Why wouldn’t it be?
The US dollar has lost significantly against a basket of currencies in both 2017 and 2018 (so far), details here.
In fact, the US dollar has lost over 10% against 29 currencies (for 56 countries) over the past year, details here. Continue reading “When does a weak US dollar become a headache for the Federal Reserve?”
An aging world: Babies born in 2018 can expect to live to over 100. In 2015, there were around 600 million people aged 65 or over and that number is expected to rise to over 2 billion by 2050.
Changing demographics: There are currently 8 workers in employment for every retiree today, that number is likely to reduce to 4 workers in employment for every retiree by 2050.
Underfunding: The UK currently has $6.2 trillion in underfunded government and public-sector employee pensions. For the US that amount is over $25 trillion.
Lower bond yields: Previous funding assumed 7% bond yields, the number has been much closer to 2.5% since 2009 which has caused major deficits. Continue reading “The looming pension crisis”
Here is a chart of the average quoted interest rate on savings/deposits in the UK (Source: Bank of England) since 2011, Continue reading “Will saving/deposit interest rates in the UK really improve if the base rate goes up? One chart might answer the question”
Here are the currencies against whom the US Dollar (USD) has lost 10% or more over the past year, Continue reading “Here are the currencies against whom the US Dollar has lost 10% or more over the past year”
Apple is in talks to buy Cobalt (a key material used in mobile phone batteries) directly from miners. The price of Cobalt has more than tripled in the past 18 months to trade above $80,000 a metric ton. Apple is one of the largest end users of the metal. Here are how commodities have been performing over the past year, Continue reading “As everyone focusses on the stock and bond markets, here are how commodities have been performing”
Greece (Moody’s Credit Rating: Caa2) is now paying 83 bps lower interest on 2-year bonds than the US (Moody’s Credit Rating: Aaa). Is the US now truly the exception? Continue reading “US 10-year bond yield hits a 4-year high, is the US now an exception?”
Aggregate total net wealth of all households in Great Britain was £12.8 trillion in July 2014 to June 2016, up 15% from the July 2012 to June 2014 figure of £11.1 trillion. Continue reading “This is how wealthy UK households are (as per the Office for National Statistics)”
Businesses are bigger than ever. In terms of revenue, 69 of the 100 largest global entities are now corporations, not countries Continue reading “How M & A activity and record stock buybacks have reduced share buying choices and further driven up stock prices”
Banks in the UK have set aside £42 billion (US $59 billion) to cover Payment Protection Insurance or PPI compensation so far (starting 2011). We will look at how much has this compensation contributed to the GDP. Continue reading “How much has Payment Protection Insurance or PPI compensation contributed to the UK GDP?”
6pm on a winter weekday at London Bridge Station, several passengers wait for the departure platform of their train to be displayed. Some of these passengers aren’t looking on the display board though, they are looking at their phones and tablets on a website – not the Train operator or Network Rail (the company that manages the railway tracks, signalling and other infrastructure) but another website Continue reading “Why fewer everyday commuters are using the railway in Britain”