Retail and restaurant apocalypse in the UK?

Jamie’s Italian and Barbecoa, Strada, Byron, Prezzo, Chimichanga, MEXIco, Cleaver, Square Pie, EAT – the growing list of chain restaurants in the UK which have either completely closed or are closing several restaurants.

The fashion store East, shoe chain Shoon, bed specialists Warren Evans and Feather & Black, toy store Toys R Us, electronic store Maplin have all gone into administration or liquidation. Meanwhile House of Fraser, Debenhams and New Look are all struggling, with all three considering large-scale closures of stores or space.

Even grocery retailers Tesco, Sainsburys and Morrisons have announced staff redundancies. So, what is happening? Continue reading “Retail and restaurant apocalypse in the UK?”

The looming pension crisis

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”

As everyone focusses on the stock and bond markets, here are how commodities have been performing

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”