Victor Hill

Of trade wars and trade bores

Of trade wars and trade bores

14 mins. to read

Last week, President Trump was accused of starting a trade war, but Victor Hill asks whether the war has been taking place in the background for years and whether these actions will help redress the West’s trade position with China.

Eurozone troubles – déjà vu all over again?
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Eurozone troubles – déjà vu all over again?

15 mins. to read

The new Eurosceptic, populist government in Italy has come to power at a time when the eurozone economy is slowing. EU markets and the euro now look vulnerable, but the UK market and the pound are still mired in Brexit uncertainty. Italy: the melodrama continues One thing I love about Puccini’s Tosca is that everybody knows…

Why Australia and New Zealand should be on investors’ radars

Why Australia and New Zealand should be on investors’ radars

26 mins. to read

They are non-identical twins on the other side of the world. Despite their shared language and historical DNA they are very different. They are both amongst the most prosperous nations on Earth in GDP-per-capita terms. They both command immense resources (though of different kinds) and benefit from some of the best educated populations. The quality…

Footsie 8,000? – What’s not to like?
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Footsie 8,000? – What’s not to like?

13 mins. to read

This week the FTSE-100 hit record territory, cruising towards 8,000. But some sectors in the UK market are faring better than others… Early summer sunshine – at last In the January edition of Master Investor Magazine, I predicted that the Dow Jones Index would continue rising over the course of this year and that it…

Facebook unfriended
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Facebook unfriended

14 mins. to read

In a few short months, Facebook has gone from being the tech giant everybody likes to global bogeyman. Are all the little angry faces really justified? Big data is watching you The internet – the worldwide web – was supposed to create a libertarian paradise where netizens could freely exchange ideas outside the prying eyes of…

Is Macron’s France beyond reform?
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Is Macron’s France beyond reform?

15 mins. to read

Emmanuel Macron and the Goblet of Fire French President Emmanuel Macron is a dynamic young wizard. But the fundamental reform of France may be beyond even his magical powers. One year in He established a centrist political movement out of nothing (La République En Marche or REM) and was elected Head of State on its ticket…

Trumpery is Working!

Trumpery is Working!

14 mins. to read

We always knew that Donald Trump was a badass. What we didn’t know (though the stock markets kind of knew) was whether his rag-bag of policies might just work… Hail to the Tweet! The 45th President of the United States is an outsider – a maverick who refuses to play by the book. His management style…

Real estate down-under is a one-way bet

Real estate down-under is a one-way bet

12 mins. to read

Well-off Aussies and Kiwis prefer to invest their hard-earned dollars in bricks and mortar. With home prices softening in the Antipodes, this could be a good moment to buy. Housing? No worries, mate Australians and New Zealanders can be very British. There is nothing they like more to chat about over a cup of tea,…

The grass is greener in the Land of the Long White Cloud

The grass is greener in the Land of the Long White Cloud

14 mins. to read

New Zealand is a land of moderate weather, politics and economic policy. Growth prospects for the New Zealand stock market this year are also moderately good. Kia-Ora! When you enter New Zealand the passport check is accomplished by robots – but getting through the bio-security channel is lengthy and troublesome. If you have so much as…