AUTHOR
Matthew Lynn
Matthew Lynn is a columnist for Bloomberg, writing a weekly commentary syndicated in papers such as Die Welt, the Sydney Morning Herald, the South China Morning Post and the Miami Herald. He is also an associate editor of Spectator Business, and a regular contributor to The Spectator. Before that, he worked for the business section of the Sunday Times for ten years. Matthew is also a thriller writer.
Why GSK should turn down Unilever’s billions
UK stockmarkets
Why GSK should turn down Unilever’s billions
Unilever has offered GSK £50bn for its consumer division. But while the cash will be a temptation, the deal is not in the interests of shareholders or…
22 Jan 2022
Britain's high street comes back from the dead
Retail stocks
Britain's high street comes back from the dead
Creative destruction has wrought its magic on the high street and there are new signs of life in retail, says Matthew Lynn
16 Jan 2022
AIB selloff: a tempting morsel for British banks
Bank stocks
AIB selloff: a tempting morsel for British banks
The Irish government is selling off its stakes in rescued banks. That’s an opportunity for the brave, says Matthew Lynn.
9 Jan 2022
Five unexpected events that could shock the markets in 2022
Stockmarkets
Five unexpected events that could shock the markets in 2022
Forget Covid-19 – it’s the unexpected twists that will rattle markets in 2022, says Matthew Lynn. Here are five possibilities
31 Dec 2021
Activist investing: forget hedge funds, leave it to private investors
Stocks and shares
Activist investing: forget hedge funds, leave it to private investors
Demands from “activist investor” hedge funds are every bit as short-termist as the management teams they are trying to shake up, says Matthew Lynn. Pr…
19 Dec 2021
A survival strategy for British retailers
Retail stocks
A survival strategy for British retailers
American shops are splitting off their web divisions – that could release value for British retailers too, says Matthew Lynn.
12 Dec 2021
Why Britain should join the race to corner the cannabis market
UK Economy
Why Britain should join the race to corner the cannabis market
Germany’s government is to legalise cannabis – but Britain risks getting left behind in a growing new industry, says Matthew Lynn.
5 Dec 2021
Why Britain’s supermarket chains should take over Europe
Retail stocks
Why Britain’s supermarket chains should take over Europe
Britain’s supermarkets should not sit back and wait for a takeover bid, says Matthew Lynn. They should launch their own for the continent’s chains.
28 Nov 2021
Shell's move to London is a vote of confidence in Brexit Britain
UK stockmarkets
Shell's move to London is a vote of confidence in Brexit Britain
Shell and Unilever have upped sticks and moved to the UK. The City should tempt more corporate giants in, says Matthew Lynn.
21 Nov 2021
Private equity eyes up high-street banks
UK stockmarkets
Private equity eyes up high-street banks
Carlyle’s bid for Metro may be just an appetiser before the hearty main course, says Matthew Lynn
14 Nov 2021
Joe Biden’s public spending revolution eats itself
US Economy
Joe Biden’s public spending revolution eats itself
The US president’s flood of free money was going to save America. Now, the country is drowning, says Matthew Lynn.
7 Nov 2021
Investors go wild for Trump’s Spac
US stockmarkets
Investors go wild for Trump’s Spac
Former US president Donald Trump launched a new social network last week that went through a special purpose acquisition vehicle (Spac). Matthew Lynn …
28 Oct 2021
Why we should scrap the Budget
Budget
Why we should scrap the Budget
The yearly Budget, big set-piece of British politics, encourages the very worst from the government, says Matthew Lynn.
24 Oct 2021
The after effects of the gas-price shock
Economy
The after effects of the gas-price shock
In the wake of the recent spike in the natural gas price, we can expect slower growth, an industrial recession – and a newly assertive Russia, says Ma…
17 Oct 2021
How to stop the private-equity takeover of Britain’s listed companies
UK stockmarkets
How to stop the private-equity takeover of Britain’s listed companies
Putting up barriers in the open market would make no sense. But there is another way, says Matthew Lynn. Just start valuing British equities properly.…
10 Oct 2021
The content streaming industry is fast turning into a bubble
Stockmarkets
The content streaming industry is fast turning into a bubble
Ever greater fortunes are changing hands for old songs and film franchises. But the good times cannot last, says Matthew Lynn.
3 Oct 2021
How the UK can help solve the semiconductor shortage
UK Economy
How the UK can help solve the semiconductor shortage
The EU’s plan to build a semiconductor manufacturing industry will fail, but the UK should take advantage of that, says Matthew Lynn
26 Sep 2021
Warsaw and Stockholm: the unexpected new threats to the City of London
UK stockmarkets
Warsaw and Stockholm: the unexpected new threats to the City of London
London has seen off challenges from Frankfurt and Paris, but two other booming financial centres are a bigger threat, says Matthew Lynn.
19 Sep 2021
Prepare for the rise of the “labour-lite” business
Global Economy
Prepare for the rise of the “labour-lite” business
Staff shortages are not going away any time soon – businesses that can do without a big workforce will thrive, says Matthew Lynn.
12 Sep 2021
Is this Britain’s most successful company?
Stockmarkets
Is this Britain’s most successful company?
Soho House has yet to make much profit, but it could be on the brink of creating something big
5 Sep 2021
How to ensure CEOs’ pay is fairly valued
Stockmarkets
How to ensure CEOs’ pay is fairly valued
After years of rising without any real reason, CEOs’ pay is finally falling. Matthew Lynn breaks down how this trend can be continued.
27 Aug 2021
We should make the UK a nature reserve for our fledgling apps
UK Economy
We should make the UK a nature reserve for our fledgling apps
Britain has plenty of promising start-ups in the app economy. They could do with some nurturing, says Matthew Lynn.
22 Aug 2021
What UK plc can learn from Team GB
UK Economy
What UK plc can learn from Team GB
If only we managed our economy as well as we do our Olympic athletes, says Matthew Lynn.
16 Aug 2021
Companies reporting huge profits should use them wisely
Stockmarkets
Companies reporting huge profits should use them wisely
Minting cash in a pandemic is not good PR, says Matthew Lynn. Companies should reinvest it for the future.
8 Aug 2021
How the government can give our start-up businesses a hand up
UK Economy
How the government can give our start-up businesses a hand up
Government cash might be nice, but there are better things it could do for start-up businesses, says Matthew Lynn
1 Aug 2021
The crisis brewing in emerging markets
Emerging markets
The crisis brewing in emerging markets
Covid-related political unrest and financial collapse in the developing world are the biggest threats right now, says Matthew Lynn.
25 Jul 2021
Why companies should stay out of the residential lettings market
UK Economy
Why companies should stay out of the residential lettings market
Companies, such as Lloyds Bank and John Lewis, who are looking to muscle in on the residential lettings market should think twice, says Matthew Lynn
18 Jul 2021
How to revive Britain's flagging stockmarket
UK stockmarkets
How to revive Britain's flagging stockmarket
The financial regulator is proposing new rules to raise the number of firms going public. It should be more radical, says Matthew Lynn.
11 Jul 2021
Five ways to build Britain's post-pandemic economy
UK Economy
Five ways to build Britain's post-pandemic economy
In Sajid Javid we have a health secretary who cares about livelihoods. This is what he should do, says Matthew Lynn.
2 Jul 2021
The UK stockmarket is bargain central for private-equity funds
UK stockmarkets
The UK stockmarket is bargain central for private-equity funds
Private-equity giants are snapping up British companies. We should welcome them, says Matthew Lynn.
25 Jun 2021
Why the government's coronavirus support measures need to change
UK Economy
Why the government's coronavirus support measures need to change
Matthew Lynn proposes three ways for the government to help the economy get through lockdown extra time.
20 Jun 2021
Shareholder perks: why it pays to offer your investors a freebie
Stockmarkets
Shareholder perks: why it pays to offer your investors a freebie
Giving shareholders a perk is an idea that went out of fashion. It’s time to revive it, says Matthew Lynn.
13 Jun 2021
What's to be done about the post-Covid dearth of baristas?
UK Economy
What's to be done about the post-Covid dearth of baristas?
The economy is reopening, but who will staff the bars, cafes and nail salons?
7 Jun 2021
UK-Australia trade deal could mean a shopping spree for British companies
UK Economy
UK-Australia trade deal could mean a shopping spree for British companies
A new free-trade deal between the UK and Australia should lift restrictions on company ownership. Matthew Lynn outlines his buy list for UK firms.
30 May 2021
Procter & Gamble’s right royal celebrity folly
US stockmarkets
Procter & Gamble’s right royal celebrity folly
Procter & Gamble wants the Sussexes to be its shield against the woke, but they are a costly distraction from real issues, says Matthew Lynn.
23 May 2021
Seven firms ripe for a shake-up by activist investors
Stockmarkets
Seven firms ripe for a shake-up by activist investors
Activist investors have a reputation as asset strippers, but they perform a valuable role, says Matthew Lynn
16 May 2021