Lockdown and the Election

Don’t get carried out (on a stretcher)

For decades global stock markets have been driven in part by so-called carry trades. But these can reverse in spectacular fashion. A recent example was the “mini crash” of last August. Is another such reversal brewing?

Anatomy of a crash, part 2

Yesterday, we took a look at a handful of historical stock market crashes, their similarities and differences. Today, we turn our attention to the present. Does the current market set-up suggest the risk of a crash is elevated?

Anatomy of a crash, part 1

Stock market crashes, although rare, are a fact of investing life. They may be different in their specific causes, but they do share similar characteristics. Let’s take a look at a few and see if there are any indications whether another may be imminent.

Everything woke turns to…

After the surge of Brexit and Donald Trump’s first election win, attitudes seemed to shift back towards the left. “Woke” was in, and so therefore was alternative energy. For any business that has one product can you blame it for wanting to diversify? But companies that successfully switch from one area of specialisation to another are few and far between.