Street Smart
Inside knowledge on UK financial markets and investing. How the City actually works — and what that means for the private investor.
Information, cost and position size: the first three rules every private investor needs to understand
Before you click buy, three structural disadvantages have already been set against you: information, cost and position size. The Street…
Bowler hats, gorillas and Krugerrands: what Brian Winterflood’s Square Mile teaches us about every crisis since
Brian Winterflood buried Krugerrands in his garden in 1974. What the City veteran’s testimony reveals about every financial crisis since.
Who actually profits from M&A — the advisers, lawyers and bankers behind every deal
Advisory fees on a major UK takeover can run to hundreds of millions. Here is who gets paid, how, and…
When deals go bad — the post-merger reality nobody talks about at the announcement
The announcement is the high watermark. What follows — integration struggles, write-downs, and broken promises — rarely makes the same…
What Citigroup found when it studied 30 years of director dealings
A Citigroup study found directors are skilled stock pickers in their own companies, but the signal has limits investors should…
Risk consultants and corporate detectives — the eyes and ears hedge funds pay for
Hedge funds pay risk consultants and corporate detectives to build information advantages. Here is what they do, who they are,…
Why most fund managers can’t beat the market — and what that means for you
The data is clear: most active UK fund managers fail to beat the index over ten years. Here is what…
Proprietary trading and the rise of casino banking: what private investors should know
Proprietary trading explained in plain English: how casino banking grew, what rules changed, and what private investors should watch.
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
The Blodget scandal still teaches UK investors how to read analyst research, spot conflicts and treat buy ratings with proper…