The recent surge of interest in artificial intelligence (AI) has ignited a significant rally in technology stocks. Firms engaged in AI development, such as semiconductor producers crucial to AI technology and cloud service providers offering the necessary computing infrastructure, have experienced significant returns. The stock market is abuzz with excitement over artificialRead More →
The Fed in March 2024, indicated for the markets to expect three interest rate cuts by the end of 2024 – but what if this didn’t happen? The Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain interest rates in 2024 could have significant implications for the U.S. economy. Fed cred – credibility wouldRead More →
The donut theory A serious problem or a technical glitch? I call it the donut theory – where everything is perceived as good until… but it isn’t – when you can’t even buy a donut! Recent issues highlight a growing problem Due to a payment acceptance issue, the bakery chainRead More →
Norway has a long history of carbon management. For nearly 30 years, it has captured and reinjected carbon from gas production into seabed formations on the Norwegian continental shelf. Norway’s government wants to show the world it is possible to safely inject and store carbon waste under the seabed, sayingRead More →
As tech giant Nvidia soars on hype around artificial intelligence (AI), and as global stock indexes claim record highs, debate has grown about whether the stock market has entered a ‘bubble.’ An AI bubble of boom We are reminded of the dotcom bubble where investment was rife in anything tech – so, areRead More →
Water scarcity is a pressing global issue and has far-reaching consequences across various industries. One sector significantly affected is semiconductor manufacturing. How does water scarcity pose a threat to the production of essential microchips. Water in Semiconductor Manufacturing Ultra-pure water is a critical resource in semiconductor fabrication plants (fabs). It is usedRead More →
U.S. stocks have had a good year in 2023, and a great start to 2024 with new record highs being set. Many major indices have recorded double-digit gains. However, some analysts have warned that the rally may not last, as it has been driven by a few large-cap technology and growthRead More →
AI ‘trading bots’ are software programs that use artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse market data, generate trading signals, and execute trades automatically. ‘I meant Artificial Intelligence Investing not ‘Alien’ Investing (AI)’ AI trading bots are becoming more popular among investors who want to take advantage of the speed, accuracy, andRead More →
The world’s five richest men have increased their combined fortune from $405 billion in March 2020 to $869 billion in November 2023, according to a report from Oxfam. Wealth increased at a rate of $14 million per hour for 5 people A report by the charity highlighted the wealth ofRead More →
The UK Supreme Court has upheld earlier decisions to reject a bid to allow an artificial intelligence to be named as an inventor in a patent application. Dr Stephen Thaler (an ‘inventor’), had sought to have his AI, called Dabus, recognised as the inventor of a food container and aRead More →
A Downgrade Amidst Economic Slowdown In a significant development that has raised concerns among investors and policymakers worldwide, China’s debt outlook has been downgraded as the country grapples with a slowing economy. This move reflects growing apprehensions about the sustainability of China’s economic growth and its ability to manage itsRead More →
Santa rally is a term that refers to the tendency of the stock market to rise in the last week of December and the first two days of January. This is not a guaranteed or consistent pattern, and it may depend on many and various factors that affect the marketRead More →
Too much power for too few Tech execs have expressed concern that the development of artificial intelligence (AI) is concentrated in the hands of too few companies, potentially giving them too much power. OpenAI’s ChatGPT marked the start of what many in the industry have called an AI arms race,Read More →
Dame Alison Rose, the former chief executive of NatWest Group, will lose out on £7.6m after she admitted to discussing the closure of Nigel Farage’s bank account with a BBC journalist. Another word for getting the sack? She ‘resigned’ from the banking group in July 2023, after the former UkipRead More →
Elon Musk is one of the most influential and visionary leaders in the field of AI. He has recently shared his views on how AI will eventually create a situation where no job is needed, and how humans will have to find meaning in life. Disruptive or force for good?Read More →
There is some evidence that AI could create the next financial crisis, according to some experts and regulators. AI scenarios AI could increase the complexity and opacity of financial markets, making it harder to monitor and prevent systemic risks. For example, AI could enable new forms of market manipulation, fraud, orRead More →
If the Israel-Hamas conflict further intensifies, the risks to the global economy are growing, economist Mohamed el-Erian reportedly said Monday 30th October 2023. The impact on global markets was initially limited, as investors viewed the conflict as contained. However, the prospect of a regional spillover has added to a senseRead More →
Central banks, 18 months ago got it fundamentally wrong and they got it wrong on many other occasions too. So why take any notice? The Fed and other central banks insisted that inflation would be ‘transitory’ – it wasn’t. It reached 7%. That’s 5% above the target of 2%. Along withRead More →
Some analysts say yes! Buying the dip means purchasing an asset, usually a stock, when its price has dropped. The expectation is that the drop is a short-term anomaly, and the asset’s price will soon go back up. It is a strategy that some traders and investors use to take advantage ofRead More →
Utterly shocking eye watering covid fraud related losses incurred through government incompetence. The UK covid fraud amount is not a single figure, but rather a sum of various losses due to fraud and error across different government schemes and programmes. List of government failures and waste £21bn of public moneyRead More →
Inflation and interest rate correlation The stock market is influenced by many factors, such as economic data, earnings reports, geopolitical events, investor sentiment, and technical indicators. Some analysts have suggested that the recent sell-off in the market may have created some oversold conditions that could lead to a relief rallyRead More →
It has been suggested Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson have overseen biggest tax rises since the Second World War ‘Fiscal responsibility’ – code words for ‘cock-up!’ Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have stressed the need for ‘fiscal responsibility’ amid still-high inflation and rising debt costs. According toRead More →
British Medical Association-organised strike Consultants and junior doctors in England are holding their first joint strike in the history of the NHS. Waiting list The latest data from NHS England, states the number of people waiting to start routine hospital treatment is at a record high of 7.68 million at the endRead More →
CLOSED: ‘How am I meant to get a decent education’? School and building closures are disrupting our children’s education in the UK. The issues range from asbestos contamination, building material failures, Covid closures and teacher strikes. What the hell?Read More →
Think of the biggest market for a physical product you can possibly imagine – are you thinking mobile phones, cars or game devices even? Think again…? They are all big commercial markets but in the coming decades a new product is coming and it will be so desirable that itRead More →
