Why access to credit rather than interest rates should be the primary tool of monetary policy. — For policy makers to minimize the human misery from economic booms and busts it’s important they have the right tools for the job. For the better part of a century interest rates have gone unchallenged as the primary monetary tool for Central Bankers and policy makers. It’s time that we…

This time is different — Investors and economists rely on historical examples of trends and events to predict the future. Reinhart and Rogoffs study of 500 years of financial and economic collapses proved how prone we are to repeating the past. But what happens when there just isn’t a historical example to draw from? Sure…

Business and investment strategies to prepare for volatile supply chains and rising interest rates. — There’s money to be made and lost in volatility and uncertainty. Right now, the global economy has macro forces pulling at it from either direction. Consumers are running hot with household savings, an appetite for spending and a strong labour market that supports wage growth. On the other hand, China…

In this months note let’s explore how commodities and inflation squeeze the consumer and how the return-to-office is a once in a lifetime culture opportunity. — March is the month that everything kicks into gear. The holidays are behind us and the works back in earnest. Personally, the last month has been chaotic with wedding planning, projects and the return of MBA classes. But don’t worry, that schedule couldn’t suppress my reading appetite as I kept…

This month features analysis on a shift in market attitudes to online companies and how conflict in a key region for global commodities might play out. — Its been a short and impactful month with lots to talk about. At the surface, earnings season looks normal with the number of companies beating and missing expectations at trend. Bubbling up, there’s concerns around the viability of e-commerce models and how the ‘COVID sauce’, as Felix Oberholzer-Gee puts it…

This month I investigate soft data and stock selection, the debate around wage transparency and the expected rise of financial scandals in 2022. — The year has kicked off with a bang and a nose dive. Not even a month in and it’s providing all the volatility you could imagine. With markets and regulators trying to manage a changing environment that anticipates interest rate rises, a revaluation of stocks and a strong economy with…

The three themes every investor and manager needs to be aware of this year — 2022 is a year that will challenge every investor, strategist and operations manager. The push and pull of global dynamics put us all in a state of flux and figuring out the strategy for cash won’t be easy. Inflationary pressure, exasperated people looking for a return to normalcy, supply chain…

Are NFTs the future of news and the way to monetise the loungeroom? — The ‘streaming wars’ and the road to the consumers lounge room and leisure time is littered with potholes. In just the last thirty years we’ve seen the rise and fall of VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray, Pay TV, Satellite TV, the set top box and even traditional coaxial television. This constant state…

Delving into the narratives of company earnings and what they mean for the economy. — The last month has been data overload. A huge range of corporate announcements and global economic data points have come together so we can sit down and read the tea leaves. Clear recurring trends are threading through the data but to keep things simple I’ve selected three core themes that…