Articles
Political Cycles – Back to the Future
Ideas have a long half-life and domestic political cycles determine if/when policy notions are re-tested in debate and the cauldron of electoral choice. The economic backdrop often determines the process of widening the spectrum of politically acceptable ideas....
Micro-Targeted Marketing
The Cambridge Analytica micro-targeting of individuals around elections has brought attention to tactics which would be equally valid in financial markets. We believe that these will increasingly be used, but in different ways, according to the size/importance of...
Optimism, Pessimism and MIFID II
Changes in banking research coverage have combined with moves in media and PR industries to skew the ratio of Professional Optimists to Professional Pessimists in favour of corporates. Healthy scepticism is in short supply but MIFID II could accentuate the situation....
Changing Media Industry Dynamics
The change from print media to digital media has been much more profound than just varying information distribution methods. Different editorial standards and journalist operating practises have increased vulnerability to PR manipulation and fake news stories. When...
The OECD – a Disciplining Mechanism
The importance of disciplining mechanisms regarding the enforcement of norms of behaviour in financial services is starting to gain much greater prominence. The Trump administration's increasing reliance on its financial power to enforce foreign policy objectives...
Offshore – a Flight to Stability
Anecdotal evidence has reached us suggesting that geopolitical fears and higher levels of macro volatility are driving capital towards safety. Choosing a jurisdiction has become a process whereby perceived economic/political stability is prized over tax avoidance...