Forbes: Energy Crushes Tech In First Half

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Six months and what a difference.

After years of perpetually rallying the tech-heavy Nasdaq has slumped. Actually, it's worse than that.

Yet during the same period, the energy sector has soared. Read more here.

Forbes: Key Indicator Shows China’s Economy Set For Further Slump

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

Just when you thought China might be back on track, a key economic indicator suggests the opposite is coming down the pike. Read more here.

China's President Xi

U.S. Department of State from United States, 

Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Forbes: Boris Government Chips Away At Free Trade

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

It looks like Britain is about to resort to protectionism. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has proposed raising or extending tariffs on imported steel from a variety of countries including China, Turkey and India.

While the reasoning behind this plan may look sound, it sets a bad precedent for a government-run by the Conservative Party, usually a champion of free trade. Read more here.

Forbes: A Potential Solution To The Northern Ireland Protocol: Turn A Blind Eye

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

Much of the UK press is now sounding the alarm that the British government’s thoughts of pulling out of the Northern Ireland protocol will unleash economic hell on the UK.

The idea behind the Northern Ireland protocol is complicated. But the essence of it is to avoid a normal or ‘hard’ border between Northern Ireland and the Republic which is in the European Union. The second part of this involves there being some form of customs checks between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland.

It’s that latter bit that isn’t working and which Prime Minister Boris Johnson= seems to want to end. The British government says it can do this legally while the EU (and much of the press) is outraged by the idea.

The worry is that the EU also rips up its side of the trade agreement with the UK so effectively letting off an economic hand grenade.

Yet, there is a solution to this problem that many countries use. It works this way. An agreement is made and agreed to, but then the various parties simply do not enforce it. Read more here.

CBS Eye on the World with John Batchelor: #Markets: Commodities cool; Scotland heats up

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

Listen here.

Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon 

Scottish Parliament, OSPL, via Wikimedia Commons

Time Magazine: A Recession Isn't Inevitable But Europe's Concerns Are Real

By SIMON CONSTABLE

An ugly word has been shooting around the media like it's going out of fashion: Recession, usually considered as two back-to-back quarters of a shrinking economy.

Judging by recent headlines and rhetoric from experts, you’d think we are already there. But as with many things, the truth is more nuanced. To be sure, no one in their right mind wants to see a recession, as these periods of malaise usually coincide with higher unemployment and lower corporate profits. Read more here.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell

Federal Reserve, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

CBS Eye on the World with John Batchelor: #Commodities. Gold holds value, crypto doesn't.

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

Listen here.

Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons