https://on.ft.com/3RHadAr
Correcting Poor Investor Decisions: Another way to view this decline in valuation is as a correction of the overvaluation that led to the overinflated valuation in the first place, a common occurrence with internet-based technology. The fact that we have seen this before in the dot.com bubble does not speak well of the decision-making process of venture capital firms and other investors. #fintech #valuation #internet #investments #decisionmaking #investmentdecisions #financialbubbles
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​https://on.ft.com/3RHadAr
The immense decline in the valuation of FinTech companies, pegged at around 50%, reflects the overly optimistic assessment of the firms' future profitability, especially in the outlook for future revenues.  This is a chronic problem in the valuation of newer high-tech companies where little or no performance data exists.  The same problem occurred during the dot-com period in the late 1990s.

​https://www.ft.com/content/05d0324f-e216-47ff-973e-c22f660edf22​
The era of the Great Exasperation arrives for investors
This article lays out the changes in the investment climate brought out by recent changes in economics, economic policy, and the difficulty of finding investment strategies that work in the new environment. Many of the trends he identifies are sure to be with us for the medium term.  One result is to undermine the tools that investment managers have used for decades and that generated acceptable risk/reward returns. The end of this era undermines many of these tools as well as the underlying premises. Investment professionals may be better off changing investors' expectations than attempting to use old tools in the new environment.

​https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/07/opinion/inflation-recession-the-fed.html
Krugman argues that inflation fears have been overblown and that there is evidence that inflation is subsiding. His argument is that the Fed is overreacting by signalling that it intends to continue to aggressively raise interest rates raising the prospect of an unnecessary recession. However, this mornings U.S. jobs report shows gain of 372,000 in non-farm payrolls, exceeding economists’ estimates for a 275,000 increase. The unemployment rate remains unchanged at 3.6%. This report may undermine Krugman's analysis and give a green light to the Fed's view that the economy is overheated and inflation may be incorporated into people's expectations, triggering a self-sustaining inflation. The bottom line is a likely hefty rise in interest rates later this week (0.50% and possibly 0.75%). The risk will then shift to to a recessionary outlook. With all the political and economic problems facing the world, a recession in the world's largest economy would be pouring gas on a fire. #ezrazask #inflation #economicpolicy #federalreserve #employment #politicaleconomy #recession #stagflation

​https://www.ft.com/content/23c3a3a7-b2da-412c-8050-bdad986fde21
​Central Banks and the Fight to Curb Inflation
European and US central banks have jointly stated that fighting inflation is their top priority and they will follow a high-interest rate and tight monetary policy, partly in recognition that they overshot their long-lasting easy money policy. However, it is easy to state a policy but may be difficult to follow, especially if the economies go into a dive. Based on their past record of accomplishment it is possible that the banks will cave and compromise on their strategy

​https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/17/opinion/crypto-crash-bitcoin.html
While the controversy over whether we are amid a crypto bubble 
rages on, it's worth noting that we have a unique opportunity to examine an event in real time.  Having gone through the admitted bubbles in internet stocks until 2001 and sub-prime mortgages until 2008, we are more focused on the possibility that we are in the middle of another bubble and the implications that would have for the crypto market. One thing is certain: we have a case study that presents us with a wonderful opportunity to sharpen our understanding of financial bubbles. I intend to take advantage of this opportunity in future blogs.
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​https://lnkd.in/gVshpK7f
FINTECH VALUATION: Deja vu all over again
The overvaluation of Fintech companies and subsequent much lower valuations seems like a variation of the dot-com bubble although the valuations in fintech's case don't approach those that were common in the internet bubble. However, there are clear similarities including the lack of attention to the business feasibility of many start-ups, the star-like attraction of the technology, and the crowding effects, especially in an environment of easy money and absence of investment alternatives. The prominent issue is what will happen after the inevitable shakeout, which has already started.

https://www.ft.com/content/75f3ed84-62ae-4cb4-947f-bd7e7559148

1t turns out that Hype is the missing factor in factor investing. With all the hype given to factor investing is turns out that "Hype" may be the most important overlooked factor. The factors that have received the most attention include Value, Small Size, Low Volatility, High Yield, Quality , and Momentum. However, as this article makes clear, hype, in the form of inclusion in a hyped up acronym (the current unfavorite being FAANG) may explain more of the difference between stocks than these factors combined. It is also noteworthy that Hype is a "behavioral" factor, having no role to play in "rational" economic actor models, giving a clear leg-up for behavioral finance model of economic decision-making.