Asking the Right Questions
Weekly Market Recap: W/E September 25th 2015
Market Recap A strong rally in equity markets on Friday helped brighten up what was otherwise a miserable week for equity investors. Against an uncertain backdrop, the confession from Volkswagen that they had used software to cheat US emission standards, heaped further pressure on…
All eyes on Janet Yellen and the US Fed!
A major source of the market volatility in recent months has been the uncertainty around the outlook for interest rates in the US. This week will be eventful, with the US Federal Reserve holding their much anticipated monetary policy committee meeting, as market participants…
Draghi leaves the door open for QE2
After disappointing Chinese data it was over to Super Mario – European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi – to try and lift the market on Thursday, in his press conference following the ECB’s latest monetary policy meeting. First, the bad news, the ECB’s…
Market Recap: Week of July 27th 2015
Market Recap Global equity markets were in the red last week, with the sharp slide in commodity markets providing a worrying signal on the outlook for global growth. In Europe, the FTSE Eurofirst 300 closed down 2.77% for the week, similar to the declines…
Market Recap: Week of July 20th 2015
Market Recap Global equity markets recorded strong gains last week, buoyed by the perceived end to the Greek crisis, as the Greek government conceded to the demands of their creditors to remain in the single currency. In Europe, the FTSE Eurofirst 300 closed up…
Equity market valuations are “quite high”
Central bankers have not covered themselves in glory in the past when timing turning points in financial markets and real estate, and hence when they should take away the punch bowl.
Market Recap: Week of May 4th 2015
Market Recap: stronger Euro hurts European equities Most of the major equity indices were in the red last week, following weaker than expected economic data, most notably weak first quarter GDP data from the US and the UK.
Ben Bernanke v Wall Street Journal
Former Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke has been making waves since his retirement from the US Federal Reserve in 2013. While his easy monetary policy stance earned him the nickname “Helicopter Ben”, at $250,000 a speech Bernanke is bringing easy money to a whole new…
Has the world gone mad, or is it me?
These words from Ben Howard, the immensely talented singer-songwriter, ring in my head when I think about how much financial markets have been conditioned to respond to monetary stimulus. While central banks have engineered risk free rates on cash to zero (or negative in…
Monetary Policy: All Talk!
“When I was at the Federal Reserve, I occasionally observed that monetary policy is 98 percent talk and only two percent action” The above is the catchy opening line from Ben Bernanke, previous Chairman of the US Federal Reserve, on the inauguration of his…
