Latest articles by John Stepek
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Central banks can’t solve our current economic problems
Analysis Traditionally, as we hit recessionary times, central banks have lowered interest rates. But that’s not an option this time. If anyone can help dull the economic pain, it’s not the Bank of England, it’s the government. John Stepek explains why.
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The biggest change in the last 17 years – the death of the “Greenspan put”
Editor's letter Since I joined MoneyWeek 17 years ago, says John Stepek, we’ve seen a global financial crisis, a eurozone sovereign debt crisis , several Chinese growth scares, a global pandemic, and a land war in Europe. But the biggest change is the death of the “Greenspan put”.
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Why now looks like a good time to invest in nuclear power
Analysis Nuclear power has a terrible PR problem. But it has a vital role to play in energy security, to provide baseload power, and to reduce our carbon emissions. John Stepek looks at the best way to invest.
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Are we heading for a commercial property crash?
Analysis The pandemic has reduced the demand for office spaces and permanently changed the office environment. But John Stepek says rising interest rates are a bigger threat to commercial property right now.
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Is the US in recession and does it matter?
Analysis There's a heated debate over whether the US is in recession or not. But why does it matter? John Stepek explains
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Market sentiment is at a low ebb – is it time to buy?
Analysis Fund managers feel as pessimistic now as they did in 2008 and early 2020. So is it time to fill your boots?
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What the death of the “Greenspan put” means for investors
Analysis The Fed’s latest interest-rate rise shows that the “Greenspan put” – the idea that central banks will intervene if markets look like crashing – is dead. It’s a very different world for investors now, says John Stepek. Here’s why, and what it means for you.
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Walmart’s latest shock profit warning tells us a lot about the post-pandemic world
Analysis US retail giant Walmart has issued its second profit warning in ten weeks as consumer spending habits shift. That’s bad news for Walmart, says John Stepek – but is it bad news for the rest of the economy?
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“Whatever it takes” is no longer enough to shield the euro
Analysis The European Central Bank raised interest rates for the first time in more than a decade on Thursday, officially marking the end of negative interest rates. John Stepek breaks down what it means for the euro.
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Things won't just return to normal – that's not how inflation works
Editor's letter You might think that, if inflation is indeed “transitory”, we just need to wait and everything will return to “normal”. But this is a grave misunderstanding of how inflation works, says John Stepek.
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UK inflation has hit yet another 40-year high
Analysis UK inflation is running at 9.4% – its highest for 40 years. John Stepek explains why rampant inflation can be so damaging for business, for the economy and for your finances – and what you can do to help yourself through it.
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Is the eurozone heading for another crisis?
Analysis The eurozone avoided breakup when Greece couldn’t repay its debts after the 2008 financial crisis. Now it’s in trouble again, says John Stepek. And this time the focus is on Italy – a much bigger economy than Greece.
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Are stocks cheap yet or do they have further to fall?
Analysis Stockmarkets have fallen hard, but investors still seem willing to pay high price/earnings multiples for shares. John Stepek looks at what might take them out of their comfort zone, and what that would mean for stocks.
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Which stockmarkets look cheap now?
Analysis We’re always telling you to buy when assets are cheap. So are any global markets looking appealing yet?
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What does the latest inflation shocker from the US mean for your money?
Analysis US inflation has hit another fresh 40-year high and it’s unlikely to be going away any time soon, despite the best efforts of the Federal Reserve. With markets already predicting a recession, John Stepek explains what it all means for you.
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You can’t ignore politics anymore – here’s what that means for your money
Analysis As the world converged on a liberal democratic consensus, it seemed for a while that politics didn’t matter. But things are very different now, says John Stepek. The world is diverging, and that means anything could happen. Here’s what it means for you.
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Why a strong dollar hurts – and what you can do about it
Analysis The US dollar is at its strongest level in 20 years. That’s bad news for most investment assets, says John Stepek – here’s why
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Things may look bad – but they’re not that bad
Editor's letter The UK faces plenty of problems, says John Stepek. But things may not be as bad as they look. Our debt to GDP ratio is lower than many other major economies, and high employment means a healthy tax take. That gives the new chancellor room to cut taxes so people can keep more of their own money.
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Even if we end up in recession, a more inflationary world awaits us
Analysis The idea that a recession will drive down interest rates – and thus inflation – is flawed, says John Stepek. The disinflationary forces of the recent past had nothing to do with central banks, and now they have gone. Inflation will be here for some time yet.
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Is inflation about to drop as recession takes hold?
Analysis Central banks are raising interest rates in an attempt to curb soaring inflation. But will that push the economy into recession? John Stepek looks at how we got here and where things might go next.
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How to boost your income as dividends come back in fashion
Advice Dividends are back in fashion. But how do you go about building an income-generating portfolio?
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UK house prices are definitely cooling off – but are they heading for a fall?
Analysis UK house prices hit a fresh high in June, but as interest rates start to rise, the market is cooling John Stepek assesses just how much of an effect higher rates will have on the price of your home.
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The benefits of private equity are about to get tested
Analysis Private equity has grown ever more popular in recent years. But its touted benefits are set to be tested, says John Stepek.
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Inflation in the UK just keeps on rising
Analysis UK inflation has risen to 9.1% a year – far beyond the Bank of England’s 2% target rate. And it’s likely to remain high for some time. That’s going to change everything, says John Stepek. The economy, our politics – and the way you invest.
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