CPTPP: Trade Deal or No Deal, Macron's Beijing Bargain, Cast No Shadow Banking

After years of carping from the Remain establishment, Britain has finally come to its senses and joined a big trading bloc. But no - not that one.

Will life in Asia’s CPTPP allow the UK to export their famous services economy? And what will Brits do with all the cheap leggings they get in return?

As China leans ever-further into an eventual Ukrainian peace, France is looking to broker the brokering. At least, that seems to be the key motive of President Macron’s trip to Beijing. The boys wonder whether he isn't channeling the wily spirit of Charles de Gaulle, in trying to make the country a great power amongst the middle-powers.

Meanwhile, in the past year, your local shadow bank has leant out $1.4 Trillion. 

With private equity loaning their way around the banking system, are we all sitting on a powder keg of off-balance sheet ordnance? 

Or are we just scared of our own shadow dollars?

Philip Pilkington has been doing some digging, and his uncomfortable answer is: we'll only know if and when it blows...