Brian Bollen's Blog

Happy Halloween From Japan

Simon Somerville, manager of the Jupiter Japan Income Fund, on the combined move by the Japan Government Pension Fund (GPIF) and the Bank of Japan to boost appetite for risk assets and achieve the bank's stated 2% inflation target.

He’s the hairy-handed gent...

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge – October 31 2014

He’s the hairy-handed gent who ran amok in Kent, and lately he’s been overheard in Mayfair

I love Halloween.. On one level, I’m looking forward to a nice quite peaceful evening as “she-who-wishes-to-be-Mrs-Blain” and her coven have the night out on their broomsticks, dressed in their designer black Stevie Nicks gear, sharp-pointy black hats, turning local brats into frogs or worse.. (One time she turned me into a newt.. but I got better..) Her Nimbus 6000 is polished and ready to go..

Shark Fin Soup Off The Menu

Following a recent trip to Beijing, Keith Wade, chief economist at Schroders, shares his views on the Chinese economy.

Shark fin soup is off the menu in Beijing as the authorities continue with an anti-corruption drive which has seen dozens of officials placed under investigation. The policy has hit the top end of the economy and slowed growth, but it remains a key and popular part of Premier Xi Jinping’s strategy.

Brazil: Dilma Rousseff Re-elected

Whilst there has been no change in presidency, Nicholas Mason, global emerging equities fund manager at Invesco Perpetual, identifies key changes the re-elected Dilma Rousseff should consider if she is to revive Brazil’s ailing economy.  

when the battle’s lost and won...

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge – October 30 2014

When the hurlyburly’s done, when the battle’s lost and won...

Farewell QE3…. And hello to whatever follows it. Which will be: either the US economy displaying further wobbles – in which case the betting is we will see QEx+1, or growth will become better established and markets will have to brace for rising rates.

I never travel without my diary

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge – October 29 2014

I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train..

Malaysian ADR First For BNY Mellon

BNY Mellon has been appointed by MOL Global, Inc as depositary bank for its American depositary receipt (ADR) programme, the first exchange-listed ADR programme from Malaysia. Each MOL Global ADR represents one ordinary share and trades on NASDAQ under the symbol "MOLG".

No-one Can Hear You Scream

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge – October 28 2014

On South-West Rail, no-one can hear you scream…

I apologise for the lack of early comment yesterday, but Notwork Rail and South-West Trains managed to make my Monday less than optimal. I’m angry enough about getting to the station at 6.00 am and finally getting into London at 10.30 after a two slow-train odyssey, but despite the local station staff doing their best, it was clear no one higher-up had a clue what was happening and the utter absence of meaningful communication was a disgrace.

SCM Private Mandates SGSS

 Societe Generale Securities Services (SGSS) in the UK says it has been mandated by the investment company SCM Private to provide a wealth and investment management administrative outsourcing solution for that company's three newly launched direct-to-consumer online wealth management solutions.

Global Optimism Vindicated

By Alan Higgins, UK CIO at Coutts

Last week – in the face of a sell-off in equities and mounting volatility – we expressed our continuing optimism in global economic recovery. Since then, economic data has largely justified our sanguine view.

AQR And Stress Test: Where To Next?

Justin Bisseker, European banks analyst at Schroders, comments on the European Central Bank's (ECB) Asset Quality Review (AQR) and stress test results and the implications for Europe's banking sector.

BNPPSS appoints acting ANZ head

BNP Paribas Securities Services says it has appointed Ian Perkins as acting head, Australia and New Zealand, effective immediately.

UK Growth Slows, But Still Robust

Azad Zangana, European economist at Schroders, comments on today's UK GDP figures.

The initial estimate for GDP growth shows a slowdown to 0.7% for the third quarter of the year, compared to 0.9% in the second quarter. However, 0.7% quarterly growth is only slightly below average growth since the start of 2013, and remains indicative of a robust economy.

The trouble with TRIIBS

Mint Blain’s Morning Porridge – October 24 2014

Hats off to my stock-picking colleague Steve Previs. I am wondering if he is touched by greatness. On October 8 the Porridge carried his warning to be out of stock shorts by October 24. Sure enough, this morning, we’ve already pretty much forgotten about last week’s stock correction. (“Move along there, move along.. nothing to see here..) Steve is now thinking all the lines he’s been drawing on charts suggest we might be on the verge of a further retracement  – “we don’t believe an uninterrupted two-year rise in the SPX can be corrected with a four-week decline.”

Big Boys Hold On To Top Spots

Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley have maintained their positions as the leading brokers of flow equity derivatives to North American institutional investors. In Europe, where the flow equity derivatives field is more crowded, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan have established strong platforms across products.

Easing The AIFMD Burden

BNP Paribas Securities Services reports the launch of an outsourcing service for AIFMD reporting. It says that asset managers using the service will be able to fulfil all their reporting obligations under the directive without the associated administrative and financial burden.

I can’t seem to face up to the facts..

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge – October 23 2014

On the basis I don’t have a breeze whether stock markets will go up or down today, I suppose it’s as likely to depend on the partial eclipse across the USA today, and sun spot activity being at a record high. Is that important? The risk that a solar flare (a coronal mass ejection to those in the know) might hit Earth, causing potential communication breakdown, is slightly higher. But aside from the spectral threat.. I’m told stock markets might go up or they might go down. Is it going to be a short-term bear squeeze or a bull rally?

Changing Investment For The Better

Towers Watson is launching a global not-for-profit Thinking Ahead Institute with the aim of influencing change in the investment world to improve the provision of savings. The Institute is open to asset owners, investment managers and other groups that are motivated to influence the industry for the good of savers worldwide and already has 19 members from Australia, France, South Africa, the UK and the USA, with total assets of $5.6 trillion. The Thinking Ahead Institute is an outgrowth of the company’s Thinking Ahead Group established by Roger Urwin and Tim Hodgson in 2002. 

China: Focus On Quality As Growth Slows

Craig Botham, emerging markets economist at Schroders, comments on China's Q3 GDP figures and economic outlook.

BNY Mellon going green

BNY Mellon has been appointed trustee and paying agent for Estover Energy’s £48m bond for anew combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Speyside, Scotland.