MoneyWeek

“Nobody knows anything.” Always remember screenwriter William Goldman’s famous dictum when confronted with economic and market forecasts, especially if they have been as consistent as a weathervane. Following the banking turmoil, the fashionable view

A US credit crunch appears to be underway, says Michael Wilson of Morgan Stanley. Last month’s banking crisis was expected to cause a tightening in lending conditions. Now the first signs of a squeeze are emerging. US Federal Reserve data shows that

New Bank of Japan (BoJ) governor Kazuo Ueda has “the worst job in international finance”, says William Pesek in the Asia Times. Over the past decade his predecessor, Haruhiko Kuroda, who stepped down this month, has embarked on money printing on a va

Online retailer THG – formerly known as The Hut Group – “has joined a string of mid-sized British companies at risk of being swallowed by private equity”, says Jasper Jolly in The Guardian. The shares have rocketed by 45% following a takeover approac

“Boosted by the good results of the luxury sector, the Paris Bourse hit a new high every day” last week, says Sophie Rolland in Les Echos. Luxury conglomerates Kering, Hermès, L’Oréal and Louis Vuitton owner-LVMH jointly account for almost one-quarte

When Nicola Sturgeon resigned as Scotland’s first minister in February, it would have been “hard to imagine” the “mess” the Scottish National Party would be in mere weeks later, says the Financial Times. Her husband, Peter Murrell, the SNP’s former c

The Scottish National Party’s (SNP) new leader, Humza Yousaf, set out his priorities in his maiden speech to the Holyrood parliament as Scotland’s first minister on Tuesday – promising a “fresh start” that would “seize the opportunities of net zero t

edwest.substack.com Academic Matthew Goodwin argues, in his new book Values, Voice and Virtue, that Britain is under the sway of a new elite, says Ed West. The old establishment, still holed up in its old bastions in the Royal Family, the House of L

Do the exceptionally wide discounts to net asset value (NAV) of private equity trusts represent a bargain or are they a warning of trouble ahead? Keynes reminded us that “markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent”, but markets

Until early 2022 it was assumed that the days of gas – and other fossil fuels – as an energy source were numbered. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the economic consequences of the upheaval in energy markets have “increased the amount of

Cash seems a little more attractive these days, especially if you are willing to lock your money up in a fixed-term account. You can get about 4.5% for a one- or two-year fix (there isn’t much of a premium for a three- or five-year one right now), mo

The next US presidential election takes place on 5 November 2024 – and the Democrats have already scored one big win. Prior to last year’s mid-term elections, they controlled the presidency and both Houses of Congress. Governments love lifting their

Call it a warning shot. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank last month plunged many small businesses in the UK into full-blown panic. Rapid intervention by regulators and the government meant businesses were able to keep trading with minimal disrupti

The UK is second only to the US when it comes to scientific publications and Britain’s strong position in science supports many scientific-instrument companies. There is a growing global market in this sector owing to steady organic expansion in scie

When the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, delivered his first autumn statement last November, in the chaotic aftermath of Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget, he name-checked Nigel Lawson several times. It’s a measure of the enduring influence of “the man who was s

Recreational train journeys are experiencing a revival around the world, says Marisel Salazar in Condé Nast Traveller. They are eco-friendly, affordable and a great way to take in the scenery. Take Scotland, for example. The West Highland line starts

Old Hall Stables, Brererton, Cheshire. A conversion of Grade II-listed stables that were formerly part of the Brereton Hall Estate. The interiors feature exposed brickwork, fireplaces with wood-burning stoves and a large kitchen with patio doors over

At Table One, West led the Ace of Clubs versus Four Spades, and followed with the King (normal-looking if uninspired). Declarer ruffed, crossed to the Ace of Diamonds, and led a Trump. When East’s singleton King popped up, he could win the Ace, cash

You can tell when we are in an economic crisis: the influencers start to tell us how “capitalism” has failed, that “the system” that made us so wealthy has now reached the end of the line, that there is no more juice in that lemon. “The latest releas