Today we consider a way to play cheap fuel prices which directly offsets one of our oil plays. Plus, we plan to take the train. And we report on global energy, pharma and food stock happenings.

Realistically, a 5% tax rise should prompt a 5% spending cut, with the earning power lost to inflation adding more belt tightening. You can't squeeze blood from a stone. Workers have no money.

More follows from Singapore, China, and Hong Kong, and other places like Mexico, Britain, The Netherlands, S. Africa, Canada, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, and Finland.

What is astonishing about the way banks cheated their clients by colluding to fix exchange rates to extract higher sums is not only that they did this to what they called “Numpty's”, but when they did this.

Knowledge is power. And lack of knowledge is terrifying. This rather banal insight helps our readers by motivating our buys and sells.

The gold price drop is more a temporary result of the stratospheric rise of the dollar against other currencies rather than a lack of appeal from the yellow metal. But as I warned last week, I have no idea when this will reverse.