FIRE v London
@firevlondon.bsky.social
www.firevlondon.com . #Investing to be Financially Independent and able to Retire Early.
In £££London, and having fun, so FatFIRE really.
In £££London, and having fun, so FatFIRE really.
November: a generally poor month in the markets, despite US federal shutdown ending after 42 days. Australian equities had worst drop for a while. UK equities were the tallest dwarf.
December 6, 2025 at 11:48 AM
November: a generally poor month in the markets, despite US federal shutdown ending after 42 days. Australian equities had worst drop for a while. UK equities were the tallest dwarf.
The perils of top slicing - I sold $GOOG at $255 and $265 in the last month. Heading up to $295 based on this week's results. Thankfully I still hold plenty.
October 30, 2025 at 7:32 AM
The perils of top slicing - I sold $GOOG at $255 and $265 in the last month. Heading up to $295 based on this week's results. Thankfully I still hold plenty.
$GOOG is on an absolute tear. I have been top slicing (as it's one of my biggest holdings) above $255 and my holding is still worth more than a month ago.
October 29, 2025 at 7:34 PM
$GOOG is on an absolute tear. I have been top slicing (as it's one of my biggest holdings) above $255 and my holding is still worth more than a month ago.
There is something extraordinary about HMT issuing this gilt: 5.25% 2041. 1/4
October 12, 2025 at 8:37 AM
There is something extraordinary about HMT issuing this gilt: 5.25% 2041. 1/4
Sep '25 markets: bouyant, in a word. S&P has really shaken off the Tariffs Tantrum, with AI/Tech leading the way, and is pulling everything else with it so far as I can see.
October 5, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Sep '25 markets: bouyant, in a word. S&P has really shaken off the Tariffs Tantrum, with AI/Tech leading the way, and is pulling everything else with it so far as I can see.
Markets in August: US rate cut looking more likely has pulled USD down, but lifts US Equities & Bonds; elsewhere, currencies steady, moderating equity gains, but bonds dip slightly.
August 31, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Markets in August: US rate cut looking more likely has pulled USD down, but lifts US Equities & Bonds; elsewhere, currencies steady, moderating equity gains, but bonds dip slightly.
I'm being beaten by the Wellcone Trust. But I'm beating Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard. I'll take that. 10 year returns stats. firevlondon.com/monthly-retu...
August 14, 2025 at 6:36 AM
I'm being beaten by the Wellcone Trust. But I'm beating Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard. I'll take that. 10 year returns stats. firevlondon.com/monthly-retu...
July's markets - Equities were quite a pleasant place to be, particularly in the UK. Bonds easing off a little bit, everywhere. Tariff shocks nowhere in sight.
August 9, 2025 at 8:25 PM
July's markets - Equities were quite a pleasant place to be, particularly in the UK. Bonds easing off a little bit, everywhere. Tariff shocks nowhere in sight.
Excellent writing by FT's Robert Armstrong re bitcoin
July 28, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Excellent writing by FT's Robert Armstrong re bitcoin
June markets: S&P posted another strong month as tariffs fade from view, tho USD down; UK generally weak, reflecting general gloomy mood. Bonds in UK/US up, Equity in other markets also up.
July 5, 2025 at 2:31 PM
June markets: S&P posted another strong month as tariffs fade from view, tho USD down; UK generally weak, reflecting general gloomy mood. Bonds in UK/US up, Equity in other markets also up.
May was a good month for investments - with a slight exception for UK bonds. S&P led the charge, as the TACO meme took hold (slightly denting USD).
June 4, 2025 at 10:04 PM
May was a good month for investments - with a slight exception for UK bonds. S&P led the charge, as the TACO meme took hold (slightly denting USD).
Excellent, astute piece by James Max in ££FT on.ft.com/43SmvxZ
May 30, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Excellent, astute piece by James Max in ££FT on.ft.com/43SmvxZ
BoE cuts rates by 25bps to 4.25%. Time for an update on my portfolio leverage #dontdothis. Loan To Value (green) close to target. Interest costs (pink columns) continuing to fall, though still high relative to a 'free money' era back in 2021. #investing #marginloans
May 8, 2025 at 11:53 AM
BoE cuts rates by 25bps to 4.25%. Time for an update on my portfolio leverage #dontdothis. Loan To Value (green) close to target. Interest costs (pink columns) continuing to fall, though still high relative to a 'free money' era back in 2021. #investing #marginloans
March markets.... just before the plunge. GBP sandwiched between falling Dollars (USD & AUD) and rising EUR. Equities dropping in anticipation of tariff-mania. Bonds quiet, and uncorrelated to equities (for once).
April 7, 2025 at 6:46 AM
March markets.... just before the plunge. GBP sandwiched between falling Dollars (USD & AUD) and rising EUR. Equities dropping in anticipation of tariff-mania. Bonds quiet, and uncorrelated to equities (for once).
The stock markets are swooning, but my 12 month return is still (barely) positive. Still very ignorable.
April 4, 2025 at 3:14 PM
The stock markets are swooning, but my 12 month return is still (barely) positive. Still very ignorable.
For once, Bonds (Yellow) are doing what they are supposed to do vs Equities (Blue) - be uncorrelated.
April 4, 2025 at 11:53 AM
For once, Bonds (Yellow) are doing what they are supposed to do vs Equities (Blue) - be uncorrelated.
Two limit orders filling on the last day of the month round out a busy month for the portfolio firevlondon.com/diary/
March 31, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Two limit orders filling on the last day of the month round out a busy month for the portfolio firevlondon.com/diary/
Despite the prevailing narrative about S&P declining, Euro stocks gaining, it is worth noting that over the last 12 months
a) S&P 500 is up 11%
b) Eurostoxx 50 is up 7%, somewhat less than S&P.
All exc divis. 1/2
a) S&P 500 is up 11%
b) Eurostoxx 50 is up 7%, somewhat less than S&P.
All exc divis. 1/2
March 26, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Despite the prevailing narrative about S&P declining, Euro stocks gaining, it is worth noting that over the last 12 months
a) S&P 500 is up 11%
b) Eurostoxx 50 is up 7%, somewhat less than S&P.
All exc divis. 1/2
a) S&P 500 is up 11%
b) Eurostoxx 50 is up 7%, somewhat less than S&P.
All exc divis. 1/2
March 19, 2025 at 12:18 PM
February markets: GBP rose, USD fell, froth continues to blow off USA S&P, European/UK equities up, ASX down (tariff-driven?).
March 7, 2025 at 11:20 PM
February markets: GBP rose, USD fell, froth continues to blow off USA S&P, European/UK equities up, ASX down (tariff-driven?).
The key chart is this one. The overall size of loan, as a % of the assets in the portfolio, is the green line - currently at 13%, which is on target. The base rate change doesn't affect that one. 3/6
February 7, 2025 at 9:39 AM
The key chart is this one. The overall size of loan, as a % of the assets in the portfolio, is the green line - currently at 13%, which is on target. The base rate change doesn't affect that one. 3/6
Markets in January: deepseek or no deepseek, equities loved the Trump effect, particularly in Europe (?!)... USD up too as cash/gold/etc moved into USA. Even bonds rose a bit. The high watermark, as tariffs announced just after Jan closed? We'll see.
February 2, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Markets in January: deepseek or no deepseek, equities loved the Trump effect, particularly in Europe (?!)... USD up too as cash/gold/etc moved into USA. Even bonds rose a bit. The high watermark, as tariffs announced just after Jan closed? We'll see.
A lesson in cognitive bias errors... I made several here with META/Facebook. Once share price dropped to $90, I topped up (yay!) but I was so cross that, as it recovered, I sold my entire holding. If I'd held it until now I'd be 3x up in <3 years.
January 26, 2025 at 11:17 PM
A lesson in cognitive bias errors... I made several here with META/Facebook. Once share price dropped to $90, I topped up (yay!) but I was so cross that, as it recovered, I sold my entire holding. If I'd held it until now I'd be 3x up in <3 years.
Market review: December saw some of 2024's froth blown off, but 2024 remains a strong year - standout in USA equities, driven by AI mania and then a Trump rally. Bonds were weak this year, particularly in UK where % fell more slowly than hoped. GBP and USD rose.
January 2, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Market review: December saw some of 2024's froth blown off, but 2024 remains a strong year - standout in USA equities, driven by AI mania and then a Trump rally. Bonds were weak this year, particularly in UK where % fell more slowly than hoped. GBP and USD rose.
November markets: Trump election boosts US equities, ragging other equities up too - except EU eqs. USD up, EUR down. Not sure why bonds up - as long run ir expectations slightly higher - but up they are too.
November 30, 2024 at 8:45 AM
November markets: Trump election boosts US equities, ragging other equities up too - except EU eqs. USD up, EUR down. Not sure why bonds up - as long run ir expectations slightly higher - but up they are too.