What Macbeth teaches you about stock analysts

Matthew Partridge looks at what investors can learn from Shakespeare's Macbeth.

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(Image credit: Credit: Collection Christophel / Alamy Stock Photo)

Written by Shakespeare in 1606, Macbeth is based on real-life incidents from Scottish history. After receiving a prophecy that he will become Scotland's ruler, Macbeth, a Scottish general (played by Michael Fassbender, pictured, in a 2015 film version), murders King Duncan. In order to consolidate his position, Macbeth then kills Banquo, a rival. Macbeth is racked with guilt, while his wife, who had encouraged him, goes insane. Macbeth finally dies in battle.

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Dr Matthew Partridge
Shares editor, MoneyWeek

Matthew graduated from the University of Durham in 2004; he then gained an MSc, followed by a PhD at the London School of Economics.

He has previously written for a wide range of publications, including the Guardian and the Economist, and also helped to run a newsletter on terrorism. He has spent time at Lehman Brothers, Citigroup and the consultancy Lombard Street Research.

Matthew is the author of Superinvestors: Lessons from the greatest investors in history, published by Harriman House, which has been translated into several languages. His second book, Investing Explained: The Accessible Guide to Building an Investment Portfolio, is published by Kogan Page.

As senior writer, he writes the shares and politics & economics pages, as well as weekly Blowing It and Great Frauds in History columns He also writes a fortnightly reviews page and trading tips, as well as regular cover stories and multi-page investment focus features.

Follow Matthew on Twitter: @DrMatthewPartri