Economics & Markets

Inside the mind of the Master Investor: Jim Mellon reveals his latest thoughts on the markets.

The UK government is losing the confidence of British farmers at a moment when the post-Brexit agricultural dispensation is about to go live. Reduced food security means rising food prices, which will compound the cost-of-living crunch, says Victor Hill.

In what is a dangerous world, governments should maintain not just military defences but also ensure energy and food security. Successive British governments have performed poorly on both counts, argues Victor Hill.

Two years into the coronavirus pandemic, it is now evident that the harm done by lockdowns outweighs the benefits. The consequences for the endgame of this pandemic, and the management of the next one, are profound, says Victor Hill.

Vladimir Putin is ratcheting up the pressure on a western alliance which looks weak, poorly led and fissile. The economic consequences of a conflict could be devastating but fortunately, war is by no means inevitable, says Victor Hill.

Sales of electric cars in the UK are on the rise. And Tesla’s sales have outperformed analysts’ expectations. The electrification of vehicular transport is now unstoppable, says Victor Hill.

As the price of fossil fuels skyrockets, the decarbonisation agenda is given new economic impetus. But getting to net zero carbon, even if feasible, will incur costs, says Victor Hill.

The challenges for the Biden administration, and American melancholy, will only intensify in 2022, even if stock-market calamity is averted, says Victor Hill.

Europe’s divisions will widen and tempers will fray in 2022, says Victor Hill.

This year will be all about the outlook for rates instead, as central banks around the world move together into a new rate cycle.