The last week on Financial Orbit

A busy week with various macro excitements and certainly plenty of company reporting.

Financial Orbit Macro chronicled every business day morning the evolving macroeconomic scene. My favourite charts of the week?

Well Brexit fear was high (and that hurt the British Pound)... 

 ...meanwhile the G20 are meeting in Shanghai, China but I don't think they will discuss a policy of pushing down the US dollar (which I think will help balance the global economy better):

 Meanwhile I am still musing about whether sentiment is too poor versus reality (and supportive of this of course stock markets have had another reasonable week crawling up that wall of worry):

And finally, I am sure this is just coincidental but I was amused by this volatility / Trump correlation: 

The last week or so has continued to be a very heavy corporate results period with multiple numbers and related updates for Financial Orbit Stocks to appraise.  Among the stocks and themes covered in the once a business day updates on the two Financial Orbit preferred lists included

• The weekly preferred list name and performance update;
• Billiton numbers are among the update on preferred list stocks today;
• In lieu of actual portfolio reporters, let’s have a look at the bigger movers in both the preferred lists for some interesting at the margin buying/accumulation options;
• Thoughts on the AIA numbers out of Hong Kong earlier and some quick comments on Yum! Brands.  Otherwise enjoy the rally on nearly all the names on the preferred list;
• Thoughts on BASF (who reported today) plus Dow Chemical, Marriott and GlaxoSmithKline (with a mention of Gilead too)

Finally Financial Orbit Immediate also covered the global earnings season generally outside the range of my preferred stocks.  A selection of the topics written up is below - another busy week!

• Lots and lots of earnings today…let’s start in the UK with Lloyds, RSA and BAT.
• Thoughts on three Tuesday reporters in the UK market: Standard Chartered, Croda International and GKN
• Some thoughts on US numbers today from Foot Locker, Honeywell/United Technologies and Hilton Worldwide
• A final earnings appraisal today…Apache the US oil entity
• Some thoughts on the RBS numbers out this morning in the UK
• Some thoughts on the HSBC quarterly comments which were out today
• More earnings appraisal...NN Group and Anheuser-Busch InBev

If you would like to receive any of the above reports or join any of the above mailing lists then contact me  

Chris Bailey

Founder, Financial Orbit

Email: chris.bailey@financialorbit.com

Twitter: @financial_orbit

The last week on Financial Orbit

Well that was a volatile last week - and in keeping with such fluctuating movements just as a global index bear market was called after the US market closed on Thursday...a big up day (outside of Japan) resulted on Friday.

Financial Orbit Macro chronicled every business day morning the evolving macroeconomic scene. My favourite charts of the week?  Probably the two below highlighting value on a price: book basis versus history...

(h/t @callum_thomas)

...but are investors optimistic about prospects?  Actually...not at all: 

(h/t @MktOutperform)

Add onto this big fluctuations in the Japanese yen, fear in the financial sector, the world's leading central banker in an extended question and answer session and a rampant gold price equated to fascinating times as covered by Financial Orbit Macro. 

The last week or so has been a very heavy corporate results period with multiple numbers and related updates for Financial Orbit Stocks to appraise.  Among the stocks and themes covered in the once a business day updates on the two Financial Orbit preferred lists included:

• 'mention of today’s excellent Randgold Resources numbers'
• 'updates from Nokia and Thomas Cook are worth reviewing.  Additionally some insights for BHP Billiton from Rio Tinto numbers and thoughts on AP Moeller-Maersk whose results I wrote up yesterday'
• 'update thoughts on Randgold Resources, LafargeHolcim, UBS, Thomas Cook, Nokia and Barclays among other names'

Finally Financial Orbit Immediate also covered the global earnings season generally outside the range of my preferred stocks.  A selection of the topics written up is below - what a busy week!

• Thoughts from the Rio Tinto earnings which are out today.
• the annual BP Energy Outlook to 2035. 
• A write-up of three US corporates that reported: Interpublic, ITT and Davita Healthcare
• views on the results from Disney after hours yesterday
• views on the results earlier today from Coca-Cola
• A few quick thoughts on two consumer (PepsiCo and Kellogg’s) and two agricultural sector (Bunge and Mosaic) names. 
• A write-up of the Rolls Royce full year numbers today…a company which has had prior to today 5 profit warnings in around a 2 year period.  

If you would like to receive any of the above reports or join any of the above mailing lists then contact me (or read more here or at the tab above). 

Chris Bailey

Founder, Financial Orbit

Email: chris.bailey@financialorbit.com

Twitter: @financial_orbit

The last week on Financial Orbit

Not an easy week on financial markets swinging between bouts of euphoria and pessimism.  In terms of some important charts I would highlight the potentially deeply influential push down of the US dollar which has the scope to give the world a completely different risk tone as this excellent graphic contrasting the first week of January and February in various global currency markets shows:

Financial Orbit Macro chronicled every business day morning the evolving macroeconomic scene. My favourite charts of the week?  Probably the two below highlighting first the pick-up yield available even in US equities today versus medium duration bonds...

...a relationship even more apparent in other parts of the world like Europe and Japan due to the preponderance of negative bond yields as shown below.

Value (equities) and sentiment/moment (negative yielding bonds) combining with ever more dovish central bank action at a time of ever-duller headline economic growth rates versus expectations equates to a heady macroeconomic brew.  Fascinating times as covered by Financial Orbit Macro. 

The last week or so has been a very heavy corporate results period with multiple numbers and related updates for Financial Orbit Stocks to appraise.  Among the stocks and themes covered in the once a business day updates on the two Financial Orbit preferred lists included:

• Thoughts on earnings season reporters GlaxoSmithKline, Royal Dutch Shell and Yum! Brands;
• Comments on BHP Billiton, AIA and LafargeHolcim;
• Thoughts on the bid (and numbers) from Syngenta plus the updates from Gilead and Dow Chemical;
• Thoughts on updates from Nokia and UBS plus some further insights on BHP Billiton, Royal Dutch Shell, Wal-Mart and GlaxoSmithKline;
• Thoughts on Royal Dutch Shell, Philip Morris International and Yum! Brands conference calls plus some observations on UBS (vs Credit Suisse) and insights on the Umicore full year numbers;
• Thoughts on the January performance of the preferred list stocks.  Specific company mentions include Schlumberger, Gilead and Royal Dutch Shell

Finally Financial Orbit Immediate also covered the global earnings season generally outside the range of my preferred stocks.  A selection of the topics written up is below - what a busy week!

• Some thoughts on CME, Tyson Foods and Estee Lauder;
• Some thoughts on Statoil, Credit Suisse and Vodafone;
• Some thoughts on Royal Dutch Shell, Philip Morris International and Yum! Brands;
• Some thoughts on Mastercard, Honeywell and Whirlpool; 
• Some thoughts on Novo Nordisk, ADP and Eaton Corp;
• Some thoughts on Alphabet (i.e. Google);
• Some thoughts on economic updates from the European Commission and a new Bank of England Quarterly report;
• Some thoughts on BP, Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobile and Dow Chemical;
• Some thoughts from industrial or industrial agricultural names that reported today on a cash flow basis.  Stock reviewed: Emerson Electric, ADT, ADM and Agco;
• Some thoughts on numbers from Timken, Mondelez and GlaxoSmithKline;
• Some thoughts on Daimler, Volvo, Toyota and Arcelor Mittal;
• Thoughts on Amazon and Visa 

If you would like to receive any of the above reports or join any of the above mailing lists then contact me (or read more here or at the tab above). 

Chris Bailey

Founder, Financial Orbit

Email: chris.bailey@financialorbit.com

Twitter: @financial_orbit

The last week on Financial Orbit

What a busy earnings season week!  Much more to come on that front...

It has been a very busy week on the range of Financial Orbit publications too.  

Financial Orbit Macro chronicled every business day morning the breaking macro news.  My favourite chart of the week?  The flow of money into money market funds shows the build-up of fear in recent months...but also the opportunity that is building. 

Good therefore to see global equity markets have another better week reflecting my opportunistic commentary bias as January has progressed.  

There were a number of earnings and related updates for Financial Orbit Stocks to appraise.  Among the stocks and themes covered in the once a business day updates on the two Financial Orbit preferred lists included:

• Updates on names like Schlumberger, Barclays and Royal Dutch Shell…plus an observation that we are moving into the peak earnings season period. 
• Some thoughts on comments by BASF, an event at Royal Dutch Shell and insights from a peer with relevance for Nokia;
• Thoughts on Royal Dutch Shell (BG), Barclays, GlaxoSmithKline, Barclays, BHP Billiton, Gilead, Carnival and Hershey;
• Thoughts on names such as Tiffany’s, Dow Chemical, Billiton and Royal Dutch Shell;
• Results from preferred list stock Electrolux and another quick comment on Royal Dutch Shell. 

Finally Financial Orbit Immediate also covered the global earnings season generally outside the range of my preferred stocks.  A selection of the topics written up: 

• Thoughts on Potash Corp, Mead Johnson and Harley Davidson
• Thoughts on Facebook, eBay, PayPal and Diageo;
• Thoughts on the Novartis and Santander numbers
• Best bits of the Apple quarterly report as I see it
• Thoughts on today’s numbers from P&G, Johnson & Johnson and 3M
• Thoughts on the capital markets day from Kingfisher;
• Some European economic thoughts post the German IFO;
• Thoughts on Roche, Alibaba, Altria and CAT following their respective results publication today. 
• I wrote up Halliburton one of the key peers to Schlumberger who reported on Friday (and who are a FO Preferred List stock);
• I also wrote up – and established levels that I would buy – well-known consumer plays Kimberly-Clark and McDonald’s

If you would like to receive any of the above reports or join any of the above mailing lists then contact me (or read more here or at the tab above). 

Chris Bailey

Founder, Financial Orbit

Email: chris.bailey@financialorbit.com

Twitter: @financial_orbit

This week on Financial Orbit

A busy week on the world's financial markets...but at least it ended better than it started:

It has been a very busy week on the range of Financial Orbit publications too.  

Financial Orbit Macro chronicled every business day morning the breaking macro news.  My favourite chart of the week?  Probably this one below which highlighted the bear market obsession that was apparent by the middle of last week...and from which point (with a little help from Mr Draghi of the ECB) markets started to improve.  

There were a number of earnings and related updates for Financial Orbit Stocks to appraise.  Among the stocks and themes covered in the once a business day updates on the two Financial Orbit preferred lists included:

• Carnival, Barclays, LafargeHolcim, China facing stocks, dividends
• Electrolux, Tiffany’s and UBS
• BHP Billiton and Royal Dutch Shell
• AIA, Tiffany, Addeco, Randgold and Barclays

Finally Financial Orbit Immediate also covered the global earnings season generally outside the range of my preferred stocks.  A selection of the topics written up: 

• Thoughts on the Schlumberger numbers post their conference call
• Super Mario (Draghi) is back…a few notes from the ECB press conference
• Suncor’s (third) offer for Canadian Oil Sands
• Carlsberg and the falling Russian rouble
• Prudential – the best bits from this week's investor seminar
• Thoughts on the SAP earnings;
• Thoughts on the GE earnings;
• Quick review of the Eurozone ‘flash’ PMI numbers
• Sentiment, oil, UK retailers, UK banks
• Netflix – great theme and confident presentation but huge valuation
• IBM – value stock or a value trap?

If you would like to receive any of the above reports or join any of the above mailing lists then contact me (or read more here or at the tab above). 

Chris Bailey

Founder, Financial Orbit

Email: chris.bailey@financialorbit.com

Twitter: @financial_orbit

More on next steps at Financial Orbit

Well - what a week.  Global financial markets had a well-documented difficult first week of 2016 and the second one has scarcely been easier.  

Of course there is only one action for such financial markets...and that is to think, write and communicate even more.  

Some of you may have noted that there have been no new updates on www.financialorbit.com since Sunday and the regular Stories we should be thinking about.  It simply has been a hugely busy week interpreting and reviewing the markets and bedding down the launch of my new Financial Orbit services Macro, Stocks and Immediate.  

Probably most of you will have seen the update I wrote at the turn of the year about the next steps for Financial Orbit (please also see a copy of this at one of the tabs above).  It feels the right time to take the Financial Orbit brand to the next level - and market volatility over the last week or two have only reiterated these thoughts. Simply put there is an ever greater need for timely, to-the-point but thorough and provocative financial markets research covering macroeconomic trends, investing themes, foreign exchange and commodities plus - of course - international large cap equities.  

I hope most of you are currently receiving at least a couple of the new Financial Orbit services Macro, Stocks and Immediate everyday.  It is via these products that the views and opinions espoused on this website over the last couple of years plus will now predominately be found - although I still will be writing regular posts like the aforementioned Sunday afternoon (GMT) Stories we should be thinking about here for all to view. 

So what have the three new services been talking about over the last week?  

For Macro the focus has unsurprisingly been on the sharp shifts in global markets over the last week.  I typically try to publish Macro at around 0700 GMT in order to capture the key insights from the end of the US trading day, the heart of the Asian trading day and the early insights from Europe. Normally the publication is around ten pages long with fifteen plus charts and associated commentary and links. The aim is to provide that one-stop Macro view that can give financial market participants or interested amateur investors top-down insights that can help shape their investment decisions or allocations.  

I will also be hosting a webinar later in the month only for Macro distribution list recipients to review the first few weeks of January 2016 in aggregate.  

If you would like to be added to the once a day Macro distribution list then please email me at chris.bailey@financialorbit.com 

For Stocks after the publication in early January of my preferred lists (one list of 20 global ex-UK stocks and one list of 20 pan-European including the UK stocks) every day reviews newsflow and related insights for these names specifically.  Every Monday I formally review the performance of the names to try and find additional insights. 

The aim of these two lists - and the constant updating on only these names - is undertaken with the aim of generating core stock lists for the mainstream larger cap equity investor no matter where you are in the world.  The composition will change over time - as opportunities wax and wane - but the core aim is to be lower turnover and total return in orientation (a common theme among many of the names is a good balance sheet / cash flow and dividend generation capability).  

Stocks is also a once-a-day product although the publication time is not as fixed as Macro.  Again I will be hosting a webinar later in the month only for the receiving distribution list to review the first few weeks in January for the list of stocks that make up the two 20 strong portfolios.  

If you would like to be added to the once a day Stocks distribution list then please email me at chris.bailey@financialorbit.com 

Immediate is a different type of product as it is typically published two or three times a day.  As the name suggests it focuses more on breaking news specifically thoughts from company conference calls (after results updates), economic insights after major releases and additionally my own trading thoughts as opportunities unfold in stocks across the market outside of those covered by the Stocks product.  

In short it is the closest product of the three to sitting on my shoulder and watching/listening to me appraise the markets in their totality over the day.  

By the very nature of the product distribution times are more random (and so far have been as early as 5am GMT and as late as 11pm GMT!) but more typically than not are in the early hours of the European or US market sessions or after the US close.  With the quarterly earnings season yet to fully get into gear expect the Immediate product to be regularly published three times a day over the next few weeks.  

I have described the Immediate product as being more relevant for active traders given the preponderance of more breaking and tactical views and opinions.  

Additionally all Immediate subscribers will be offered a conference call opportunity with me over the next few weeks to discuss the markets, the macro scene, individual equities, multi-asset class matters...or anything else in the investment world.  

If you would like to be added to the Immediate distribution list then please email me at chris.bailey@financialorbit.com 

Thanks very much for reading and feel free to get in touch on the above matters...or anything else at all. 

Chris Bailey

Founder, Financial Orbit Limited

Email: chris.bailey@financialorbit.com

Twitter: @financial_orbit 

Financial Orbit: the next steps

A new year always brings new thoughts and plans and getting on for two-and-a-half years since the launch of www.financialorbit.com it seems the right time to move to the next stage.

First I would like to say a huge 'thank you' to everyone who has corresponded, subscribed to updates and generally been supportive since July 2013.  My commitment to such support is that www.financialorbit.com will remain open and available to all and will continue to post unique content every day about global investment and related matters. Similarly my Twitter feed @financial_orbit will continue to provide a wide range of instant views, striking graphics and noteworthy links and opinions.

However I believe it is now time to offer some complementary services which showcase some of my work and opinions in a more formal setting.  On Monday 4 January four new services will be launched: Financial Orbit Macro, Financial Orbit Stocks, Financial Orbit Immediate and Financial Orbit Bespoke.  To elaborate a little on each of them -


Financial Orbit Macro -
A once a day macroeconomic summary for investment industry practitioners, interested individual investors and business leaders wanting to understand  what is happening in the global economy. Heavy on charts and associated insights this publication aims to give the reader after just a few minutes reading big picture economic and strategic insights.

Additionally a once-a-month webinar just for Financial Orbit Macro subscribers will provide further valuable insights and an opportunity to question me directly.

The first publication of Financial Orbit Macro on 4 January will be '16 macro thoughts for 2016'. For the whole of January Financial Orbit Macro will be sent free of charge to everybody on the Financial Orbit Speaks mailing list. If you would like to be added to this distribution list for a free 30 day trial please send me at an email at chris.bailey@financialorbit.com


Financial Orbit Stocks - 
A once a day update focusing on individual equities, Financial Orbit Stocks will follow the progress of two portfolios Financial Orbit's 20 best global stocks and Financial Orbit's 20 best pan-European stocks.  Comprising analysis of these names, rationales for new inclusions and deletions plus the collected insights of my near 20 years in the financial markets Financial Orbit Stocks is a one-stop product for any investors wanting to receive advice on compelling individual, mainstream larger cap equities.

Additionally a once-a-month webinar just for Financial Orbit Stocks subscribers will provide further valuable insights and an opportunity to question me directly.

The first publication of Financial Orbit Stocks on 4 January will consist of the inaugural list and rationales for the Financial Orbit's 20 best global stocks and Financial Orbit's 20 best pan-European stocks products. For the whole of January Financial Orbit Stocks will be sent free of charge to everybody on the Financial Orbit Speaks mailing list. If you would like to be added to this distribution list for a free 30 day trial please send me at an email at chris.bailey@financialorbit.com


Turning to the more in-depth products for active global investors...

Financial Orbit Immediate - 
Typically published 2 or 3 times every working day, Financial Orbit Immediate builds on the Macro and Stocks publications by providing insights, commentary and analysis on issues of the day - both macroeconomic and individual company. Financial Orbit Immediate is the place to get my timely conference call write-ups in earnings season and flash reactions to central bank press conferences.  In short - and hence its name - it is Immediate.

Additionally subscribers will get the rights to a once-a-month direct conference call with me.

The first publications of Financial Orbit Immediate will be available on 4 January. To be added to this distribution list for a free 30 day trial then send me an email at chris.bailey@financialorbit.com


Financial Orbit Bespoke -
Financial Orbit Bespoke offers a full research outsourced service comprising all of the above augmented with personalised research analysis preferences and a frequency you prefer of conference calls with me.  If you would like to discuss this further then please send me an email at chris.bailey@financialorbit.com


I am very excited about the future growth potential of www.financialorbit.com, my Twitter feed @financial_orbit and all the new services above.  As always if you have any questions or suggestions please send me an email directly.  Feedback can only make Financial Orbit get stronger.

Thanks so much for reading - and Happy New Year.

Chris Bailey
Founder, Financial Orbit
Email: chris.bailey@financialorbit.com
Twitter: @financial_orbit

Financial Orbit's 29 additional finance people to follow on Twitter

You may well have seen this excellent list of 'The 129 finance people you have to follow on Twitter' published earlier today. It truly is an excellent list and I enjoy the commentary, updates and insights from many of the names mentioned and I would encourage you to follow as many as you can.  

'Finance Twitter' is growing fast however and looking through the list I felt some excellent tweeters were missed out. Comprised solely of those overlooked by the Business Insider list (but who in my view fulfil the criteria of knowledge, wit, insight and acumen) in alphabetical order here is 'Financial Orbit's 29 additional finance people to follow on Twitter' 


@AlastairWinter - global macro insights and the occasional blast from his Italian holiday home. If you ask Alastair nicely he may put you onto his newsletter distribution list. 

@Brenda_Kelly - if it is moving either side of or during the London market hours then Brenda is
usually on it...plus a whole range of other stuff

@Callum_Thomas - as Callum is based in New Zealand his macro and related insights are hugely time complementary.  An ace with creating thought-provoking charts. 

@Eurofaultlines - much, much more than just chronicling the issues within the euro area.  Brilliant editing of the deluge of investment bank research to those few nuggets of useful stuff

@DonDraperClone - am still trying to work out the reasoning behind the Twitter handle but a great mixture of macro/micro and economic/political observations

@FerroTV - at the heart of the action on morning business TV...and it shows in Jonathan's twitter stream.  If it is breaking in London trading hours often one of the first with a killer chart

@fion_li - want to know what is going on in Hong Kong and the broader Asia region?  Few offer as many linked insights as Fion.  Some great food shots too. 

@GaveKalCapital - these guys make me feel dumb.  Some really clever market/macro analysis.  Very underrated.  

@GreekAnalyst - of course very good on all matters Hellenic but increasingly making me thing about other matters too

@HaidiLunCNA - pan-Asian insights with a little more focus on China and Australia.  Includes not only great finance sourcing but numerous amusing GIFs and the like

@markbartontv - Twitter immediately became a smarter place when Mark reasonably recently joined. A whizz at creating charts that make you think. I miss his 2.07am alarm call profile background picture. 

@minefornothing - finance, politics, a health slab of euro scepticism and many, many LOLs

@moved_average - looking for some smart comments / chart that puts economic data into context?  Ioan provides a busy stream of insights. 

@NickatFP - so much going on Nick's feed I just don't know how Business Insider missed him out.  Again a great newsletter to sign up to.  

@Not_Jim_Cramer - as the handle suggests not the CNBC host but instead a range of (mostly Americas) macro/micro analysis and super related charting 

@JLyonsFundMgmt - along with a couple of names mentioned on the Business Insider list the person who I learn the most from about US market structure and performance

@linzcom - Australia-based and suitably lots of analysis on the Aussie property market and general economy amongst other things.  I enjoyed Lindsay's book too 

@livesquawk - if you forced me to just follow one twitter feed I think it would be these guys.  So much each day: top breaking news and related effort

@Market_Matter - nice wide set of insights from (at least for me) some relative new kids on the block at NN Investment Partners

@MarkYusko - seems to know almost anyone worth knowing and as an active fund management practitioner you get a commercial overlay too.  Throws in a bit of Spanish too to keep readers on their toes

@PatrickMcGee_ - I could easily have put the general Fast FT handle in here which is simply almost always utterly brilliant but Patrick gets the nod as his Asia based output more often than not helps set me up for a new day

@PlanMaestro - difficult not to learn something from the regular 'chartstravaganza'.  I often learn a lot

@RaoulGMI - another far-too-cool-for-school macro strategist and thinker.  What do you mean you have never looked at RealVisionTV?

@sobata416 - Shane's a young guy with a big future.  Super mix of sources, charts and insights.  Something for everyone. 

@Schuldensuehner - got to have a view from Berlin...and on so much more. 

@ScouseView - Mark adds a bit of humour to real insight and a careful selection of those far more interesting than average thoughts.  If you don't know what 'Scouse' means, look it up! 

@Smaulgld - Louis is the man to go to for gold/precious metal insights and lots of general applications to the broader macro scene

@WorthWray - Worth resides on the West Coast having started a smart new job helping to further augment the flow of global macro insights with a slight focus on Asia and development matters

@WrigleyTom - fantastic trader insights and an untouchably brilliant US week ahead earnings graphic creator

Give it another year and I am pretty certain that I can easily find another 29 fantastic names even the updated Business Insider list misses!

As it is December...

Finance and investment plus associated commentary is inherently a serious business...but there are a couple of times of the year where it is possible to add a few alternative insights and observations.  The run-up to the Christmas holiday period is clearly one of them and whilst Financial Orbit will continue to publish its regular mix of financial news, views, analysis and measured predictions this will be with a backdrop of a few image template evolutions.

As you will note in the upper right of the screen the usual Financial Orbit logo has been replaced by one of three holiday season specials I have commissioned from the brilliantly talented @kaykdesign whose website detailing her range of design expertise can be found here.  

I will rotate the three images every few days...another reason to be continuing to check out the latest thoughts at www.financialorbit.com throughout December!

Happy Holidays! 

Financial Orbit reaches 100,000 page views!

In the wider scheme of things, hitting 100,000 page views is no huge accomplishment but having only celebrated the first anniversary of www.financialorbit.com around six weeks ago, I am really pleased with how the website has built up.

First I would like to thank everyone who has viewed or contributed in some shape or form to the website since mid-July 2013.  By definition such a page view accomplishment would be impossible by myself but to have visitors from 129 different countries is astonishing.  Still another 100+ to reach!

Second I feel this is only the start.  In the last few weeks I have made some innovations on the site in terms of style, presentation and use of guest writers.  This will continue thanks mostly to some excellent advice I sought out a few weeks ago.  So please keep reading, interacting and commenting.

So much to be thankful for...but also much to do.

Here's to the next 100,000 page views!

Chris Bailey
Founder, Financial Orbit

Financial Orbit is one today!

It was a year ago today that I penned the first Financial Orbit posting (sensibly titled 'Welcome') and now here we are 1450+ posts, 81,000+ page views and 1100+ Twitter followers later at the first anniversary.  Thanks to everyone who has been part of the journey so far - collectively you are far too numerous to name individually (and I know some of you like anonymity!)

The genesis of Financial Orbit was about eighteen months ago but despite some pre-planning and thoughts to how it would develop as a website (and an underlying business) prior to the actual launch on 18 July 2013, events have taken me in directions I could never have anticipated.  If you would have said to me a year ago that I would have over eleven hundred Twitter followers from a standing start, spoken at and participated in fascinating conferences in different continents of the world with leading global investment and finance thinkers, found myself writing regular investment related columns for third party financial media companies as well as interacting with an ever-expanding set of global contacts I would have probably laughed.  

The investment world is changing and the power of not only a global perspective but also a willingness to fully engage with ideas, trends and opportunities is, in my view, the only way forward.  I feel as if, after one year, I am still just scraping the surface with the potential of Financial Orbit and this excites me at a level I did not experience in my earlier more conventional career.  Partially this is because I can spend more time on investment related analytical work but secondly - and very importantly - it is because of the interactions with the ever-expanding set of global contacts I have.  I thought I was well informed as a global institutional money manager.  Today, a year into the Financial Orbit project, I feel twice as well informed...and this manifests itself in the personal investment performance I have achieved plus - I hope - the level of insight provided by both this website and any personalised tailored work I have undertaken for those entities and individuals who have been in contact.  

And how great NOT to be feeling like this :-)  

I have many innovations planned for the next year but at the heart of them all is a focus on providing better insights.  One of the keys to this is expanding even further my set of global contacts so please do not hesitate to get in touch via the website, Twitter or email.  I have refreshed the tabs on the home page with possibly 'What to expect' the most useful even for regular readers.  I have also launched a new logo for year two (which was put together for me by the excellent @kaykdesign):

So much to be thankful for during the first year and additionally much to look forward to for year two and beyond.  It feels good to have this burgeoning opportunity and look forward to opening up my laptop early each morning.  

Thanks for reading...and hopefully continuing to read.   All feedback - as always - gratefully received.  

Chris Bailey

Founder, Financial Orbit

www.financialorbit.com 

Email: chris.bailey@financialorbit.com

Twitter: @financial_orbit 

The first 10,000 page views

Today, www.financialorbit.com went through 10,000 page views since launch two-thirds of the way through July.  Whilst this may not quite be the same awareness rate as internet behemoths like Facebook achieved over the same period (as depicted in The Social Network), it is way beyond my own personal expectations.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who has looked at the site, made kind comments or suggestions for improvement.

My instinct though is that this is just the start.  When I announced the launch of www.financialorbit.com I had just my twin passions of investments and communication and the hope that insights, observations and appraisals that I found interesting, others may find useful too.  Today I have a huge excitement about how global, thematic analysis - covering both directly held investments and macroeconomic matters - becomes more and more relevant for the world (and financial markets) we all live in.

To this end, over time, there will be some new innovations and ideas introduced to the site which I hope regular readers will enjoy.

Finally, the really good news is that until this site hits 100,000 page views (that sounds like a target for the one year anniversary of the site in July 2014)...there is not going to be another posting like this.

Chris Bailey

Founder, Financial Orbit

Email: chris.bailey@financialorbit.com

Web: www.financialorbit.com

Twitter: @financial_orbit

YouTube channel: financialorbit.com