economy – FIRE v London

August ’26: Summer calm

2026-09-212026-09-21 FIRE v LondonLeave a comment

August was another fabulous summer month in the UK. The lack of rain became a nasty drought, with hosepipe bans across much of the country – including my Coastal Folly’s Wessex Water supplier (for the first time in over 50 years). But lawns aside it made for an enjoyable month.

I spent quite a bit of time on the south coast. I finally ticked off the Isle of Wight’s Osborne House from my bucket list, and also made it down to Portland’s lighthouse – Dorset’s southerly point.

A grand historical building with a yellow facade, featuring multiple towers and a clock, surrounded by neatly trimmed gardens and topiary. A gravel pathway leads to the entrance.

A coastal lighthouse with a white and red striped tower next to a white house, set against a clear blue sky and ocean.

Markets in August

Markets didn’t move much in August. My markets moved, on average and after currency movements, up 0.5%. The most notable component was a slight drop in bonds, with Trump/Hormuz-driven inflation looking more persistent than it had appeared a month earlier.

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Mar ’25: Anticipating tariffs

2025-04-112025-04-16 FIRE v London5 Comments

What’s in the news?

Talking about the news in March, given what’s been happing on the tariff front over the last few weeks, seems a bit pointless.

We entered March with a lot of drama about Ukraine, and some notable ‘ceasefire’ activity on the diplomatic front.

We finished March waiting for ‘liberation day’, April 2nd, when Trump unleashed a basically bonkers cocktail of tariffs on every country in the world – except Russia, of course.

What’s going on with me?

In the meantime, life goes on.

I attended a funeral of a long time friend and neighbour in north London.

I visited a rather bizarre concert in the Royal Festival Hall.

And I visited hospital for my first MRI scan, participating in a clinical research programme at University College London Hospital. I was impressed, I have to say, and grateful that I live within relatively easy reach of this excellent hospital.

I also visited Dorset – Studland to be precise – and went yomping up to Old Harry Rocks, the start of the Jurassic Coast. It’s a beautiful part of the world, and less than 3 hours from London Waterloo.

Markets in March

Markets generally drooped in March, particularly the US’s S&P500. Enthusiasm/animal spirits from Trump’s election win are being replaced by trepidation / concern about Trump not being good for the US economy after all. The dollar, and the AUD, fell against the pound.

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Nov ’24: 3x

2024-12-072024-12-08 FIRE v London5 Comments

London life

I’ve been keeping busy as winter in London sets in. The Christmas lights are all out and looking resplendent, and both the West End and the City are feeling pretty buzzy. For all the general ‘UK stuck in the weeds’ economic commentary, we feel a long way from any talk of recession.