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We often joke about how a ‘sales trader’ has to become an expert in various different subjects dependent on the season (storm chasers in September) or dominant news stories (epidemiologists, submariners, even experts in Rhine water levels). As US banks officially kicked off the start of the latest earnings season, we now move into the quarterly window where the most helpful skills are more commonly on show in a circus Big Top. No, not clowns, although it’s not unheard of slapstick comedy enteri…

I may be showing my age here, but in my latter teens I went on a few holidays where, to keep the cost down you didn’t choose your accommodation, you left it to the tour operator upon your arrival. They were called ‘allocation on arrival’ and I guess to footloose & fancy free teenagers it added to the excitement of the whole event. Ultimately, you didn’t know which reception you were going to get. With the tit-for-tat political shenanigans between the US & China of late regarding tech sensitivit…

Major US holidays such as Independence Day can render that day’s global trading futile. Thankfully ‘Sales Traders’ are a rare breed and can become ‘experts’ (in the loosest sense of the term) in a multitude of subjects very quicky depending on the circumstance or season. Whether its hurricane experts in September, epidemiologists during covid, or plane tracking experts when Yellen was heading to Taiwan, today was a good day to turn our attention to a new subject, rare metals. The protectionist…

The weather always gets people talking, especially when the cricket is on, which is why I’ve stepped in for today’s ‘Snapshot’ given our usual author had a ‘too good to refuse’ ticket offer for Day 4 of the Ashes at Edgbaston. He for one would’ve been praying for rain over the weekend to ensure he sees some play, and mother nature delivered Sunday! If there are two things classed as very ‘British’ it’s ‘cricket’ & our weather & a report some years back claims British people will spend the equiv…

There is a buzz of excitement & anticipation surrounding us here at Redburn… No it’s not that we are a step closer to a US debt ceiling agreement, nor is it hope that Man City can hold off Real Madrid to get to the CL Final. It is in fact our first official firm wide group drinks reception between Redburn & our new colleagues at Atlantic Equities in the 10 Aldermanbury boardroom. I checked the room earlier & with the tables pushed back to the edges, & plenty of space to mingle, I’ve found mysel…

Today is Fed policy day, and whilst it seems every Fed meeting is more important than the last, this one REALLY IS given the recent banking failures & divisive views on future Fed policy. Its apt that it falls on the 100th birthday of the ‘master of silence’ himself mime artist Marcel Marceau given that when Fed Chair Powell speaks in a couple of hours, markets will hang on his every word, particularly the ‘dot plot’ guidance of expected future rate direction.

Today sees the world celebrate International Women’s Day, and whilst we should be embracing all walks of life daily, it is a great moment to remind ourselves that there is always more that can be done to promote gender equality. We were particularly pleased that Redburn’s very own Kathryn Stonebank was interviewed as part of the ‘In conversation with…’ series with The TRADE discussing her journey to the execution desk. IWD’s theme for 2023 is #EmbraceEquity to promote true inclusion, understand…

Oh how the mighty have fallen.. No. I’m not talking about some of Wall St’s tech behemoths that have hit more than a few speed bumps in the road of late, but the once mighty Manchester United. After having ended up 3rd in their Champions’ League group, they have to play a qualifier game to get into the less impressive Europa league against none other than…. The once mighty Barcelona! (Full disclosure, I’m a Spurs fan who have not only next to no silverware ever, but also lost to Man Uts 2-0 recently).

As guest editor of the Snapshot, parachuted in when Courteney & Andrew are away, I’m usually scratching around for a light-hearted opening gambit to our wrap. Today, with only one main story that deserves to adorn our front page, I’m met with an abundance of material. Whether it was the tongue-in-cheek youtube page set up pitching Liz against an iceberg lettuce as to who would last longer, that has earned her the label ‘Titanic PM’ (beaten by an iceberg), or the fact that Sky News political reporter wrote “My son has lived through four chancellors, three home secretaries, two prime ministers & two monarchs.. He’s four months old.”.