Central banks banking governments

Just how much do the world’s central banking powers own of their government’s stock of financial obligations is astounding. When the central bank steps in to buy the risk-free asset in an economy, private investors trade their holdings for cash which then must be redeployed, and it finds its way into risk assets.

Compounding the cloud

As the digitization of the enterprise accelerates on its multi-decade journey, workload migrations, transformations and full code re-writes are expected to be prioritized at an ever increasing rate after COVID-19. Cloud stands to be a key beneficiary with penetration expected to double (10% -> 20%) over the coming 3-4 years, in a total market that will be ~15-20% larger ($716bn -> $837bn)

In Warren’s defence

The Financial Times recently wrote an article, asking “has Warren Buffett lost his touch”. Do we agree? Read on to know more.

COVID implications for the commercial aviation industry

From cancelled flights and cancelled aircraft orders to frenzied air freight markets, the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented. Here we outline some of the implications of the coronavirus for different corners of the commercial aviation industry.

Digital transformation still has a long way to go

While digital might seem ubiquitous, there is still tremendous uptake to come. Outside of standard broadband access, all other digital technologies remain less than 50% penetrated by enterprises.

Why are we paying taxes?

Explore the interesting concepts of the Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). Under this economic theory, it is explicitly acknowledged that governments who issue debt in their own currency cannot default. Ever. So then why exactly do we need taxes?

Beware Expensive Equity Raises

Seasoned experts have commented on the stock market risk while it remains disconnected from the real economy. Our latest red flag comes in the slate of equity capital raises that have flooded the market on the back of investor excitement, meanwhile share buybacks are drying up.

A Troubled Train Manufacturer

The European Rolling Stock industry is undergoing a rapid transformation as the shift towards automation and driverless technologies force manufacturers to innovate. In this article, we examine how one pure-play manufacturer is faring in the face of this structural trend.

Draining an Ocean of Liquidity

An abrupt change in macro liquidity may be occurring with the potential for a vacuum, as the U.S. Federal Reserve slows its bond buying programs just as the U.S. Treasury accelerates issuance. This may mean the liquidity tide created when the Fed commenced it’s “unlimited” purchase program, would start going out to sea, and possibly leave behind more organic price discovery in markets.

Why Shorting Pie in the Sky Is Dangerous

While overvaluation is a necessary component to a great short, it alone is insufficient to tilt the likelihood of the short position working out in your favor. The danger of shorting such stocks is the immense damage that can be done in the interim from bullish investors having a set of conditions that allows them to remain bullish.