SGM-FX insights

Hard Brexit and the current market environment   Now that markets have dissected the UK Parliament vote on Thursday night, collective wisdom is pointing towards an increase in the likelihood of a hard Brexit ie a NoDeal Brexit. Guess what? GBP currency traders do not like the sound of that while conversely the FTSE with […]

It’s Official: to understand the British and Brexit (you non Brits) you need to appreciate….Marmalade!     So first things first: for the classical scholars among you, recipes go back to Pliny and Martial. Marmalade is either shop bought or home made and like a number of great institutions-the monarchy, tea and democracy is non […]

To all our Clients: A Valentine Message and 3 corny jokes (sorry!)     1. Q: What did the boy octopus say to the girl octopus? A: Can I hold your hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand? 2. Q: What did one snake say to the other snake? A: Give me […]

Alfred Lord Tennyson: The Charge of the Light Brigade   ….Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them Volley’d and thunder’d; Storm’d at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well,   Tradition has it that according to market pundits and in particular the richest Rothschild of […]

Ripe, Sexy, and Flamboyant…     No not the UK economy as it turns out, but the 2017 new Rhone wine vintage (according to the French!) Yesterday’s UK Q4 GDP release further confirmed what we have been saying with GDP Growth slowing to 0.2%. Not great- and the market is keeping a close watch on […]

GBP…and where to over the next few weeks? Never Gonna Give You Up-with thanks to Rick Astley (birthday #53 last week: congrats Rick!)   At the beginning of Valentine week (following the week that was) it is timely to remind ourselves of what the various outcomes could mean from the UK Parliament vote as and […]

A Bit Fishy………   The Blind Date But we trod grapes and paddled on, Through a neap tide of Sauvignon, Drowning our disappointment in drink, Above a pale octopus poached in its own ink.   It must be Friday…. Crime busting Devon UK police have arrested a man for suspected drug driving after he swerved […]

Incredible India: It Ain’t Half Hot! (Economically)   Come On In!   The seventh largest country in the world by land mass is forging ahead with an impressive array of statistics which in total mean that India is set to affect every citizen on the planet in the next decade. India has the world’s fastest […]

Gong Hei Fat Choy!     In case you have asked yourselves what the world’s most populous nation, China get up to over their New Year, there is quite a prescriptive programme!     With Asia celebrating Chinese New Year on the eve of the Year of The Pig, markets have seen GBP weaken by […]

Silly Season arrived early?     In my experience it is August each year when trading bosses are relaxing on the Algarve/ In the South of France/ In the Hamptons when newspapers and wire services desperate for stories and having found nothing of any possible interest to their readers from the seconds/thirds in command of trading […]

Hey presto: Upbeat Monday(for a change!)     So here’s the thing, having had the chance over one of the coldest weekends in recent years to review the markets this weekend, and especially the UK market, it would seem that there is a good chance that the UK stock market is set for a decent […]

Best Excuses?!-The Dog Ate My Homework     Yesterday was the last day for filing 2018 tax returns with the UK’s HMRC and they have shared their own favourite excuses for late or non-filing of returns. Not all of them meet the high standards which we all remember from our school days but here are […]