Well, that wasn’t quite the week Donald Trump or Wall Street had in mind. American voters handed the Republicans a political kicking, the Democrats seized both houses of Congress, and suddenly some of Wall Street’s favourite investments don’t look quite so comfortable.
The post A Blue Wave, a Red-Faced President and an AI Hangover first appeared on JP Fund Services.

There are times to be aggressive, and there are times to make sure you’re still standing when everyone else discovers they were too aggressive. Right now, I favour the latter. That doesn’t mean hiding under the bed with a tin helmet and a box of baked beans.
The post Election Fever, Dollar Strength and That AI IPO first appeared on JP Fund Services.

Well, it’s been another interesting week in the markets, although after decades of observing capital market events, I’m beginning to wonder whether anything really changes. The faces are different, the numbers are bigger, and the politicians have become considerably more expensive. But the underlying problems? Remarkably familiar for someone who entered the markets in the 70s.
The post Wall Street Wants Profits, Politicians Want Money – And Inflation Wants Everything first appeared on JP Fund Services.

Another week in the wonderful world of capital markets, where investors are celebrating record equity prices, governments are borrowing money they haven’t got, central bankers are pretending inflation is manageable, and the Middle East continues doing its best to make oil traders rich and everyone else miserable.
The post Same Circus, Different Week – Only The Ticket Prices Have Risen! first appeared on JP Fund Services.

What the hell is going on? For years I’ve been banging on about the direction Europe is travelling, and for years I’ve been told I’m too pessimistic, too cynical, too political and probably too old.
The post The Cheque Is On It’s Way – And Europe Doesn’t Have The Dough To Pay! first appeared on JP Fund Services.

There are times to be aggressive, and there are times to make sure you’re still standing when everyone else discovers they were too aggressive. Right now, I favour the latter. That doesn’t mean hiding under the bed with a tin helmet and a box of baked beans.
The post Cash, Quality, Gold and a Loaded Gun: How I’d Position for What Comes Next first appeared on JP Fund Services.

It’s been quite a week. Donald Trump went to the United Nations and, depending on your political persuasion, either delivered some uncomfortable home truths or behaved like the headmaster addressing a particularly troublesome school assembly.
The post Trump Talks, Markets Listen – But Europe Has a Much Bigger Problem first appeared on JP Fund Services.

I was hoping the markets might start behaving themselves. Fat chance. They appear to have spent the week drinking crude oil, frightening the bond market and arguing over whether artificial intelligence will save humanity or make most of it redundant before lunchtime.
The post Oil Lights the Fire, Bonds Send the Bill – and the Fed Reaches for the Extinguisher first appeared on JP Fund Services.

With the AfD making significant Political in-roads in Germany, which is a new bout of unapologetic German nationalism, the rest of Europe has been put on notice: Germany will not be dictated to by the EU.
The post The Rise of the AfD first appeared on JP Fund Services.

I’m back from holiday, just in time for September – the month when financial markets traditionally stop serving cocktails and start handing out margin calls.
The post The Suntans Are Fading – But inflation Isn’t first appeared on JP Fund Services.