Slow food for thought

Insights and research on global events shaping the markets

A $100,000 fee per foreign hire is the new cost structure under the revised H-1B regulation, a policy shift that's turning Silicon Valley's talent pipeline into an expensive gamble.

Revolut recently launched a secondary share sale, leading to a staggering new valuation of US$75 billion. This milestone strengthens its position among the world’s leading neobanks and signals a new chapter for digital banking.

As President Trump’s tariffs trigger a wave of financial and diplomatic disputes, Asia’s largest powers are reassessing their alliances and strategic priorities, signalling a significant shift from the dynamics that have shaped the past decade.

America’s nest eggs are taking a risky turn. For the first time, ordinary Americans’ 401(k) plans—the backbone of retirement security for more than 60 million people—are being open to bitcoin and private equity.

Buy and Hold strategies with life-long holding periods have the potential to create a veritable fortune. This article explores how Ronald Read, a seemingly unassuming janitor taught himself how to invest like a pro, accumulating a fortune of almost US$8 million before his death in 2014.

Precious metals are shining this year: at the time of writing, gold has reached US$3,324 per ounce (+32% year-to-date), while silver stands at US$37 per ounce (+25.5%). Indeed, gold is now the best performing asset YTD, with silver closing in on its heels.

From lab to market – time for Europe’s quantum leap

Some people win the lottery once. Joan R. Ginther won it four times. It’s a story that defies everything we think we know about luck, probability, and randomness.

Electric vehicles were surging, until Washington abruptly hit the brakes. Now the US faces a precipice in its adoption curve. Will it recover or fall behind?

At the end of 2024, we identified 10 potential events and surprises likely to impact financial markets and the global economy this year. These are not forecasts, but potential macro-economic, geopolitical or market events that are not anticipated by the financial markets. As these developments unfold, their implications could ripple across asset classes, reshaping investor expectations and global economic dynamics.

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