Street Smart
Inside knowledge on UK financial markets and investing. How the City actually works — and what that means for the private investor.

Chinese walls and unbundled research: what MiFID changed about the notes you read
Chinese walls and MiFID research rules affect how broker notes are produced and read. Here is what private investors should…

Results-day theatre: the statement, the call, and what is staged for whom
Results day theatre is not just the numbers. This guide explains the statement, the call, the staged language and what…

The tipster effect: why a share you read about has usually already moved
The tipster effect shows how thin shares can move before retail readers react. Learn what the pattern means and how…

Agency front-running: when your order helps someone else go first
Agency front-running is the misuse of client-order information. Learn how it works, why thin shares make it harder to spot,…

Wash trades and painting the tape: manipulation hiding inside the volume
Wash trades and painting the tape can make a small-cap share look busier than it is. Learn the checks private…

The recovery-room call: when the same victims are targeted twice
A recovery-room call targets people who already lost money in a scam. This Street Smart guide explains the second hit…

Short and distort: the mirror image of the pump and dump
Short and distort is the mirror image of a pump and dump. This Street Smart guide explains how the scam…

Who profits from a takeover before ordinary shareholders do?
Who profits from a takeover before ordinary shareholders do? This Street Smart guide explains advisers, arbitrage, incentives and the risks…

Fund managers underperform too: what private investors should learn from that
Fund managers underperform more often than many investors expect. This Street Smart guide explains what costs, benchmarks and SPIVA evidence…

Ambiguous City phrases: what vague market language can hide
Ambiguous City phrases can hide the real question. This Street Smart guide shows private investors how to test vague market…