"There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen" Vladimir Lenin I was visiting relatives in Kuching, Sarawak when the multiple news reports of American bank failures hit the screens and home televisions the world over. The speed and ferocity of the downfall of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and the subsequent … Continue reading Bank runs & complex systems – Reflections from Sarawak
Tag: currencies
Latest thoughts on markets
"Perception is strong and sight weak. In strategy it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things." Miyamoto Musashi, 五輪書 The Near-View Risk-assets are likely to perform well into end-November or even the end of the year. Slower economic growth and geopolitical uncertainties … Continue reading Latest thoughts on markets
Reviewing 2018, & what’s next?
It's time for a review of 2018, and I have to say that I managed to protect my capital (which is great and am fortunate) but I did not capitalise aggressively on opportunities that I was aware of. But for both Wall Street and Main Street and for investors who have to be invested from … Continue reading Reviewing 2018, & what’s next?
If there’s one thing to know soon, it’s MMT
MMT stands for 'Modern Monetary Theory', and it may be the next must-know term to know and understand before it becomes mainstream. OK, but what exactly is Modern Monetary Theory? The Roosevelt Institute published an article about it eight years ago, and it simply describes a school of thought in macro-economic thinking that revolves around … Continue reading If there’s one thing to know soon, it’s MMT
Weekly Observations: Central Bankers as Gamemasters
An excerpt from a week's journal: 20 August 2018: Observations & Thoughts Today was generally a risk-on environment, with Chinese equity indexes leading the way in Asia Pacific (Japan and South Korea lagged). Indian equities continued to climb higher. The Yuan has also somewhat stabilised and has strengthened against the USD since last week. Chinese … Continue reading Weekly Observations: Central Bankers as Gamemasters
Weekly Observations
An excerpt from a week's journal: Weekend 4 - 5 August 2018: Observations & Thoughts What a crazy week of a series of risk-off days. It’s time to reassess the macro liquidity landscape: US high yield bond credit spreads remain under control and are still relatively tight: The Chicago Fed’s ANFC Index is still at … Continue reading Weekly Observations
These are the things I wish I knew before I started investing
When I first started dabbling in the financial markets years ago, it wasn't a pleasant experience. I made money at first but eventually lost it all, and losing one's hard-earned savings was a heart-wrenching experience. It made me doubt if I could ever become a successful investor (I know it sounds naive). While I saw … Continue reading These are the things I wish I knew before I started investing
Wondering how to manage investment risk? Here’s some advice from veteran Aaron Brown
There are many ways to make money in the financial markets. No matter the investment philosophy and strategy, getting risk management right is crucial if investors want to survive for the long haul. What better way to find out more about the subject than from a veteran practitioner. There are thousands of podcasts available for … Continue reading Wondering how to manage investment risk? Here’s some advice from veteran Aaron Brown
Macro Investing Masterclass (John Burbank converses with Kyle Bass)
John Burbank III, founder of Passport Capital, is a well-known macro investor based out of San Francisco. He grew Passport from around $800,000 to an investment firm managing north of $3 billion at its height. He was also one of the few money managers who anticipated the subprime mortgage crisis in 2005 and actually … Continue reading Macro Investing Masterclass (John Burbank converses with Kyle Bass)
We’re in an era of ‘Strong Men’: 4 things investors must take note of
Political experts use the phrase 'strong men era' to describe the current political landscape. Everywhere across the world, authoritarian leaders have swept into power (or simply seized it) since the start of the current decade. In the US, Republican President Donald Trump is widely considered as a populist politician who has an anti-establishment leaning. His … Continue reading We’re in an era of ‘Strong Men’: 4 things investors must take note of