Monthly Reviews

Straitjacket The continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused fuel prices to rise precipitously across the world’s economies, leading to fears of a substantial increase in inflation which...

The final day of February saw the US, in conjunction with Israel, initiate strikes against Iran, toppling its leader in the process. Energy prices rose sharply.  On the last day...

The final day of February saw the US, in conjunction with Israel, initiate strikes against Iran, toppling its leader in the process. Iran’s response, in targeting other regional pro-US states,...

The value of all the world’s above-ground gold rose to USD39trln on Thursday, January 29th. But then fell USD3.4trln on the final business day of January, roughly the market capitalisation...

The US Economy expanded at its fastest rate in two years in the quarter ended 30 September 2025, delivering a 4.3% annualised growth rate. That data was announced on 23...

Longest ever US Government shutdown comes to an end. It failed to unnerve financial markets where better earnings continued to help US equities. Nvidia’s much-awaited results initially helped the company’s...

UK Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) remains at 3.8% year-on-year but better than forecast of 4.0%. The Bank of England has room to reduce base rates by 0.25% to 3.75% when...

Official US interest rates cut for the first time this year The Bank of England holds rates, having cut in August Gold rises on raised geopolitical concerns and fears of...

Inflation Up – Base Rates Down Not the usual relationship between price inflation and monetary policy changes, but the Bank of England lowered bank/base rates by 0.25% in August despite...

Deal or No Deal After the furore that surrounded Liberation Day 1.0 on April 2nd earlier this year, financial markets were both apprehensive of what might happen on the next...