Five anonymised historical charts were dealt to every player. The Monkey Index returned +0.54% across the same tape.
90 desks completed all five charts.
Resilient jobs data kept the small-business engine ticking over, but a market transfixed by tech left steady payroll stalwarts firmly in neutral. The long holding pattern continued with a quiet nudge upward.
Running business software through a web browser was still treated as an unproven novelty by the old enterprise giants. This was the steady summer climb where the subscription cloud model proved it was here to stay.
Global manufacturing had ground to a halt in the financial crisis, and cyclical giants were being priced for a protracted slump. This was the week the selling finally ran out and the bottom went in.
Fresh trial optimism had powered a furious winter rally, years before the weight-loss boom arrived. Stretched after three months of relentless gains, the shares finally paused for breath.
The shock Brexit vote had just hammered financials as bond yields cratered across the board. This is the week the relief rally took hold.