It’s the way he tells them

Reading economic reports can be a chore, even for the committed. So it is hardly surprising that those who write them try to liven them up. Some opt for catchy titles, but at Bankers Trust in London economist Ian Amstead goes that little bit further.

Since joining from Chase in 1992, Amstead has introduced a degree of sardonic comedy into his reports. “There are some subjects you have to avoid,” he says. “But having a dig at some of western Europe’s central banks and governments is an indulgence I enjoy.