Who are the true pioneers of quantitative finance? Even for us here at FT Alphaville, it’s a difficult question to answer definitively. But it’s still a fun one to ponder. Practitioners like John McQuown, Ed Thorpe and William Fouse, as well as theorists such as Harry Markowitz, William Sharpe and Gene Fama, could all be … Read more
Big companies and non-profit groups have begun purging or rewriting references to climate change on their websites, mirroring similar action by US government departments in response to the policies of Donald Trump. Financial Times analysis shows that statements on climate change from leading corporations including Walmart and Kraft Heinz have been deleted or rewritten over … Read more
Stay informed with free updates Simply sign up to the US equities myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox. Wall Street stocks rallied on Friday at the end of a volatile week of trading as hopes grew that the US government will avoid a costly shutdown. The blue-chip S&P 500, which on Thursday fell … Read more
Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free Your guide to what the 2024 US election means for Washington and the world One of the many notable things about the beating under way in US stock markets is that US government bonds are not really picking up the slack. This is not a good sign. … Read more
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. The backlash against corporate environmentalism may have its roots in the US, but its tendrils have started creeping across the Atlantic. As a result, some financial companies that previously seemed keen to tackle social problems … Read more
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Why do banks even exist in a world of burgeoning private credit? Theoretically because cheap customer deposits allow traditional institutions to lend profitably. As the old joke goes: banking is as easy as 1-2-3. Pay … Read more
Few tales in corporate finance are as audacious, bewildering, or downright entertaining as that of the company formerly known as MicroStrategy. This once-humdrum business-software vendor has transformed into a high-octane bitcoin investment vehicle under the flamboyant leadership of Michael Saylor, its co-founder and executive chair. The company, now called Strategy, holds nearly 500,000 bitcoins, equivalent … Read more
Every so often a reader suggests I pen a book about investing. They’re obviously confusing you with someone else I hear you laugh. Why don’t you call it: “How to miss a fortune in US stocks.” Very funny. Anyway, relax. I wouldn’t dare. An old colleague of mine on the Lex column, Spencer Jakab, has … Read more
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Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free Your guide to what the 2024 US election means for Washington and the world Gold surged to a record high above $3,000 per troy ounce, as fears over the threat to global growth from Donald Trump’s trade war push investors into the safe haven metal. The price … Read more