Recent elections in Hungary and the Netherlands, along with Trump 2.0's flagging support, led some to speculate that world-wide political populism may be peaking. However, these hopes were dashed by the UK local election results in which Reform UK was the big winner, and nationalist parties took control in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In … Continue reading Can the United Kingdom Be Fixed?
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Iran War: Assessing the Economic Fallout
The US-Israeli attacks on Iran, and the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have sent oil prices soaring above $100 per barrel. With the war now two weeks old, I consider some of the economic and financial market fallout. As the consequences will increase the longer the conflict continues, the failure of the Trump … Continue reading Iran War: Assessing the Economic Fallout
COP 30: The Planet Doesn’t Do Politics
23 November 2025 The COP 30 summit in Belem Brasil now has concluded. Let's face it, progress on climate change has lost momentum. Not only has Potus 47 ditched America's Net Zero commitment, but leaders from key polluting nations China, India, Russia, and the USA did not attend the conference. In line with the 2015 … Continue reading COP 30: The Planet Doesn’t Do Politics
Gold: Debasement or Risk-On Rally?
19 October 2025 The price of gold has risen sharply during the past two years. More recently, Jerome Powell's August speech at Jackson Hole, Wyoming -- where he signaled the Federal Reserve would begin lowering interest rates -- has turbocharged gold's ascent. Indeed, investors are considering whether the dramatic appreciation signals a flight to quality, … Continue reading Gold: Debasement or Risk-On Rally?