Evil Knievil

The Evil Diaries: Layering and Spoofing

The Evil Diaries: Layering and Spoofing

7 mins. to read

As regular readers know I tend to regard securities industry regulators as bordering upon or in fact mad. As an example, about ten years ago a highly experienced and of course regulated stockbroker described to me how he had been warned that he was guilty of market abuse by getting into work early and putting…

The Evil Diaries: Daniel Stewart, Foxtons, Blair and Corbyn

The Evil Diaries: Daniel Stewart, Foxtons, Blair and Corbyn

2 mins. to read

I was yesterday discussing current affairs with a client of Daniel Stewart (DAN). The client might consider raising fresh capital but is concerned at the very thin market that they would inevitably encounter. Matters are made worse in that they expect DAN to deliver. But there is no point in asking DAN since the investment…

The Evil Diaries: “Beat the dinosaurs”

The Evil Diaries: “Beat the dinosaurs”

2 mins. to read

I covered the tube drivers’ pay about six weeks ago. Actually it is even more pronouncedly ridiculous in hard cash terms – starting pay is clearly well over £50,000 p.a.. The negotiating position of RMT is strong – they can at any time cause widespread chaos. Save that by making the trains driverless there is…

The Evil Diaries: UK Oil & Gas, Tern and IG

The Evil Diaries: UK Oil & Gas, Tern and IG

1 mins. to read

Over the weekend government minister Amber Rudd announced that HMG would push through fracking projects on the grounds that the nation’s energy security would otherwise be materially compromised. I am surprised that this decision took so long. However, punters should hold back from buying the sector chips willy nilly. For instance, David Lenigas’s UK Oil…

The Evil Diaries: “Cor Blimey!”

The Evil Diaries: “Cor Blimey!”

1 mins. to read

I made good money out of shorting Quindell (QPP). So I am not unsympathetic to the possibility of QPP being overvalued. How would I be? But I am prepared to change my mind. And here is such a moment. The fact is that the average punter has decided that because the SFO are having a…

The Evil Diaries: “This country is run by madmen”

The Evil Diaries: “This country is run by madmen”

1 mins. to read

You got to hand it to Rob Terry. As soon as the SFO announced that they were going to work over Terry he graciously commented that he would of course be doing everything to cooperate – as if he had the choice. Anyway, it looks pretty clear to me: Quob Park (whatever that corporate vehicle…

The Evil Diaries: “Witchfinder General”

The Evil Diaries: “Witchfinder General”

1 mins. to read

In 1968 I saw Witchfinder General, which covered some obsessive puritan who went round fingering alleged witches and then killing them off. I took it as a warning as to what can happen when vile regulators are given excessive authority. And I mention this since I reckon that a later generation of this lot have…