Demystifying the oddness of corporate bonds
The bond market can often seem like a mysterious world for stockpickers. While equity sell-offs are often attributed to emotional reactions, bondholders selling can be seen as a calculated move or a way to exert pressure on issuers. The government bond market holds significant power, as the chancellor is ultimately answerable to bond buyers, who […]
Baby Boomers are about to start selling assets
The increasing ratio of net wealth to gross domestic product (GDP) in the United States has raised concerns about a potential asset bubble. In 1995, total US household net worth stood at $26tn, but today it has skyrocketed to $150tn, almost six times higher. This surge in net wealth has not been matched by a […]
How to solve London’s housing shortage
The focus of this year’s London Real Estate Forum was primarily on residential property, reflecting the current political climate and the potential for significant financial gain in the midst of the Great British Housing Crisis. As someone who rents a small flat in an outer London borough and dreams of homeownership, discussions about the necessary […]
BP is returning to type with its latest plans
The recent events in the Middle East have caused some turbulence in the global energy markets, with concerns rising about the potential impact on crude oil volumes passing through the vital Strait of Hormuz. This has led to an increase in valuations for major oil companies like BP and Shell, despite the latter recently announcing […]
Is there value bottled up in this whisky maker?
Artisanal Spirits (ART) made its debut in June 2021 with high hopes, riding on the wave of two major market trends. The first trend was the growing popularity of subscription-based business models, which suited Artisanal well as the sole owner of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), a members-only club for single malt enthusiasts. The […]
When performance-related pay works against investors
The Evolution of Executive Pay at Sanderson Design Group Performance-related pay has long been a controversial topic in the world of corporate governance. The idea behind it is simple: tie executive compensation to shareholder returns. Sanderson Design Group (SDG), a luxury interior furnishings company known for its iconic William Morris wallpapers, is no stranger to […]
A new strike shows AI’s true social problem
The recent threat of a strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) has shed light on the ongoing debate surrounding automation and its impact on jobs. The dockworkers are concerned about the potential loss of their jobs to automation due to recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and inflation. They are demanding pay raises and […]
The benefits of letting consumers decide what’s best
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, made headlines last week with the announcement of their new augmented reality glasses. While not yet available for purchase, Meta distributed these glasses to journalists and technology analysts for review, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The company’s shift towards virtual and augmented reality technology, reflected in their rebranding […]
Bearbull Income Portfolio: A new way to measure success
Investors are constantly seeking the best strategies to build wealth, often approaching the challenge with an engineer’s mindset. Last week, this column explored the limitations of an over-optimised worldview, highlighting the importance of embracing randomness and uncertain exploration for unexpected benefits. Reflecting on this, it becomes apparent that the investing industry frequently adopts a systematic […]
Why this mental health provider is on my watchlist
The world is currently facing unprecedented levels of volatility, with events such as the upcoming US election and Israel’s military actions in Lebanon causing uncertainty and instability. This is a stark contrast to the years of 2015-2019, when everything seemed relatively normal and volatility was low. The year 2020 was dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, […]