The Federal Reserve Hike Is A 100% Certainty, Apparently… The FOMC (the federal reserve’s open committee) meets for the final time this year on Wednesday. The expectation, courtesy of the analysts polled, is for a unanimous FOMC agreement to raise USA base rates by 0.25%, representing the first (and last) interest rate rise in 2016. […]
When did a trillion become so trifling? From time to time it pays to take a step back from our markets, in order to recalibrate our perceptions. Apologies in advance for the mixed metaphors but occasionally; “taking a view from the hill”, being able to “see the woods from the trees”, is essential in order
As USA equity markets reach record highs, has the Santa Rally started early? Bah Humbug! A Santa Claus rally is considered to be the rise in equity prices during the month of December, however, it’s generally seen (and limited to) the final week of trading, prior to the new year. This phenomena has occurred 26
Are banks now all too big to fail? History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme Mark Twain – “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” Voltaire – “History never repeats itself. Man always does.” Occasionally, events occur that remind us of times gone past. Is it only eight years since the global financial
The markets remain calm after the Italian referendum vote In yesterday’s morning roll call we highlighted the immediate calm market reaction to the Italian referendum vote. Moreover, we suggested that the effects and the potential aftershocks of the NO vote, might not materialise immediately and might take some time to become apparent. We also suggested
Referendum decisions only signal the beginning of the process The Italian referendum NO vote market moves were subdued in comparison to that witnessed in the wake of the Brexit vote and Trump’s victory. Shortly after the markets opened on Sunday evening, gold was up 0.6% and yen had risen by 0.3% versus
“Things that make you go hmmm”, analysts doubt OPEC’s cut will last… The ink wasn’t even dry on the agreement that OPEC (apparently) signed on November 30th and analysts scratched their heads, stroked their beards, narrowed their eyes, sharpened their pencils and began to cast their collective cynical gaze over the numbers. Quite simply; the
OPEC finally finds its sweet spot, for light sweet crude. It’s always a relief for: analysts, economists and market commentators when a huge looming economic event, highlighted on the economic calendar, is finally over. The narrative, building up to this particular event, had become repetitive and tiresome; “will they, won’t they, by how much, who’s
Renzi’s Italian job, he might “just blow the bloody doors off!” In the 1969 British film the Italian Job, a film depicting a gold theft in Turin, the actor Michael Caine delivered what’s now regarded as a legendary line; “you were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!” The bank robbers had used too
Mario Draghi reads the riot act to the UK and warns of the consequences of a hard Brexit. “The Riot Act (1714) was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain that authorised local authorities to declare any group of twelve or more people to be unlawfully assembled, and thus have to disperse or face
