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18 Jul 2023

BlackRock names Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser to board

Middle East and Saudi Arabia strategic importance for the global economy and financial markets is growing at a fast pace. BlackRock said Monday that Amin Nasser, the CEO of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, is joining the asset manager’s board of directors. The world’s largest asset manager said the move reflects the firm’s emphasis on the Middle East as part of its long-term strategy. BlackRock had more than $8 trillion in client assets under management as of 2022. (NB: Not sure that the #esg activists will like it...) Source: CNBC

17 Jul 2023

There is striking divergence between social media mood (apocalyptic) and actual fund flows (and stock prices)

Source: www.zerohedge.com, JP

17 Jul 2023

Nokia sold 437 million phones in 2007. And Apple sold 1.4 million iPhones. Apple will sell more than 220 million iPhones this year

Nokia sold 437 million phones in 2007. And Apple sold 1.4 million iPhones. Apple will sell more than 220 million iPhones this year. And Nokia no longer makes its own phones. Source: John Erlichman

17 Jul 2023

Bullish sentiment on equities is getting even more bullish

Bullish sentiment on equities is getting even more bullish. Source: TME, Goldman Sachs

13 Jul 2023

Over-optimistic sentiment can stay extended / “stretched” for long periods of time.

Over-optimistic sentiment can stay extended / “stretched” for long periods of time. Source: Goldman Sachs

11 Jul 2023

These charts by Bank of America show that every single episode of a local peak in UST 2yr yield was followed by some risk-negative event over the past 40 years.

These #charts by Bank of America show that every single episode of a local peak in UST 2yr yield was followed by some risk-negative event over the past 40 years. Such episodes ranged from mild (Mexican peso crisis in Dec 1995; HY +95bp) to moderate (Asia FX crisis in Oct 1997; HY +350bp ) to severe (GFC; HY all-time wides). The lag between the peak in 2yr yield and subsequent event varies from just a couple of weeks to just over a year, with an average being 7 months. Source: BofA, www.zerohedge.com

11 Jul 2023

New cobalt, copper, lithium and nickel mines needed

Per a McKinsey report, the current 500 cobalt, copper, lithium and nickel mines operating today will need to almost double to 900 in order to meet battery demand. Almost 80% increase in mines needed.

6 Jan 2023

For the first time, more money was raised in the debt markets for climate-friendly projects than for fossil-fuel companies

Source: Bloomberg, Michael Jackson

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