Morning Brief – New Italian President

New Italian President

Yesterday Italy reinstated the present incumbent, Sergio Mattarella the 80 year old who said he had had enough and did not want to serve a second term which will take him to the age of 87. Never mind his objections, this result has been hailed a success and an outcome that all of Italy wanted -at least by Mario Draghi the defeated candidate who most pundits thought was rather the candidate that all of Italy wanted.
EUR/USD 1.1140.

Ricarda Lang

Germany’s Green Party have elected Ricarda Lang aged 28 as one of their leaders in an unashamed attempt to woo Germany’s younger voters. Eyecatching policies on readying Germany for the digital age and becoming carbon neutral might be deemed by some as coming very late to the party, but the Greens are now a force to be reckoned with in the post Merkel world of German politics since the largest parties need their support- whatever that may involve.

UK Train Commuter Incentive

With UK train passenger levels only at 53% of pre-pandemic levels, an arithmetically challenged civil servant buried deep in the UK Government has come up with the wheeze of incentivising commuters to up their return to work by linking up with coffee shop Pure and bakery chain, Greggs. Since restrictions were lifted passenger levels have risen by a measly 5%, so in an effort to get back to pre pandemic levels, the plan is to offer a range of incentives including a Mindfulness App, free coffees and bacon rolls. The thing is, the bacon roll hand out is limited to 1000. The stats reflect that of the 27 million UK workers, 2.9 million or 11% commuted by train pre pandemic in 2019. That has fallen to 1.54 million, so the offer of a bacon roll is a 1400 to 1 shot, so hardly a compelling reason in itself to go back to taking the train.

I Want You Back

This day in 1970 the Jackson Five went to Number One with this great number, the first of 3 consecutive Number Ones for the J5.

Let me tell you now
Uh huh
When I had you to myself
I didn’t want you around
Those pretty faces always made you
Stand out in a crowd
But someone picked you from the bunch
One glance was all it took
Now it’s much too late for me
To take a second look
Oh, baby, give me one more chance
(To show you that I love you)
Won’t you please let me
Back in your heart
Oh, darling, I was blind to let you go
(Let you go baby)
But now since I see you in his arms
(I want you back) yes, I do now
(I want you back) ooh ooh, baby
(I want you back) Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(I want you back) Now, now, now, now
Trying to live without your love
Is one long sleepless night
Let me show you girl
That I know wrong from right
Every street you walk on
I leave tear stains on the ground
Following the girl
I didn’t even want around
(Let me show you now)

Discussion and Analysis by Humphrey Percy, Chairman and Founder

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