AUTHOR
Dr Matthew Partridge
Matthew graduated from the University of Durham in 2004; he then did 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.
Can Pearson's new CEO turn the company around?
UK stockmarkets
Can Pearson's new CEO turn the company around?
Pearson, the educational publishing group, endured seven profit warnings in seven years under its previous boss. Can new CEO Andy Bird steady the ship…
22 Oct 2020
Great frauds in history: the Independent West Middlesex Fire and Life Assurance Company's early Ponzi scheme
Investment strategy
Great frauds in history: the Independent West Middlesex Fire and Life Assurance Company's early Ponzi scheme
The Independent West Middlesex Fire and Life Assurance Company (IWM) offered annuities and life insurance policies at rates that proved too good to be…
21 Oct 2020
Don’t miss this bus: take a bet on National Express
Trading
Don’t miss this bus: take a bet on National Express
Bus operator National Express is cheap, robust and ideally placed to ride the recovery. Matthew Partridge explains how traders can play it.
19 Oct 2020
16 October 1995: The toll bridge to Skye opens
This day in history
16 October 1995: The toll bridge to Skye opens
A new bridge connecting the Isle of Skye to the Scottish mainland opened on this day in 1995, but the toll soon became a bone of contention.
16 Oct 2020
British Airways' controversial head Álex Cruz expelled
UK stockmarkets
British Airways' controversial head Álex Cruz expelled
BA boss Álex Cruz has been booted after a turbulent tenure that nonetheless left the airline in better shape. What happens next? Matthew Partridge rep…
15 Oct 2020
Softbank downsizes with a ‘Spac’
Stockmarkets
Softbank downsizes with a ‘Spac’
Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group is to create a purpose acquisition company (Spac) which it will use to buy private companies.
15 Oct 2020
What the race for the White House means for your money
US election
What the race for the White House means for your money
American voters are about to decide whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden will take the oath of office on 20 January. Matthew Partridge explains how vario…
15 Oct 2020
Great frauds in history... John Factor’s penny-stock scams
People
Great frauds in history... John Factor’s penny-stock scams
John Factor sold worthless penny stocks through a boiler room operation, ramping the price via his financial newsletters. But he was never held to ac…
14 Oct 2020
Asda comes back to Britain
Stockmarkets
Asda comes back to Britain
Walmart is to sell supermarket chain Asda to billionaires Moshin and Zuber Issa and the private-equity firm TDR Capital.
9 Oct 2020
The curtain comes down at Cineworld as it shuts all its cinemas
Stockmarkets
The curtain comes down at Cineworld as it shuts all its cinemas
Cinema chain Cineworld is closing its operations in Britain and America. But this crisis is not due to Covid-19 – it is largely self-induced. Matthew …
8 Oct 2020
Great frauds in history: Farrow’s Bank
People
Great frauds in history: Farrow’s Bank
Thomas Farrow set up his eponymous bank in 1901, offering high interest rates to small savers. After falsifying the accounts and collapsing the bank, …
7 Oct 2020
Take a punt on housebuilder Bellway’s solid foundations
Spread betting
Take a punt on housebuilder Bellway’s solid foundations
Bellway will profit from the shift to remote working, and looks cheap. Matthew Partridge picks the best way to play it.
6 Oct 2020
2 October 1950: Peanuts comic strip appears
This day in history
2 October 1950: Peanuts comic strip appears
On this day in 1950, Peanuts featuring Charlie Brown and Snoopy debuted in nine US newspapers. The cartoon would net creator Charles Schulz a fortune.
2 Oct 2020
Caesars Entertainment bets £2.9bn on William Hill takeover
Stockmarkets
Caesars Entertainment bets £2.9bn on William Hill takeover
The board of British bookmaker William Hill has recommended a takeover bid from US gaming giant Caesars Entertainment. Matthew Partridge reports
1 Oct 2020
Great frauds in history: Alan Bond’s debt-fuelled empire
Investment strategy
Great frauds in history: Alan Bond’s debt-fuelled empire
Alan Bond built an empire that encompassed brewing, mining, television on unsustainable amounts of debt, which led to his downfall and imprisonment.
1 Oct 2020
25 September 1996: the Taliban reach Kabul
This day in history
25 September 1996: the Taliban reach Kabul
After the end of Soviet involvement in Afghanistan, the Taliban reached the suburbs of the capital, Kabul, on this day in 1996.
25 Sep 2020
Snowflake: a very special IPO
Tech stocks
Snowflake: a very special IPO
The price of US technology company Snowflake, which floated last week, shot up by more than 150% at one point during the first day of trading.
24 Sep 2020
More bad news for bank stocks
Bank stocks
More bad news for bank stocks
Stories about suspicious transactions may be overblown, but HSBC has plenty of other problems to worry about. Matthew Partridge reports
24 Sep 2020
Great frauds in history: the Pigeon King’s Ponzi scheme
People
Great frauds in history: the Pigeon King’s Ponzi scheme
Pigeon-fancier Arlan Galbraith claimed to have created a new breed of elite racing pigeon, but his Ponzi scheme defrauded investors of over £200m.
23 Sep 2020
Trading: cruise operator Carnival will party again – here's how to play it
Trading
Trading: cruise operator Carnival will party again – here's how to play it
Cruise ship operator Carnival shares are cheap and look poised to recover strongly. Matthew Partridge explains how to play it.
22 Sep 2020
Chipmaker Arm gets a helping hand from Nvidia
Tech stocks
Chipmaker Arm gets a helping hand from Nvidia
Arm, the British chip designer, is to be sold to a US peer in a record deal for the industry. The consequences will be far-reaching.
21 Sep 2020
18 September 1972: Ugandan refugees reach the UK
This day in history
18 September 1972: Ugandan refugees reach the UK
The first Ugandan refugees fleeing persecution in Idi Amin's Uganda arrived in Britain seeking new homes, on this day in 1972.
18 Sep 2020
Great frauds in history: Martin Grass’s debt binge
Investment strategy
Great frauds in history: Martin Grass’s debt binge
AS CEO of pharmacy chain Rite Aid. Martin Grass borrowed heavily to fund a string of acquisitions, then cooked the books to manage the debt, inflating…
16 Sep 2020
How Softbank went from a tech investor to a big hedge fund
Tech stocks
How Softbank went from a tech investor to a big hedge fund
Softbank, the Japanese technology investor, appears to be gambling rather than investing these days. Shareholders are rattled. Matthew Partridge repor…
11 Sep 2020
A whistle-stop tour of north Wales
Travel and holidays
A whistle-stop tour of north Wales
Matthew Partridge takes in the country’s charming towns, breathtaking scenery and fascinating ruins.
11 Sep 2020
11 September 1997: Scotland votes for devolution
This day in history
11 September 1997: Scotland votes for devolution
In a referendum held on this day in 1997, Scotland voted for a devolved assembly, and greater tax-raising powers.
11 Sep 2020
The toxic mess at Credit Suisse
Stockmarkets
The toxic mess at Credit Suisse
Swiss regulators are escalating an investigation into a corporate espionage scandal at Credit Suisse.
10 Sep 2020
Build a global portfolio: where to look for growth and value now
Emerging markets
Build a global portfolio: where to look for growth and value now
The Covid-19 crisis and ongoing jitters over world trade have left emerging markets unusually cheap – yet their long-term growth prospects remain comp…
10 Sep 2020
Great frauds in history: how Joyti De-Laurey became “the Picasso of con artists”
People
Great frauds in history: how Joyti De-Laurey became “the Picasso of con artists”
Joyti De-Laurey forged the signatures of her bosses at Goldman Sachs and started writing cheques to herself. Over many years, she netted £4.3m.
10 Sep 2020
IAG's share price is ready for take-off - here's how to play it
Trading
IAG's share price is ready for take-off - here's how to play it
The owner of British Airways has had a turbulent year, but is now worth a punt. Matthew Partridge explains the best way to play it.
8 Sep 2020
Is Zoom's profit rise set to slow?
US stockmarkets
Is Zoom's profit rise set to slow?
Zoom, the videoconferencing company, has produced an extraordinary surge in profits and sales. Can it keep up the momentum? Matthew Partridge reports
4 Sep 2020
Rolls-Royce falls to huge loss
UK stockmarkets
Rolls-Royce falls to huge loss
Aero-engine maker Rolls-Royce recorded a £5.4bn half-year loss as the collapse in air travel wiped out demand for its engines.
3 Sep 2020
Great frauds in history: the Butcher brothers' corrupt banking empire
People
Great frauds in history: the Butcher brothers' corrupt banking empire
Jacob and CH Butcher plundered their $3bn banking empire, leaving investors short of almost $400m.
2 Sep 2020
29 August 1842: The first Opium war ends
This day in history
29 August 1842: The first Opium war ends
On this day in 1842, the signing of the Treaty of Nanking ended the first Opium war with China.
29 Aug 2020
The race for a coronavirus vaccine heats up
Biotech stocks
The race for a coronavirus vaccine heats up
Biotech shares, led by AstraZeneca, are lifted in the race to come up with a coronavirus vaccine.
28 Aug 2020
Apple sits at the top of the tree after hitting $2trn market capitalisation
Tech stocks
Apple sits at the top of the tree after hitting $2trn market capitalisation
The technology giant has become the first US company to reach a market value of $2trn. But its life may get harder now.
27 Aug 2020