A hidden force behind the meme stonk?
Reddit, WSB and BBBY: The hidden force behind the meme As noted in Friday’s Blind Spot Wrap, Wall Street Bets, Reddit’s now infamous ‘investing’ subreddit, has started targeting Bed Bath and Beyond (BBBY) in a new pump campaign on the back of the stock’s 46 per cent short float. To lure investors into beefing up […]
In the Blind Spot (BBBY, Coinbase, River levels)
This edition of the Blind Spot Wrap was compiled by Dario Garcia Giner (DGG) and Izabella Kaminska (IK). Markets, economics, finance etc: German supermarket prices are rising faster than those in other European countries. German food CPI was up 14.8 per cent YoY in July, the highest level since the record started. US jobless claims […]
Rise of the countercrypto influencers
A quick note to flag that I am moderating a panel with Ben McKenzie, the actor, and Jacob Silverman, the journalist, at the inaugural nocoiner conference, a.k.a the Crypto Policy Symposium, which is happening on Sept 5. I just did a short pre-interview with Ben and Jacob, so I’ve got the scoop on the fact […]
Gosplan watch: Why “targeted price controls” are rationing in everything but name
Economically, there is a big difference between using maximum price caps or price controls to stem inflation and the use of rationing policies. The former does little to rein in consumption while the latter actually does. That price caps don’t work has been known since at least the days of the late Imperial Roman period. […]
In the Blind Spot (Oil sanctions, roubles, gain-of-function)
Owing to holidays and other unexpected absences, this edition of the Blind Spot Wrap is in catch up mode. It is compiled by Dario Garcia Giner (DGG) and Izabella Kaminska (IK). Economics, finance and markets: The verdict on scooter startups is in; VCs threw billions at them, but markets think they’re worth squat. Thomas L. […]
Leaked Lunch with Blonde Money’s Helen Thomas
The Blind Spot’s Leaked Lunch podcast gets underway this week, and in the first episode of the first season we sit down with Helen Thomas, the founder of investment advisory Blonde Money to sample a very extensive Asian fusion menu. Helen has 20 years of experience in banking, fund management and politics. She was an […]
Spot Markets Live transcript: 08/08/22
Today’s Spot Markets live session is with Dario Garcia, the Blind Spot’s assistant editor, who formerly worked as a corporate investigator for Kroll. Comments from Izabella and Dario that address audience questions have been put in bold Spot Markets Live – 08/08/22 Izabella Kaminska 10:58 Hello there! Anyone out there? My usual seance tactic. Howdy! […]
Blindspot Podcast: Niall Ferguson on Cold War 2.0
In the latest Blind Spot Podcast Johsua Unseth and Izabella Kaminska get the big picture on what’s going on with US/China relations from historian Niall Ferguson. We also discuss inflation, iconoclasm, cancel culture and what lessons were really learned from the first cold war. Niall does a very effective Trump impersonation about 20 min 55 […]
Spot Markets Live Transcript: 01/08/22
Today’s Spot Markets live session is with Ben Harrington, the founder and Editor of Betaville. Izabella Kaminska 10:57 …. 10:59Hello and welcome back to Spot Markets Live, the real-time markets chat that takes you on a whirlwind tour of the markets. Is anyone out there? Morning! We’ve been off the last two weeks but hopefully […]
An occasional series: Why is Germany so darn dodgy?
If a state is captured by sinister or corrupt forces, and nobody in the general population realises it, how is the pursuit of truth in such a society likely to be affected? Chances are; very much the way FT journalist Dan McCrum’s investigation into Wirecard was. On 25 July 2022, Jan Marsalek was apparently spotted […]