Mountains are sometimes referred to as sleeping giants. Sleeping because from a distance, they are majestic and have a certain stillness. Giants because of their sheer size. But as anyone who has tried to climb a mountain knows, they can be extremely unpredictable, violent and deadly. More than 300 people have died trying to reach […]
READ MORE2021 – a year of recovery
To say the events of 2020 were unexpected and full of change would be an understatement. The Covid-19 pandemic ushered in profound changes, both in markets and the way our society operates. We witnessed the steepest fall in global economic output since the Great Depression and yet the quickest rebound in markets. Unfortunately, the toll […]
READ MOREUS Election 2020 – your quick guide
When the most powerful and influential country in the world heads to the polls, its outcome affects us all. Here’s your quick guide to how it works, potential outcomes and market reactions. When is it? Election day is Tuesday 3 November, although it’s unlikely we’ll know the results until several days later. This is due […]
READ MOREPortfolio positioning in times of panic
“Panic causes tunnel vision. Calm acceptance of danger allows us to more easily assess the situation and see the options.” Simon Sinek Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic has generated panic, though thankfully it seems to have waned a little as we all acclimatise to the new rules. A medical crisis like this taps into our human […]
READ MORECoronavirus – the next phase
Today I received an email from Sam’s school talking about contingency planning for possible school closures. We’re also seeing a lot of conferences being cancelled and companies taking measures to curb travel and meetings (encouragement to work from home for example). So, it does look as though we are entering into a quarantine-lite type environment […]
READ MOREThe United Socialist States of America?
For Americans, socialism is a hugely divisive concept. There was the 1950s paranoia over communism with public warnings of ‘Reds under every bed’ and the cold war period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States, followed most recently by the Russian interference in the election of Donald Trump. So, it’s a […]
READ MORECoronavirus
On New Year’s Eve 2019 China alerted the World Health Organisation (WHO) of several unusual pneumonia cases in Wuhan, a port city of 11 million people. The following day the city’s Huanan Seafood market was shut down. Since this time over 80,000 people in 50 countries have been infected and nearly 3,000 have died. The […]
READ MOREYour financial wellbeing is not dependent upon 2020 predictions
A new year can bring fresh ideas and brave new commitments that most of us will, unfortunately, simply forget about over the course of the year. The difference between those who are successful and those who aren’t is consistency and persistence. It takes commitment to stick to a plan in order to obtain success. Our […]
READ MOREGame of chicken
Are they MAD? – This is a monumental game of chicken. US President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping, are currently engaged in a monumental game of chicken as they drive their respective economies into a headlong conflict. The problem is that they are not just messing with their own lives, they are putting […]
READ MOREThe investor’s dilemma
Investing is not an easy game. Each time you purchase a share in a company you think is great value, there’s someone on the other side of the trade who thinks it’s overvalued. As investors, we face many dilemmas on a daily basis – valuations, future prospects for companies, economic conditions, politics and regulations; the […]
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