Morning Brief – Low Carbon Hydrogen

Low Carbon Hydrogen

Get ready for hearing lots about how this is the way forward for the UK’s energy strategy and how by 2050 more than 35% of our energy needs will be met by hydrogen. Listen carefully however and you might (just) hear that currently virtually none of our energy needs are derived from hydrogen. Hydrogen is produced by combining natural gas with steam but once available it could and the key word is could be used for a wide range of energy requirements. GBP/USD 1.3080.

Marine Le Pen

Previously written off as a potential winner of the first round of the French presidential elections on Sunday, Le Pen is suddenly within 3-6 points of incumbent President Macron. If that margin was 3 points it would mean that it would be within the margin of error. That has shaken markets as although Le Pen has dropped her plan to leave the Euro, she still plans to replace French membership of the EU with a European Alliance of Nations which would be much tougher on the smaller EU members. We have of course been here before but this time Le Pen is setting herself as being a much nicer candidate and due to Macron’s weak campaign and Zemmour’s extremism, it is working. EUR/USD 1.0912.

Home of the Whopper

Burger King is being sued for exaggerating the size of its burgers in advertisements by as much as 35%. This is not the first time that this accusation has been made.

Corsica

Back to France and the Presidential Elections: nowhere will be under closer scrutiny than Ajaccio in particular and Corsica generally. A promise has been given that Corsica will be given a degree of autonomy but plans to implement that have been shelved during the elections due to the wave of violence in the wake of the gruesome murder of Corsican nationalist Yvan Colonna last month while in prison. The French authorities are concerned that a resurgence of violence after the election in Corsica will be followed by other riots and destruction in volatile inner city areas.

Tammy Wynette

Best known for her song Stand by Your Man, Tammy Wynette struggled with that concept having walked up the aisle no less than five times. Never mind here it is:

I’ve been accused, among other things
Of doing most of my writing for you ladies
But I did write a song special for you guys
Don’t go away feeling slighted
This is special for you

Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman
Giving all your love to just one man
You’ll have bad times, and he’ll have good times
Doin’ things that you don’t understand

But if you love him, you’ll forgive him
Even though he’s hard to understand
And if you love him, oh, be proud of him
‘Cause after all, he’s just a man

Stand by your man
Give him two arms to cling to
And something warm to come to
When nights are cold and lonely

Stand by your man
And show the world you love him
Keep giving all the love you can
Stand by your man

Discussion and Analysis by Humphrey Percy, Chairman and Founder

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