Current Affairs

[Kendhni]

This looks promising news from the IMF (April 2021) which is projecting positive news of our economic growth out of the pandemic in 2022.

https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO ... april-2021

As I read it it's better than the EU and the US. I just hope they are right.

Basically it is the UK playing catchup - something I posted about quite a few weeks ago. While most markets around the world recovered, after the collapse early in 2020, the UK didn't. I have been following statements from Nick Train and Keith Ashworth-Lord and this seems to be exactly what they were predicting 6+ months ago. Sunak also made mention of it in his budget - when he split the 'catchup' from actual growth.

I stopped disinvesting in the UK last Aug/Sep because I hoped this would be the case - once I believe this catch up has completed its run I will restart offloading UK again. It looks we may have a period during which we can make hay.

[oldbluefox]

Sorry Ken, I must have missed it but isn't it good to have some positive news for a change after all we have been through with Brexit, BLM, the pandemic etc etc.

[Mervyn and Trish]

The good news is we're doing so well on vaccinations that the failed bureaucrats in the EU are still trying to find weasel words to demonstrate they are really going just as well. Which of course is why #exit parties are doing well in polls across Europe.

[oldbluefox]

Had my second jab today. Didn't get a blob of cotton wool and plaster but did get a sticker!! Must've run out of lollipops.

[Kendhni]

Sorry Ken, I must have missed it but isn't it good to have some positive news for a change after all we have been through with Brexit, BLM, the pandemic etc etc.

I was giving neither a positive nor a negative slant on it - just providing a non-emotional explanation based on what top financial people including the chancellor predicted - I really don't think there is any surprise in this movement (in fact the only surprise is that it took longer than expected). Personally speaking I think it is good that the UK is now starting to catch up with rest of the world (my portfolio had a very very strong week) - as I said time to make hay.

[david63]

Must've run out of lollipops

Lollipops are so yesterday - it's ice creams now (well it is in China!)

[Kendhni]

Must've run out of lollipops

Lollipops are so yesterday - it's ice creams now (well it is in China!)

Yea, to cool down all those anal swabs

[Happydays]

Had my second jab today. Didn't get a blob of cotton wool and plaster but did get a sticker!! Must've run out of lollipops.

My husband had his second jab today as well, no sticker or lollipop just glad to be given the top up

[oldbluefox]

Sorry Ken, I must have missed it but isn't it good to have some positive news for a change after all we have been through with Brexit, BLM, the pandemic etc etc.

I was giving neither a positive nor a negative slant on it - just providing a non-emotional explanation based on what top financial people including the chancellor predicted - I really don't think there is any surprise in this movement (in fact the only surprise is that it took longer than expected). Personally speaking I think it is good that the UK is now starting to catch up with rest of the world (my portfolio had a very very strong week) - as I said time to make hay.

Having been told by some over the past few years that the economy would collapse I will take it as a positive.

[towny44]

Sorry Ken, I must have missed it but isn't it good to have some positive news for a change after all we have been through with Brexit, BLM, the pandemic etc etc.

I was giving neither a positive nor a negative slant on it - just providing a non-emotional explanation based on what top financial people including the chancellor predicted - I really don't think there is any surprise in this movement (in fact the only surprise is that it took longer than expected). Personally speaking I think it is good that the UK is now starting to catch up with rest of the world (my portfolio had a very very strong week) - as I said time to make hay.

Having been told by some over the past few years that the economy would collapse I will take it as a positive.

You are about my age Foxy, so like me you will have seen countless recessions and economic crises over the years. Always accompanied by the prophets of doom, forecasting how this spells the end of capitalism and a bleak future with millions starving, even in the West. But it never happens, which makes me wonder why they persist with spouting the same old garbage every time there is a dip in the footsie.

[Kendhni]

Sorry Ken, I must have missed it but isn't it good to have some positive news for a change after all we have been through with Brexit, BLM, the pandemic etc etc.

I was giving neither a positive nor a negative slant on it - just providing a non-emotional explanation based on what top financial people including the chancellor predicted - I really don't think there is any surprise in this movement (in fact the only surprise is that it took longer than expected). Personally speaking I think it is good that the UK is now starting to catch up with rest of the world (my portfolio had a very very strong week) - as I said time to make hay.

Having been told by some over the past few years that the economy would collapse I will take it as a positive.

It is nothing more than Britain's delayed catchup from a situation caused by coronavirus (I honestly cannot remember anyone saying that the economy would collapse in a sustained manner due to coronavirus, although it really didn't do very well).

[oldbluefox]

I didn't say anything about any collapse in the economy as a consequence of coronavirus. I avoided mentioning negative economic predictions as a consequence of Brexit which you seem to have forgotten.
If you read what I did say I mentioned the difficult and uncertain times we have experienced with Brexit, BLM, etc, including coronavirus. Positive news should be celebrated despite the 'ah buts' amongst us.
Glasses half full or half empty?

[Frank Manning]

I didn't say anything about any collapse in the economy as a consequence of coronavirus. I avoided mentioning negative economic predictions as a consequence of Brexit which you seem to have forgotten.
If you read what I did say I mentioned the difficult and uncertain times we have experienced with Brexit, BLM, etc, including coronavirus. Positive news should be celebrated despite the 'ah buts' amongst us.
Glasses half full or half empty?

Absolutely right. Our daughter has a saying "It is, what it is". No point in looking back at what might have been. We are where we are. I would be immensely cheered up, if I could detect a national mood of; what have WE (all of us) got to do to get this show on the road?

[towny44]

I didn't say anything about any collapse in the economy as a consequence of coronavirus. I avoided mentioning negative economic predictions as a consequence of Brexit which you seem to have forgotten.
If you read what I did say I mentioned the difficult and uncertain times we have experienced with Brexit, BLM, etc, including coronavirus. Positive news should be celebrated despite the 'ah buts' amongst us.
Glasses half full or half empty?

We need to make allowances for Ken's youth, as he get older and wiser he may well remember the excellent words of wisdom he has received from the older sages on the forum, let us hope so.

[Kendhni]

I didn't say anything about any collapse in the economy as a consequence of coronavirus. I avoided mentioning negative economic predictions as a consequence of Brexit which you seem to have forgotten.
If you read what I did say I mentioned the difficult and uncertain times we have experienced with Brexit, BLM, etc, including coronavirus. Positive news should be celebrated despite the 'ah buts' amongst us.
Glasses half full or half empty?

You are totally ignoring the fact that I already said it was 'good' and 'time to make hay'. The only point I was making was that this recovery was predicted for January, it has been several months coming and was about as much of a surprise as spring follows winter.

[Kendhni]

I didn't say anything about any collapse in the economy as a consequence of coronavirus. I avoided mentioning negative economic predictions as a consequence of Brexit which you seem to have forgotten.
If you read what I did say I mentioned the difficult and uncertain times we have experienced with Brexit, BLM, etc, including coronavirus. Positive news should be celebrated despite the 'ah buts' amongst us.
Glasses half full or half empty?

We need to make allowances for Ken's youth, as he get older and wiser he may well remember the excellent words of wisdom he has received from the older sages on the forum, let us hope so.

If I ever start following your "wisdom" (for want of a better word) I will ask to be committed due to senility.

[Kendhni]

An interesting but misleading factoid (all numbers approx)
S&P at end of 1999 was 1470, currently 4128
DAX at end of 1999 was 6800, currently 15234
NIK at end of 1999 was 18500, currently 29768
HSI at end of 1999 was 16000, currently 28698
NASDAQ at end of 1999 was 4000, currently 13900

FTSE 100 at end of 1999 was 6930, currently 6915

[Manoverboard]

I didn't find it very interesting

[oldbluefox]

You can join the rest of us on the thickie table

[Manoverboard]

You can join the rest of us on the thickie table

Thank you, I know my place

[Kendhni]

I didn't find it very interesting

I'll try and make the numbers smaller for you next time

[Stephen]

Now now girls, play nicely

[Manoverboard]

I didn't find it very interesting

I'll try and make the numbers smaller for you next time

I won't be able to read them if you do that

When I posted earlier I had an image of Delboy licking his pencil end pending the addition of a financial detail to be written into his Filofax ... just saying

[Mervyn and Trish]

Just to bring us back to the reality of the corrupt EU (Sorry Ken - I'm being myopic again) I see they've commandeered all the doses of the AZ vaccine, which they don't really want) from a factory that the UK government supported when they refused.

[Ray B]

Just to bring us back to the reality of the corrupt EU (Sorry Ken - I'm being myopic again) I see they've commandeered all the doses of the AZ vaccine, which they don't really want) from a factory that the UK government supported when they refused.

So what are they going to do with it.? Are they vaccinating any one at all with it, or are they flogging it to bolster the coffers?