By SIMON CONSTABLE
Friday, January 31, 2020
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Forbes: Coronavirus Could Send Stocks Down Another 10% Or More, History Shows
By SIMON CONSTABLE
The coronavirus, which is wreaking havoc in China, could slash another 10% or more off the value of stocks, history shows. Before the crisis is over, investor losses could be far worse. Read more here.
The coronavirus, which is wreaking havoc in China, could slash another 10% or more off the value of stocks, history shows. Before the crisis is over, investor losses could be far worse. Read more here.
Korn Ferry: Finland’s Four-Day Workweek Frenzy
By SIMON CONSTABLE
It hasn’t taken long for the four-day workweek to go from a quirky idea to one that’s getting serious consideration from more corporations and national leaders globally.
The latest development: the discovery that Finland’s new 34-year-old prime minister had, before she took her current role, advocated for trimming a day off the workweek. That quickly led to speculation that Finland’s government would soon mandate the change. It won’t, says Johan Blomqvist, Korn Ferry’s general manager for Finland, but the idea of working full-time across four days rather than five has started a debate about work-related reforms in the country. “It is sparking some support,” says Blomqvist. Read more here.
It hasn’t taken long for the four-day workweek to go from a quirky idea to one that’s getting serious consideration from more corporations and national leaders globally.
The latest development: the discovery that Finland’s new 34-year-old prime minister had, before she took her current role, advocated for trimming a day off the workweek. That quickly led to speculation that Finland’s government would soon mandate the change. It won’t, says Johan Blomqvist, Korn Ferry’s general manager for Finland, but the idea of working full-time across four days rather than five has started a debate about work-related reforms in the country. “It is sparking some support,” says Blomqvist. Read more here.
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Forbes: British Banks Spark Outrage In The UK
By SIMON CONSTABLE
Have bankers no shame?
In Britain, at least, it appears not. Eventually, that could hurt the entire industry.
Starting in April, the big banks want to charge overdraft borrowers a staggering 40% a year in interest. That means for every £1,000 ($1,300) they borrow, they must pay £400 in interest each year. Overdrafts are unsecured loans made typically for short periods of time in much the same way as credit card loans. Read more here.
Have bankers no shame?
In Britain, at least, it appears not. Eventually, that could hurt the entire industry.
Starting in April, the big banks want to charge overdraft borrowers a staggering 40% a year in interest. That means for every £1,000 ($1,300) they borrow, they must pay £400 in interest each year. Overdrafts are unsecured loans made typically for short periods of time in much the same way as credit card loans. Read more here.
Friday, January 24, 2020
Forbes: Why You Should Buy Microsoft Stock Despite The Data Breach News
By SIMON CONSTABLE
Wednesday’s news of a massive data breach at tech giant Microsoft (MSFT) might not seem like a good omen. After all, information on a quarter of a billion of the company’s customers got exposed online with no password protection.
That’s certainly not good.
But what might be beneficial is a potential opportunity for investors to make some money. At least that’s the theory based on an analysis of other public companies that got hit by hackers. Read more here.
Wednesday’s news of a massive data breach at tech giant Microsoft (MSFT) might not seem like a good omen. After all, information on a quarter of a billion of the company’s customers got exposed online with no password protection.
That’s certainly not good.
But what might be beneficial is a potential opportunity for investors to make some money. At least that’s the theory based on an analysis of other public companies that got hit by hackers. Read more here.
Barron's: The Trade Deal Won’t Create a Bull Market for Soybeans. Here’s One Way to Play It.
By SIMON CONSTABLE
The phase-one trade deal between the U.S. and China announced in mid-January should create frequent opportunities for soybean traders to make money. What it won’t do is create a bull market for the grain.
“The strategy would be to buy on the breaks,” says Shawn Hackett, president of Hackett Financial Advisors. “You have to be opportunistic is the point.” Read more here.
The phase-one trade deal between the U.S. and China announced in mid-January should create frequent opportunities for soybean traders to make money. What it won’t do is create a bull market for the grain.
“The strategy would be to buy on the breaks,” says Shawn Hackett, president of Hackett Financial Advisors. “You have to be opportunistic is the point.” Read more here.
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Forbes: Stocks To Crash Unless Trump Reelected, Market Analyst Says
By SIMON CONSTABLE
Stock market euphoria could quickly turn to tears unless President Donald Trump gets re-elected.
That’s the story according to new research published Wednesday by from London-based financial research firm Capital Economics.
The report, titled “It could soon be time to downsize” warns that the recent stellar outperformance by the largest stocks in the market could quickly reverse unless Trump keeps his job in the White House after the November election. Read more here.
Stock market euphoria could quickly turn to tears unless President Donald Trump gets re-elected.
That’s the story according to new research published Wednesday by from London-based financial research firm Capital Economics.
The report, titled “It could soon be time to downsize” warns that the recent stellar outperformance by the largest stocks in the market could quickly reverse unless Trump keeps his job in the White House after the November election. Read more here.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Korn Ferry: The Grand Goals from Davos
By SIMON CONSTABLE
There’s nothing like a bold goal to kick off the decade. And as leaders gather for that most sought-after conference of the year, they decided on a huge one.
Among other topics that will make headlines, the business and political leaders attending this week’s World Economic Forum meeting in the Alpine village of Davos, Switzerland, will discuss two objectives that might not be compatible in the short term. They will respond to a rallying call to fight climate change, and they will grapple with the immediate threat of a slowing global economy. The trick for executives and other leaders will be how to achieve both at the same time. Read more here.
There’s nothing like a bold goal to kick off the decade. And as leaders gather for that most sought-after conference of the year, they decided on a huge one.
Among other topics that will make headlines, the business and political leaders attending this week’s World Economic Forum meeting in the Alpine village of Davos, Switzerland, will discuss two objectives that might not be compatible in the short term. They will respond to a rallying call to fight climate change, and they will grapple with the immediate threat of a slowing global economy. The trick for executives and other leaders will be how to achieve both at the same time. Read more here.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Forbes: Iran’s Economy To Sink Even Faster This Year Than Last
By SIMON CONSTABLE
U.S. sanctions are squeezing the life out of the Iranian economy, and the malaise is likely to get even worse.
“We expect the contraction to deepen,” states a recent report by Garbis Iradian and his team at the Washington D.C.-based think tank, the Institute of International Finance.
How bad? In the current fiscal year, which ends in March, the Islamic Republic’s economy will likely shrink by 7.2%, that’s even worse than the already-dire 4.6% drop the prior year, according to the report. Read more here.
U.S. sanctions are squeezing the life out of the Iranian economy, and the malaise is likely to get even worse.
“We expect the contraction to deepen,” states a recent report by Garbis Iradian and his team at the Washington D.C.-based think tank, the Institute of International Finance.
How bad? In the current fiscal year, which ends in March, the Islamic Republic’s economy will likely shrink by 7.2%, that’s even worse than the already-dire 4.6% drop the prior year, according to the report. Read more here.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Forbes: Gold Investors: Should Brace For More Volatility, Report Says
By SIMON CONSTABLE
Last year gold investors had a lucrative but bumpy ride. Expect more of the same for 2020, according to a new report. Ultra-low interest rates, a frothy stock market, and geopolitical tension stand out as things that could both support more price gains over the next 12 months and lead to wild swings. Read more here.
Last year gold investors had a lucrative but bumpy ride. Expect more of the same for 2020, according to a new report. Ultra-low interest rates, a frothy stock market, and geopolitical tension stand out as things that could both support more price gains over the next 12 months and lead to wild swings. Read more here.
Korn Ferry: Call Me By My Name -- The Netherlands
By SIMON CONSTABLE
Holland has a New Year’s request: stop calling it Holland.
Holland refers to a region of the Netherlands, but the name itself has frequently been used to refer to the whole country. Now, through an effort led by the country’s board of tourism, the country’s government has decided that “all official government communications and promotions” will reference “the Netherlands” exclusively. Read more here.
Holland has a New Year’s request: stop calling it Holland.
Holland refers to a region of the Netherlands, but the name itself has frequently been used to refer to the whole country. Now, through an effort led by the country’s board of tourism, the country’s government has decided that “all official government communications and promotions” will reference “the Netherlands” exclusively. Read more here.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Korn Ferry: Women on Boards -- Hitting an Ambitious Goal
By SIMON CONSTABLE
It was an ambitious goal when it was set in 2010: triple the percentage of female board directors on corporate boards by 2020. But as this new year dawned, more than three out of every ten directors—30.6%, to be exact—at the 250 largest publicly traded firms in the UK are women. The goal now? Keep up the effort without a highly publicized campaign. Read more here.
It was an ambitious goal when it was set in 2010: triple the percentage of female board directors on corporate boards by 2020. But as this new year dawned, more than three out of every ten directors—30.6%, to be exact—at the 250 largest publicly traded firms in the UK are women. The goal now? Keep up the effort without a highly publicized campaign. Read more here.
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Medium: 35 Questions About California’s AB5 Law That Limits Freelance Journalists to 35 Stories A Year
By SIMON CONSTABLE
Starting January 1, there are new laws in California that have all the look of outright war on the media.
While President Donald Trump has from day one as a candidate consistently hurled abuse at the press, what California has done makes Trump look like a rank amateur in the field. Read more here.
Starting January 1, there are new laws in California that have all the look of outright war on the media.
While President Donald Trump has from day one as a candidate consistently hurled abuse at the press, what California has done makes Trump look like a rank amateur in the field. Read more here.
“corona typewriter” by lexly87 aka Duc N. Ly is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Monday, January 6, 2020
Constable's Work on Italy Cited by the Center for American Progress
Constable's work was recently cited by the Center for American Progress in a paper titled: Embrace the Union: A New Progressive Approach for Reviving the Trans-Atlantic Alliance. Among a slew of things, the paper discusses the importance of a unified Europe.
WSJ: What Are Green Bonds?
By SIMON CONSTABLE
Going green is gaining ground on Wall Street.
Surging interest in bonds intended to encourage sustainability means investors likely will hear the term “green bonds” used more often. While similar to traditional bonds, these fixed-income securities are different in at least one important way: Funds raised via green bonds must get used for projects that benefit the environment. For example, the cash could finance the purchase of solar panels to power office buildings. Read more here.
Going green is gaining ground on Wall Street.
Surging interest in bonds intended to encourage sustainability means investors likely will hear the term “green bonds” used more often. While similar to traditional bonds, these fixed-income securities are different in at least one important way: Funds raised via green bonds must get used for projects that benefit the environment. For example, the cash could finance the purchase of solar panels to power office buildings. Read more here.
Solar Panels
Photo by American Public Power Association on Unsplash
Friday, January 3, 2020
Forbes: Assassination Of Iranian General Soleimani “A Game Changer,” Experts Say
By SIMON CONSTABLE
Expect more violence in the middle east following the assassination of Iran’s most prominent and proficient General.
The killing is likely to provoke a significant response from the Islamic Republic towards U.S. interests and could mean more interruptions of oil supplies. Read more here.
Expect more violence in the middle east following the assassination of Iran’s most prominent and proficient General.
The killing is likely to provoke a significant response from the Islamic Republic towards U.S. interests and could mean more interruptions of oil supplies. Read more here.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Barrons: The Price of Gold Could Hit a New Record High in 2020
By SIMON CONSTABLE
Investors who didn’t own gold in 2019 could be kicking themselves after an 18% rise in prices for the year. But it might not be too late to join the rally.
Some gold bulls even see the price of bullion breaking the record high set in 2011, when it topped $1,900, roughly 25% higher than current levels. Robust buying by central banks, a weakening of the U.S. dollar, and growing political tensions could combine to fuel further gains. Read more here.
Investors who didn’t own gold in 2019 could be kicking themselves after an 18% rise in prices for the year. But it might not be too late to join the rally.
Some gold bulls even see the price of bullion breaking the record high set in 2011, when it topped $1,900, roughly 25% higher than current levels. Robust buying by central banks, a weakening of the U.S. dollar, and growing political tensions could combine to fuel further gains. Read more here.
Photo by Jingming Pan on Unsplash
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