Oil closed above $41 (WTI) after POTUS clarified remarks about the status of the China trade talks which he announced remained intact. Markets were relieved and equities had a further positive day with FTSE up 5% from its lows last week and the US markets still back to their highs of earlier in the year. EUR is back at its best level since March versus USD and Gold at $1782 remains firm but has halted its rise after the initial rally of a month ago. Bitcoin for those of you with a crypto interest is at $9687 where it is currently finding it hard to break through the psychological $10,000 barrier.
Those with Alitalia vouchers or who are awaiting vouchers will be pondering whether they are likely to be better off on the news that the Italian government is poised to nationalise the airline which is down to its last EUR 232 Million of cash. On balance it must be better as it will make it harder in the future for Italy to shrug, say “Basta “ and walk away. For those of us who are wistfully looking at pictures of the Amalfi Coast, Rome, Venice and the Costa Smeralda from previous years, we are just thrilled at the prospect of being able to travel to Italy once again later in the summer. Meanwhile…
Cornetto anyone?!
Mick Fleetwood has enjoyed what is euphemistically called a full life. Married four times including twice to the same woman, Mick is currently single and worth $20 Million having by his own admission spent tens of millions on partying and recreational drugs. At 1.95 metres the best known native of Redruth, Cornwall has drummed his way through various combinations of Fleetwood Mac in the past 57 years since he embarked on his musical career in 1963. Far and away Fleetwood Mac’s most lucrative album was the 1977 Rumours which sold 40 million copies(and counting) and here’s part of their excellent song, Songbird:
For you, there’ll be no more crying
For you, the sun will be shining
And I feel that when I’m with you
It’s alright, I know it’s right
To you, I’ll give the world
To you, I’ll never be cold
‘Cause I feel that when I’m with you
It’s alright, I know it’s right
And the songbirds are singing
Like they know the score
And I love you, I love you, I love you
Like never before
Discussion and Analysis by Humphrey Percy, Chairman and Founder
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Reckoning Days Despite it being less than one week until Donald Trump’s inauguration, markets are still fixated on the evolution of the UK’s bond market and its currency. The Chancellor may well have been hoping for some distracting headlines from the incoming President-elect. Unfortunately for her, those that have come from the Trump administration and […]
Europe With EU annual inflation coming in at 2.4% up from 2.2%, conventional wisdom might suggest that that might dampen the ECB’s enthusiasm for an early cut in EUR interest rates at the end of January. But such is the weakness pervading the EU economies, it is more likely that the hawkish tendencies at the […]