Brian Bollen's Blog

We are not now that strength

Blain’s Morning Porridge 

We are not now that strength which in old days, moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are.

I’m up in Edinburgh for a few days, so Porridge might be a bit sporadic this week. Will try to keep it updated. 

UK will be distracted by UK Budget. Loads of stuff in the papers - so I won’t bore you further… 

Instead, I’m adding a new list to my list of Blain’s Market Mantras: “The deeper you delve into a problem you perceive to be the next crisis, the more certain you can be it will erupt somewhere else.”

What is best in life? To crush your enemies.

Blain’s Morning Porridge 

What is best in life? To crush your enemies. See them driven before you. And to hear the lamentations of their women.

In the Headlights this morning 

Mario Draghi: The man warns Italy: Don’t question the constitutional existential framework of the euro. 

Fish: If the euro is existential, then I am a halibut.

Lost and found in Rome

Blain’s Morning Porridge 

I found Rome a City of Bricks and left it a City of Marble.

 Sorry for very late comment.. but I was swamped by lots of great stuff this morning.. 

In the Headlights this morning 

Debt Leverage: Interesting quote I came across yesterday. Which country are we talking about? A) Germany, B) Italy, C) China or D) US?  10 points for the first correct answer. (And remember points mean prizes): “local credit rating agencies have applied absurdly optimistic standards, giving top ratings to companies that rank among the most highly leveraged in the world.”

Global Markets? Nullentropy sums up the market’s current energy. Stocks seem to have lost their mojo. Even a major boost from the Chinese government expressing its love for the market failed to restore the mood. Indices have stalled. Funnily enough – a number of portfolio managers tell me we seem to be getting to equity price levels where dividend yields make sense for traditional economy names. 

Agent Jack, The True Story of MI5’s Secret Nazi Hunter

Title: Agent Jack, The True Story of MI5’s Secret Nazi Hunter

Author: Robert Hutton

Publisher: Orion Publishing (www.orionbooks.co.uk)

Pps: 313 including notes and index

Price: £20

ISBN: 978-1-4746-0511-3

Fans of Ben Macintyre will love this book, is the quote featured on the front cover of Agent Jack, and as soon as you start reading it, if you are a fan of Ben Macintyre, you see exactly what he means. It is well written and tells you things, interesting things, that you just didn’t know.

I have read a lot of books on the subject of WWII and spies and PoWs and escapes in my lifetime and I had never even heard of Agent Jack until I spotted this title being reviewed in the recent weekend papers. I just had to read it for myself.

It has not disappointed, delivering a mix of James Bond and Dad’s Army, with a touch of John Betjeman thrown in through the evocation of Metro-Land. Horror writer Dennis Wheatley puts in an appearance, too, producing a paper on possible German invasion tactics which was largely dismissed by prime minister Winston Churchill’s chief military adviser as too far-fetched even for Hitler. Hands up among the readership who even knew of that.

Blain is back

Blain’s Morning Porridge

Slain, after all man's devices had failed, by the humblest things that God, in his wisdom, has put upon this earth 

I’m delighted to announce Blain’s Morning Porridge is back in the market – I’ve joined Shard Capital as Strategist.

My main role will be client-driven research and commentary on the major drivers of the international markets. I’ll also be looking at financing for Alternative Assets, and the problems for legacy bonds and other complex assets in terms of increasingly illiquid markets.

Due to the regulatory minefield enveloping anything that might be construed as commentary likely to induce readers to trade with me, and the discouragement of unasked for emails designed to suck unwary investors into financial destruction, we’ve taken the decision to make the Morning Porridge independent! Www.morningporridge.com is the beta version website of the new independent commentary. The Morning Porridge will still be emailed to existing subscribers and posted on the site. If you wish to opt out, please send an opt-out reply.