Member Info for TheFarEnd

With US markets closed tomorrow, don't expect too many surprises.

Just saying.

88. “In Mexico”

That would be…

“The gulf of America, what a beautiful name.” I digress. 🙂

Mark Zuckerberg today announced that Facebook is scrapping its “third party fact-checking program and moving to a Community Notes model“. Musk led the way on that one…

The Meta boss finally admitted: “What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions.” You don’t say…

"Two of Britain's biggest local government pension funds are exploring mergers with other town hall retirement schemes in a race to meet a government deadline about their future.

In her Mansion House speech, Rachel Thieves unveiled plans to create pension 'mega-funds' to invest billions of pounds in UK firms and infrastructure to boost growth. They include moves to unite the sprawling local government pension scheme (LGPS), which has £355 billion spread across 86 councils.

These funds - which invest in shares, bonds, property and other assets

The LGPS has eight 'pools' but the Chancellor wants them to consolidate so they have the economies of scale to invest like public sector funds in Canada and Australia.

Two of the biggest pools - Access, formed of 11 councils in south-east England, and Northern LGPS, which covers Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Merseyside - do not have FCA authorisation.

Both want to set up their own authorised structures but have also approached the other regulated pools about merging. The Government's consultation closes next week.

And here's me thinking that we pay the pensions of six million workers through a percentage of the council tax.

What could possibly go wrong?

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Germany stood at 6% in December.

In the 6 months Labour has been in government, their policies have been geared to emulate these latest figures from the former darling of the great European experiment.

Can't disagree with that B_B.

This raised a laugh. 😂

“Not sure where you got that idea but I am invested in Lloyds, Barclays and Nat West, in the UK. “A balanced portfolio is all about spreading your investments.”

Yeah, spread 'em all in the same sector, that'll work. 🤣

Doh!

STP/DCB, your contribution and words of wisdom to this BB is absolutely priceless.

90.5 again please Asp1.

Cheers.

That's yer lot for this year.

I hope you lefty saddos are better at selecting equities than picking political parties and voting in referendums. Sadly I doubt it.

It must be abundantly clear to you all by now that by voting labour you have made a catastrophic mistake. If you can't see it, there's no hope.

When you keep supporting a failing government, its akin to holding a tanking share, and worse, throwing more money at it. So no prosperous new year for you. Unfortunately Starmer, with his ‘tough decisions’ resulting in tough times for everyone, is making not only the country poorer but all of us along with it.

Meanwhile all you left leaning individuals, keep talking amongst yourselves. Agreeing with one another is good entertainment even if it is a bit pathetic. Commiserations on your investment returns, keep smiling. 😄

To all, ATB for the new year, even…

STP/DCB

mick-b

Antony901

Oilerdeekid

nomlungu

Steinbecking

And numerous others, it's not your fault but not too late to change your minds. 🍾🥂

"I am just hoping Trump shows what can be done with a new approach"

The Financial Times has crowned Donald Trump as their Person of the Year

The FT has hardly been a fan of the President-elect in the past.

And I've just crowned Starmer and all who voted for them and still support them. Pratt's of the year.

The Prime Minister will spend New Year’s Eve in Madeira. The timing of his return to the UK remains unknown.The trip was made discreetly, and he has brought his own security with him.

Made a complete hash of everything he touches. Apart from all the so-called official visits abroad it's so bad here, he can't even stay during the holiday period.

What a miserable git.

Desperate times for him and his associates, and he knows it.

Steinbecking.

Notwithstanding your wishes for the new year.

You'll be in good company up there in the Highlands. They know a thing or two about losing referendums and the bitterness that follows. Especially the constant moaning about the result. You can drown your sorrows along with the rest of them.

Slàinte mhath.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) expects 2025 to be another challenging year for the European economies, the Wall Street firm said in a Friday note.

The bank cites several factors contributing to the expected slowdown, including the impact of tariffs planned by US President-elect Trump, structural headwinds in manufacturing, and ongoing fiscal consolidation across the euro area.

In contrast, the UK has experienced persistently high wage growth and services inflation, leading the Bank of England (BoE) to adopt a more cautious stance than other major central banks.

There will not be any fiscal consolidation here, we have a tax and spend socialist government. For us mere mortals, it's all about wealth preservation. Don't let these charlatans get their grubby mitts anywhere near your assets.

I know it's that time of the year but volumes seem particularly low right now. Probably tells you what you know already.

Haven't you heard,Milliband has got the energy sorted, so he says. There's still a few left who believe him. 🤣

“Nigel = collapse of the UK.”

A 901

In case you haven't noticed, the inevitable collapse under this present government has already begun. If they gain a second term it will be irretrievable. I would hope the electorate have more sense next time.

Shouldn't have mentioned Brexiteers STP. But I'll be thinking of you just like all the other remoaners, sitting at the table with a fat bird that doesn't gobble anymore.

Remember, good will to all.

“Seems like the CONS don’t know what to do either.”

A901, labour had 14 years of turmoil and several changes of leadership in the wilderness.

Nobody knew what labour stood for, they went from one extreme to another. Eventually they settled on the clueless proven liar called Starmer. Until their now worthless manifesto was published before the election no-one knew what their policies were.

And yet now you expect the Tories to publish all their future intentions.

Get real.

Probably the one you reside in now.

Now Britain is heading towards a totalitarian Communist state, a glimpse of what lies ahead….

The Bank of Russia announced on Friday that its Board of Directors decided to maintain its key interest rate unchanged, leaving the benchmark rate at 21%.

Hehe.

“The FCA also wants firms to recognise a lack of diversity as a “non-financial risk.”

Events identified as non-financial risk, such as environmental changes, regulatory changes, Issues with customers or suppliers, operational risk, social risk, governance risk and now diversity risks.

Adding diversity to the list of non-financial risks surely increases the financial risks. But wording was never the FCA's strong point.

Steinbecking, here's your EU…

“In Germany and France, support is growing for parties of the hard right and the hard left, and it is not difficult to see why. A crisis that affected countries on the periphery of the 20-nation eurozone 15 years ago – Greece, Portugal and Ireland – has now worked its way to the core of the single currency zone.”

It must be true, it's in your favourite rag, the guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/19/germany-france-crisis-next-global-financial-crash