Regime
Growth, inflation, liquidity and volatility conditions.
MARKETS & ANALYSIS
Context before conviction.
Understand the instrument, separate observations from interpretation, and map scenarios without pretending uncertainty has disappeared.
THE ANALYSIS DESK
A repeatable market brief.
This demonstrates the framework used for commentary. It is not live analysis or a signal feed.
Structure
Trend, range, key auction areas and time-horizon alignment.
Catalysts
Scheduled data, policy decisions, earnings and known event risk.
Positioning
Crowding, sentiment and flows—context, never a trigger alone.
Scenarios
What would confirm, weaken or invalidate each interpretation.
Risk
Liquidity, gaps, correlation, costs and the consequence of being wrong.
12 field guidesFrom ownership to derivativesMechanics · Drivers · Risks · Vocabulary
Stocks & ETFs
Ownership, earnings, valuation, dividends, sectors, funds, indices, market cap, corporate actions and portfolio use.
SharesETFsREITsInvestment trusts
Indices
Baskets such as the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, FTSE 100, DAX and Nikkei; weighting methods and index exposure.
US indicesEuropeAsiaVolatility indices
Foreign exchange
Base and quote currencies, pips, lots, spot, forwards, carry, rollover and the central-bank cycle.
MajorsCrossesEmerging marketsFX futures
Metals
Monetary and industrial metals: physical markets, futures curves, inventories, yields, currency effects and demand.
GoldSilverCopperPlatinum group
Energy
Global supply chains, inventories, refining, geopolitics, seasonality and benchmark differences.
Crude oilNatural gasGasolinePower
Agriculture
Weather, acreage, harvests, storage, trade flows, livestock cycles and contract delivery grades.
GrainsSoftsLivestockOilseeds
Futures
Exchange-standardised contracts used by hedgers and speculators; margin, mark-to-market, expiry and settlement.
Contract specsCurveRollBasis
CFDs & spread bets
Leveraged OTC price exposure without owning the underlying asset; financing and counterparty risk matter.
LeverageFundingProtectionsProvider risk
Options
Rights and obligations with nonlinear payoffs; premium, moneyness, expiry, volatility and the Greeks.
Calls & putsGreeksVolatilityAssignment
Bonds & rates
Debt, yield, duration, credit, central banks and the term structure that prices money across the economy.
GovernmentCorporateYield curveRate futures
Cryptoassets
Spot and derivative markets, custody, token economics, fragmented venues, volatility and regulatory risk.
BitcoinEthereumCustodyPerpetuals
Alternatives
Real estate, commodities, private markets and other exposures with distinct liquidity and valuation risks.
PropertyFundsPrivate marketsCollectibles
CFDs deserve an extra pause.
They are complex leveraged instruments. The FCA requires prominent warnings because the vast majority of retail accounts lose money. Understand leverage, overnight financing, spreads and your provider’s protections before considering them.
Read the FCA rules ↗