A Different Perspective
Asking the Right Questions
Weekly Market Recap: W/E October 30th 2015
Market Recap
The performance of the major global equity indices was mixed last week, with investors pausing for reflection in what has been an impressive month for returns. Read More
Retirement in the US looks good for the few
Last week, the Institute for Policy Studies in the US released an interesting report entitled “A Tale of Two Retirements”. The report looks at retirement assets in the United States, highlighting some thought provoking facts about the lack of pension provision across the population, but also the vast inequality between the few and the many. Read More
Weekly Market Recap: W/E October 23rd 2015
Market Recap
Global equity markets continued the strong run of form that began in October, buoyed by further central bank support. On Thursday, European Central Bank (ECB) President, Mario Draghi, provided reassuring comments which convinced market participants that the ECB are eyeing the next stage of their monetary policy experiment. Read More
The Chinese, a great bunch of lads!
British Prime Minister, David Cameron, did his best to woo the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, last week on his state visit to the United Kingdom. The Chinese President was treated to pints of ale, fish and chips, and a tour of Manchester City’s football academy, all part of Cameron’s efforts to display a deeper relationship with China, in what he calls a “golden era” in British-Chinese relations. Read More
Mario Draghi and the lower “lower bound”….
In September 2014, ECB President Mario Draghi cut interest rates on their main refinancing operations, the marginal lending facility rate and the deposit facility to 0.05%, 0.30% and -0.20% respectively. At the time Draghi confirmed that “now we are at the lower bound, where technical adjustments are not going to be possible any longer”. Read More
Weekly Market Recap: W/E October 16th 2015
Market Recap
Global equity markets ended the week marginally higher, after the major indices recouped early week losses on Thursday and Friday. Disappointing economic data, including falling inflation across the globe, has once again fuelled speculation that central banks will step back into the fray to support the economy recovery. Investors fretting about a possible US Fed rate hike over the last few months are now hopeful that the Fed will remain on hold till 2016. As well, it is only a matter of time before the ECB expand their bond purchase programme. This is a familiar story. Read More
Canadians cast their vote in Federal Election…..
Canada is the latest country to hold elections, with Canadians casting their vote on Monday in the Federal election. After just returning from a trip to Toronto, it was impossible to escape the media coverage. Aside from the excitement of the Toronto Blue Jays making the conference final of Major League Baseball, for the first time in 23 years, the media was dominated by political party ads. It was interesting to hear Canada’s political leaders promote their manifestos. Different accents, but the same promises! Read More
The “Normal One”, the German from the Black Forest…..
My weekly market commentary may be taking on a German influence going forward, given the appointment of Jurgen Klopp as manager of Liverpool FC.
Describing himself as ‘a normal guy from the Black Forest’, Klopp is a true character that should provide plenty of material. He is also a proven winner with Borussia Dortmund, an icon in German football and particularly among the Dortmund faithful.
Of course, the disclaimer that you see on every investment fund factsheet also holds true in the football world: “past performance is no guarantee of future results”. Still, I am confident Klopp has the skill and the natural enthusiasm to end Liverpool’s premier league drought!
Weekly Market Recap: W/E October 2nd 2015
Market Recap
After a mixed week in global equity markets, the major US equity indices staged a rebound on Friday following a weaker than expected employment situation report, feeding expectations that the Fed will push out their rate hike till March 2016. Read More
The Fergie Factor – Insights from a Proven Leader
All Liverpool fans lament the day Alex Ferguson crossed the border from Scotland into England, joining Manchester United in November 1986 after a successful time as manager of Aberdeen. That same year Liverpool won the double, the league championship and FA Cup. The 1970s and 1980s were Liverpool’s time, dominating English football and winning four European cups. Meanwhile, when Fergie took over at United the trophy starved club hadn’t won the league since 1967, under the revered Matt Busby. His greatest challenge? “Knocking Liverpool right off their f##king perch.” Read More
