I’ve got two strong contenders for today’s instalment of The World’s Gone Mad. Top spot goes to the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. Close second goes to Invitin, a French start-up which gives engaged couples the chance to sell wedding invites online to complete strangers. Credit to anyone relaxed enough to try it, but the risk/reward there does look heavily skewed to the downside..
Shorts in the office? Well, after four heatwaves in London this summer, I can see the appeal. Professional? Not in the slightest. And honestly, I don’t think it’s fair on the city to have my pins out on display. The fact this debate has made it into the FT is surely a sign of the times and to be honest – everywhere you look, the world has gone a bit bonkers.
National Prosecco Day today – cheers to that. Another day of Z’s behind us – cheers to that. Plenty of Green across much of the global equity complex earlier – cheers, sort of…
Don’t say, don’t say it, don’t say it.. Q-Q-Q-Q Quiet? Yes. Volumes? Dead. So, what’s changed?
Well, if you had opted for a day in the sun instead of behind the screens earlier, you nailed it. A sleepy start to the week, volumes nowhere to be seen, desks half empty, no macro data, and barely any earnings of note. Delightful!
Paint drying did spring to mind earlier as we wrapped up what felt like one of the quietest days of August yet. What went on? Well, Europe overall was well bid, confirmation of a Putin-Trump summit helped things here with Ukraine Ceasefire baskets up over +3%. Earnings – still coming and today overall we did have more good than bad. Saying that though, another one of our star players fell from grace as Rheinmetall dropped -8% after earnings failed to impress (around levels where their CEO has b…
Greggs? Yes. KFC? Yes. A balanced breakfast to start off your day? Hard to think of anything worse – but here we are. Their latest collaboration features a sausage roll drenched in gravy. Probably doesn’t deserve to the called the “culinary crossover of the century” and definitely something which will send you straight to sleep afterwards but for sure won’t stop me from trying.
Singing — happy to admit it’s never been my strong suit (not that there are many!). One of those things you either have, or you don’t. But I did chuckle at the following earlier after a man’s rendition of Nickelback while solo camping in Vancouver was mistaken for cries for help and triggered a full search party – drones included. Impressive for sure, ignorance is bliss as they say!
Some cracking images out of the Bay Area this Saturday from the World Dog Surfing Championship which are just about as wholesome as it gets really and did leave me quite impressed considering that my two-year-old cocker spaniel (supposedly a hunting dog?) refuses to stand on the grass once it rains..
And all the roads we have to walk are winding. And all the lights that lead us there are blinding. There are many things that I would like to say to you… And the start of Q2 earnings starting out as fierce as any I can remember (and I’ve been around a while) is one of them. What a Quarter. We got the first two Mag 7’s firing out of the gate with a pair of +10 percenters in Microsoft and Meta, and then a ton more movers in Rolls Royce up another 7%, Safran +4%, Socgen +3.5%, Argenx +13.6%, Rob…