The German elections highlight the dangers of coalition politics – swimming in a sea of treacle to agree policy choices as the likelihood of bad compromises rises. Even as Trump and Ukraine roil and destabilises the European Union, Germany is set for the distinct possibility nothing much changes. It is not strong and stable leadership at a time when it is desperately needed.

The new Germany looks almost exciting! What will a post-Merkel Germany look like? Will green and business interests align under the new fraffic-light government? How will the relationship with Brussels and the ECB shape up? “Interesting” times ahead.

It’s silly season in the UK as the queues lengthen at petrol stations, raising fascinating questions about how the pandemic has changed behaviours, the pricing of corporate credit and equity fundamentals. In Europe the power vacuum left by the last days of Merkel is set to deepen. China’s property meltdown should be making investors look elsewhere and into new Emerging Markets for future growth.