In the Blind Spot (Short Squeeze, Autos as Currency, Energy Curves)
This edition of the Blind Spot Wrap was compiled by Izabella Kaminska. It’s been a busy week for The Blind Spot, so apologies for light content this week. A quick heads up that this is the last free edition of this wrap. As of next Friday, this becomes part of our basic premium package. Anjuli […]
Europe is Facing a Grain Glut (POLITICO)
Seven countries call for urgent steps to tackle glut of food imports from Ukraine, but stop short of calling for reimposition of tariffs. POLITICO, (Jan 30, 2023) By Bartosz Brzezinski Eastern European member countries, including Poland, Hungary and Romania, have called for limits on surging imports of Ukrainian grain into the EU and compensating farmers […]
The Blind Spot Plugs Into POLITICO
I’m pleased to announce a wind of change for me and the Blind Spot. As of today, our service will begin benefiting from an exclusive deal to access POLITICO Europe’s paywalled premium content. The tie-up is based around a republishing licensing deal, which aims to protect The Blind Spot’s unique voice while enhancing its subscriber […]
In the Blind Spot (A BoJ Merry-go-Round, Dark Green Funds, Academia)
This edition of the Blind Spot Wrap was compiled by Izabella Kaminska. Business and Finance: Elon Musk and Tesla had the last laugh as the EV maker reported record profits and sparked a short squeeze in its stock. g Bank of Canada expects a law change to ease its mounting losses. Microsoft gave a downbeat […]
In the Blind Spot (Versailles, Dollar Standard, BrewDog)
This edition of the Blind Spot Wrap was compiled by Izabella Kaminska. Business, Finance, Econ etc… Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, announces 12,000 job cuts. Says Google “hired for a different economic reality than the one we face today”. Crypto lender Genesis files for bankruptcy. Tencent reveals it fired 100 people for corruption. […]
Why the Davos Succession Story Is a Modern Arthurian Legend in the Making
(And How What Happened to Twitter, Also Happened to the World Economic Forum) This is a post based on a Twitter thread about how popularity and success always corrupt and ruin neutral platforms, often through the bureaucracies created to protect them. The more liquid they are, the greater the gains from influencing them. But also […]
ESG’s biggest secret is that its investment case is based on crypto economics
Over the last 10 years ESG — Environment, Social and Governance — has taken the financial world by storm. Sometimes dubbed “woke capitalism”, it favours morals over short-term financial self-interest. It has resulted in the rush of capital into stocks like Tesla’s, helping turn Elon Musk into into the world’s richest man. But what ESG […]
High Interest Rates Are Encouraging Fintechs Like Wise To Become Shadow Banks
And Why There Are Risks with Fintechs Cashing In on Higher Rates The fintech sector has been having a tough time of late. But, as I noted in my last Blind Spot wrap, even those fintechs that looked like they were at death’s door in mid-2022, i.e. Monzo and Klarna, came out at the end […]
Spot Markets Live Transcript: 16/01/23
Anjuli Davies10:59 Morning all Izabella Kaminska11:00 Morning everyone. Happy Davos day. Anjuli Davies11:00 Martin Luther King day in the US so a bit quiet on the Western Front Izabella Kaminska11:01 But it’s okay because Davos is here. Except… apparently everyone important is snubbing it this year. Apart from Olaf Scholz. Maybe because Davos membership fees […]
In the Blind Spot (Fintech, Miss Ukraine, Davos)
This edition of the Blind Spot Wrap was compiled by Izabella Kaminska. Business, Finance, Econ etc: BlackRock is downsizing after sharp declines last year in equity and bond markets. Egyptian pound hits the rocks after it agrees to move to a flexible currency regime as part of a $3bn IMF deal: The BoE completed the […]