Street Smart
Inside knowledge on UK financial markets and investing. How the City actually works — and what that means for the private investor.
Proprietary trading and the rise of casino banking: what private investors should know
Before the financial crisis, banks ran massive in-house trading desks betting their own money. Here is what changed and what…
How to read an analyst note without being misled by it
Analyst notes can move share prices and look authoritative. But reading them without understanding who wrote them and why is…
A bloke called Blodget: what the analyst scandal still teaches investors today
Henry Blodget was banned for life in 2003. The conflicts of interest that brought him down still shape every UK…
Speaking in tongues: what City phrases really mean when you read them in the news
City speak rarely lies. It softens, smooths and burnishes. Learn the dialect and you can read between the lines of…
The Friday night drop and other tricks of the City news cycle
How companies time bad news for the Friday afternoon RNS slot, bank holidays and noisy news days, and how private…
Two questions to ask before you trade on any piece of market news
Before you act on any market tip or rumour, Ian Lyall's two-question framework cuts through the noise: does the story…
Why the City was never built for the private investor — and what to do about it
The City of London was built for professionals. Understanding the structural disadvantages facing private investors is the first step to…
The coffee houses that built the City — how London finance began over a hot drink
Before the Square Mile's towers, London's financial markets lived in chaotic coffee houses. Here is how Jonathan's became the Stock…
How to trade around takeover announcements — and what the professionals know that you don’t
Takeover bids are announced to the public, but the smart money is already positioned. Here is what private investors need…
How hedge funds use market intelligence and where the line is
The grey area between mosaic theory and insider dealing. How short sellers and activists get their edge, and the line…