Adrian Holliday

Does a 2023 China 5% growth target mean renewable energy investment in the world’s second biggest economy is seeing a reset? Even a bout of new ‘realism’, after decades of out-performance?

How much pain would a gridlocked US administration cause the dollar? If the Democrats lose control of the House, Senate or both, policy-making and law-making gets far trickier.

The Japanese economic bad news deteriorated again today after a core consumer price index (CPI) 2.8% August core inflation figure landed, the highest in almost eight years.

Sterling has rallied by around nine cents against dollar (GBP/USD) in the past four sessions and wore, early on, some extra early winter insulation from the chancellor’s humiliating 45p tax rate U-turn.

All markets face rising inflation and wage costs. For emerging markets (EM), there’s the extra drumbeat of warnings from the US Federal Reserve: quantitive tightening (QT) is coming. To avoid panic it’s a message usually well-telegraphed. It’s also one that’s instinctively anxiety-making for emerging markets investors.

Anti-lock brakes (ABS) and airbags – remember the fuss? But do much more advanced driver-assistance systems, like ADAS, which scans the road ahead to help keep you safe, really cut your premiums 30 years on?

The Mexican peso (MXN) has been a stand-out 2022 performer, up 3% against the US dollar. But MXN’s fortunes are bolted to the health and resilience of the US economy and should it falter MXN’s performance may flatten or fade – possibly fast and with little warning.

Overnight USD/JPY touched 139.69 though by mid-morning (UK time) the pair had eased to 139.15, but the gyrations point to the crucial psychological 140.00 shadowline being breached sooner not later.

Almost everything Thatcham touches – from a Fiat Panda to a high-end Range Rover – emerges almost unrecognisable. The crash test information extraction process Thatcham undertakes helps insurers understand how easily or difficult a car can be repaired. Which ultimately reflects on your premium.

How long will British spending resilience last? Today’s Office of National Statistics (ONS) retail July data shows confidence is being kept alive by promotions but increasingly looks closer to clearance or discount grade.

Should we know what colleagues and the boss earn, asks Adrian Holliday....

Consumers, thanks to big data, are far better informed about where to buy financial services. From car insurance to savings and pension products.

Likewise, access to rich data helps insurers position themselves more knowledgeably. But the demographic challenge is enormous – as is the repair challenge.

Norway and Sweden are regularly lauded as economic and social super-models. Free market capitalism and a generously backed welfare state? Tick. A commitment to private ownership and a robust public sector? Tick. Strong growth balanced by high levels of redistribution? Tick again.