Author profile
Jim Leaviss
Years in the bond markets: 22
Specialist subjects: Macro economics and fixed interest asset allocation
Likes: Cycling, factory records, dim sum
Heroes: Brian Clough, Morrissey, Neil Armstrong
UK election throws up new uncertainties for markets
The UK has a hung parliament, with Theresa May’s Conservative Party losing seats and likely ending up 8 short of an overall majority. It looks as if young people voted in large numbers, mainly for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party. The Conservatives remain the single largest party however, and together with the Conservative-leaning DUP on 10 seats, they will likely form the new government. The Pr…
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Grave New World by Stephen King. Interview for BVTV, and win a copy of his book.
With the UK’s vote for Brexit, Trump’s election, and the rise of Le Pen in France, it feels as if there is a backlash against the “Washington Consensus” and globalisation. Stephen King, economic adviser at HSBC has made this the topic of his latest book, “Grave New World: the end of globalisation, the return of history”.
In this short video, the latest in our series of interviews with authors …
Watch the videoWin 2 members’ tickets for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show sponsored by M&G Investments on Wednesday 24th May. And please donate to Cancer Research UK
I have to be honest here. Even though we sponsor it, whenever I go to the Chelsea Flower Show I am reminded of bleak Sundays being dragged around garden centres as a child, hoping there is at least a pets section with some rabbits or something in it. Or some swings. Nevertheless, many people love flowers and plants.
So, in support of CASCAID, the UK asset management industry’s effort to rais…
Read the articleBVTV: Trump’s first 100 days. How’s that reflation trade looking?
Bond markets are behaving like the Trump reflation trade isn’t going to happen, whilst equities seem to believe in 4% GDP growth 4evah. Today I’m joined by M&G multi-asset fund manager and author Eric Lonergan to discuss Trump’s first hundred days in office, and to think about this seeming disconnect in asset valuations.
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I will shave my legs for just £500
I’m three months into my attempt to climb 100 iconic hills, bergs, kops and mountains on my bike in 2017. So far I’ve ridden up 28 of them, mostly in torrential rain.
The purpose of all this is to raise money for Cancer Research UK, as part of the asset management industry’s goal of donating over £1 million to the great cause this year. So far we’ve collectively raised over £300,000 as part …
Read the article“Venetians, Volcker and Value-at-Risk: 8 centuries of bond market reversals”. Our interview with Bank Underground’s Paul Schmelzing.
It’s rare to find a piece of writing that EVERYONE in bond markets has read and is talking about, but in January, a blog by Paul Schmelzing on the Bank of England’s excellent Bank Underground site did just that. Paul is a visiting scholar from Harvard University, working at the Bank of England to research foreign exchange policy in the era of Bretton Woods. In the blog however he took a very …
Read the articleA dozen things I’m finding interesting in bond markets. Includes weasels.
1. On the face of it, long term US Treasury yields are looking fair value, having traded on the dear side since the middle of 2014. Below is a chart you will have seen before on the blog as I’ve been using it for some time. It shows the relationship between the Fed’s long term expectations of short term interest rates (taken, with a pinch of salt, from the FOMC’s dot plots) and the bond marke…
Read the articleM&G Bond Vigilantes Christmas Quiz 2016 – the answers and the new champion
Before we get to the main event, I’d like to thank everybody who has made a donation to Cancer Research UK as a result of our 10th birthday celebrations. We are over the £10,000 mark now. We still have one box of our second Bond Vigilantes book left. If you’d like a copy, send your name and address to us at bondteam@bondvigilantes.co.uk and we will send them out on a first come, first served …
Read the articleUnderstanding Japan’s economy by driving a go-kart round Tokyo dressed as Mario
M&G Bond Vigilantes Christmas Quiz 2016
Here is the 10th annual Christmas Quiz. 20 questions, and the closing date for entries is midday on Friday 23rd December. Please email your answers to us at bondteam@bondvigilantes.co.uk. The winner will get glory, and can choose a charity from our approved list to which we will donate £100. She or he will also get a copy of the new Bond Vigilantes book, called “Bond Vigilantes – Part II”. …
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