There is a whirr on the wires that the incoming economic data is going to start to soften, and likely to take down high profile mood-affecting markers like the mighty ISM Manufacturing Index. The Empire State Manufacturing Survey collapsed in January to its lowest print in well over a year, nuanced perhaps by the Omicron… Read More Clouds

The odd sweeping generalisation helps trim the fat off of life, but often risks simplifying things that need a bit more thought. Saying the market is expensive is one. It’s fashionable. Now, the market is expensive, almost on any valuation metric you care to consider, but within the market there have been some astonishing moves,… Read More Slowdown

The contortions in the market so early into a New Year could well be the foreshadow of some proper action. Look no further than what happened in the bond market last week which across the curve saw some truly eyepopping moves. The close on Friday saw the 30-year bond cap its worst calendar week, in… Read More Taps

In August 2010 the then Fed Chair Ben Bernanke suggested to his fellow decision makers they should think about an experimental programme to juice sluggish growth and stick some zizz into the jobs market. After some late night pow-wowing, they all decided to vote in favour of creating $600bn out of thin air to buy… Read More Pickle

Q1 kicked off, the vista changed Gone the feelings, locked down, so strange; Economies thawed, restrictions, rules No more baking and no home school…. Rotation afoot, as yields lurched higher Energy sang like a male voice choir; By far the worst of the year just gone Was about to run, and run and run. Growth… Read More 2021

For all the promising developments at COP26, it is somewhat uncomfortable to read that 2021 will see power generated from coal at its highest ever level. As in thermal coal, by far and away the dirtiest source of electricity generation currently available. Part of the reason for this is down to a global economy emerging… Read More Connections

As the market cap of Apple balloons through a still hard to believe $3 trillion, analysts are left scrambling to upgrade their forecasts and lavish ever more compliments on a stock that now dominates the S&P 500. One analyst even chose this week out of all weeks, to upgrade to a ‘BUY!’ with a somewhat… Read More Coyote

Like it or not, if the developed world wants to play its part in saving the planet things need to change. This is not just about scrolling Autotrader for an affordable EV or googling ‘domestic heat pump’ or ditching the big summer flyaway, it runs deeper. Consume less. Live more. And live a bit more… Read More Circular

With the Fed balance sheet set to balloon to $9 trillion, effectively setting this coming Spring as the watermark of ‘peak’ stimulus, there is still plenty of zizz in the pop from the Central Bank sponsored punch bowl. And – analysts are quick to point out – it takes one year for that peak stimulus… Read More Shopping

As the COP26 banners come down Glasgow can revert, once more, to a rhythm of rain and football. The delegates have gone. The promises have been made. The handshakes done. The general view of the high-profile climate jamboree was lots of hope, high ambition and good intentions, tinged with frustration. Frustration over a lack of… Read More Carbon