Heard of Guy Fawkes Stock Picks?
On the fifth of November, 1605 in Stuart Britain, a rebellious catholic was discovered in a cellar below the House of Lords. In his hand, a box of matches, and at his feet, thirty-six barrels of gunpowder. His name was Guido (Guy) Fawkes, and he wanted revenge on King James I for outlawing his faith.
Given a darker timeline, every British member of parliament would have been killed, including the king and his family. As fate had it, however, Fawkes’s plan backfired, and he ended up being hung, drawn, and quartered for his crime. Brits celebrate it every year, as do the investors who capture its business end.
A Fawkes Fortune
Investors love the autumnal season because it offers festive tailwinds to economic indicators like consumer spending and consumer confidence. Again, seven out of ten Brits will celebrate a night of fireworks and frivolities up and down the country, and they’ll spend £31.49 per head on average. Invest wisely, and some of that could be yours!
We’re going to prevent your own stock market plot from backfiring, so you’re not throwing your cash on a bonfire. Let’s get started!Â
Foodstuffs and Beverages
According to tradition, families trudge out onto a field on the fifth of November for a social gathering. Winter is here, and you can only get so close to a burning effigy without becoming the effigy, so everyone will be wrapped up warm, passing around hot drinks!
Mulled wine is an old favorite, and the Brits love their tea, so the country’s ‘Big 4’ supermarkets should be on for a winner. That includes Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Morrison’s, which trade on Britain’s FTSE.
The night is also rich with delicacies. Kids love a Toffee Apple or toasted marshmallow, which favors grocers, and restaurants will be doing all they can to boost trade. TD Wetherspoons and Dominos are already handing out seasonal offers, knowing the after-parties will follow the fireworks.
Fireworks Falling Silent
Speaking of which, no Guy Fawkes night would be complete without a pyrotechnic display, a low-noise pyrotechnic display, that is. Consumers won’t reward investors in firms that only sell 120-decibel blasters, as a huge movement is underway to mute the night sky due to animals fearing the bangs. The best bet for market players could be Amazon, which is up against discount retailers to offer quiet garden fireworks and sparklers.
Vendetta Masks
Remember those 4Chan “hacktivists” that went by the name ‘Anonymous?’ Those cyber vigilantes successfully put Guy Fawkes’s 1605 mask back in fashion. It’s now worn for both fancy dress and serious protests around the world, and you can buy yours today on eBay! No, seriously, it’s a best-seller for the e-commerce site, and it’s licensed from AT&T’s WarnerMedia.
Time to Light the Fuse
Whether or not returns blow up this year from a Guy Fawkes portfolio is yet to be seen. However, the half-a-billion-pound earnings on the fifth of November prove that in more ways than one, the legacy of Guy Fawkes lives on. This is also a fun way to try your hand at investing in Britain’s FTSE stock exchange, so good luck!