out. Its happening in markets - speculation is dead. Common sense is back.
Big theme for the week in UK politics will be the last act in The Tragedy of Boris Johnson. His likely denouement coincides with rising economic stress, increasing corporate defaults and doubts on sterling. Time to Panic? Not at all! Bring it on.. We’ve suffered worse!
Dead Cat Bounce or a renewed upside trend? The range of opinions and views on where markets are headed is diverse and confused – will bonds and stocks recover, or will energy, food and inflation shocks further destabilise sentiment. These are dangerous times, but fools will always rush in.
UK commuters face a summer of strikes, dismal service, and appalling quality. The failing railways have become a metaphor for bungling bureaucracy and incompetent management across the UK. It’s time for radical change – learn from UK Forces about responsibility and give tactical control back to frontline workers.
The Ukraine War has catalysed a tsunami of negative economic events around the global economy – and markets are remaining pretty much blind to the long-term consequences.
The often missed point about ESG is directing investment to encourage corporate social responsibility and good corporate governance. British Airways is a screaming failure on both aspects – time to take away the flag logo, the name and flag carrier status. Sell!
Populism is a massive threat to markets. Inflation, tax-hikes, petrol costs, poverty, political mismanagement and a host of other failings could further destabilise the West, while markets seem determined to stay euphoric whatever the evidence to the contrary.
Persimmon, the UK home builder, demonstrates just about every single possible corporate failing; bad governance, greed, social and environmental contempt, and protects itself with purchased politicians. Time it was disciplined by the market.
The world is a complex place, and the massive macro threat posed by Ukraine is a clear danger to markets. Less clear, but just as significant, is economic failure at the micro level as firms start to fail as banks pull back, and the sheer injustice of what happened to UK Postmasters. The elites will protect their own - not a single manager will go to jail despite their appalling treatment of post office staff.
