Santa Clause ain’t coming to town: Why you shouldn’t expect stocks to rally – CNBC Comment November 24, 2015 Last week was the year’s best for the S&P 500. October also saw a very strong bounceback from the late summer malaise. I’ve been surprised by the recent recoveries in markets in the short term. When you pair that with the huge long-term gains we have had since March 2009 alongside my fundamental bearishness, [...]
Corporate networking needs a rethink: Senior mentors and targeted events aren’t always the best idea November 24, 2015 Like most of us, I’m a firm believer in the power of networks to help facilitate professional growth at all career levels. In today’s increasingly digital world, much of our networking has moved online. And of course social media absolutely has its place but, in my opinion, you can’t underestimate the value of good old [...]
Fed interest rate hike decision: Why I’m long the dollar – whatever history says November 23, 2015 With the US Federal Reserve expected to raise rates for the first time since 2004 next month, should every man and his dog be long dollar? Or is this a good example of a “buy the rumour, sell the news” rally? Looking at the statistics of the eight Fed rate hike cycles since 1971, [...]
US interest rates: Markets are prepared for a Fed rate hike – eToro Tips & Picks November 23, 2015 The markets are absorbing the likelihood that the Fed will raise US interest rates next month, reducing investor uncertainty. All eyes are now on the ECB and the Bank of Japan, which are seeking to stimulate economic growth. Mario Draghi announced on Friday that he is determined to increase inflation. This could involve expanding the [...]
Why Game of Thrones’ Mother of Dragons Daenerys beats Cersei Lannister as a successful business leader November 22, 2015 In the TV series Game of Thrones, viewers are presented with many examples of leadership in action. But are there any lessons business leaders can take from the show? First, however, consider the limitations of leaders in the real world. The media is full of profiles of accomplished leaders, so we could be forgiven [...]
Frugal innovation: Doing more with less – the six principles to adopt to innovate faster and cheaper November 20, 2015 Stagnant incomes and greater concern for the environment are making western consumers both more value and values conscious. Equally, ordinary people in the West are increasingly empowered to do with limited resources what only large firms could do in the past. Ubiquitous tools, such as smartphones, cloud computing, 3D printers, crowdfunding, and social media, [...]
Cash is no king: But there are some high interest paying current accounts November 19, 2015 With the UK’s low-interest rate environment likely to continue well into next year, few would claim that cash is king. But at a time of meagre bond yields and volatility in equity markets, cash is no pretender either. The attractiveness of easy-access accounts has weakened in recent years, with most providers offering less than 1.5 [...]