About

Markets, Personal Wealth

Former Bloomberg Opinion columnist, previously in investment banking. Wide experience in global macroeconomics and markets.

Marcus Ashworth

I have spent my career at the intersection of financial markets and ideas — first as a practitioner across fixed income, derivatives and cross-asset strategy, and latterly as a writer, broadcaster and speaker. As a Bloomberg Opinion columnist since 2016, I led EMEA financial markets coverage with a global remit, writing on everything from central bank policy and sovereign debt to credit, FX, commodities and personal wealth.

My work has appeared regularly in the Washington Post, MoneyWeek and The Week, and has been syndicated globally. I am a frequent broadcaster and podcast contributor, a regular panel chair and public speaker, and a SABEW Awards honourable mention.

Before Bloomberg, I spent seven years as Chief Market Strategist and Head of Fixed Income at Execution Noble — later Espirito Santo Investment Bank and Haitong Securities — where I was a Managing Director and Executive Committee member, leading a team of up to 20 sales and trading professionals and presenting to clients across EMEA, the US and Asia. Earlier roles included Head of Convertible, Equity Derivative and Equity Hedge Fund Sales for Asia at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley, based across Hong Kong, Tokyo and London.

My earlier career spans JP Morgan, where I covered macro hedge funds in rate derivatives sales from the LIFFE floor; SBC Warburg (now UBS), where I set up a hedge fund and cross-product bond sales desk; Yamaichi International; WestLB; and Sumitomo Finance International, where I progressed from graduate trainee to Eurobond market-making and fixed income risk. I read Economics at the University of Manchester.

Credentials

Bloomberg Opinion

Columnist, 2016–2026 — EMEA financial markets, global remit

Haitong / Espirito Santo / Execution Noble

Managing Director & Executive Committee Member, 2009–2016

Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley

Head of Convertible, Equity Derivative & Equity Hedge Fund Sales, Asia, 2002–2009

JP Morgan / SBC Warburg / Yamaichi / WestLB

Fixed income, derivatives and sales roles, 1992–1999

University of Manchester

B.A. (Hons) Economics, 1984–1987

Expertise

  • European Central Bank & ECB Policy
  • Federal Reserve & US Monetary Policy
  • Bank of England & UK Fixed Income
  • European Sovereign Debt Markets
  • Yield Curve Analysis
  • Fixed Income Strategy

Career

Experience

2016 – 2026

Bloomberg Opinion

Columnist

Lead EMEA financial markets opinion coverage with a global remit. Topics span fixed income, credit, derivatives, FX, commodities, equities and economics. Regular contributor to the Washington Post, MoneyWeek and The Week; work syndicated globally. Frequent broadcaster, podcast and TV contributor, panel chair and public speaker. SABEW Awards honourable mention.

2009 – 2016

Execution Noble / Espirito Santo Investment Bank / Haitong Securities

Managing Director; Executive Committee Member

Chief Market Strategist responsible for economic and market strategy, daily commentary and global client presentations. Head of Fixed Income (2009–2015), leading up to 20 sales and trading professionals across hybrid/structured debt, EM corporate bonds and convertibles. Led roadshows across EMEA, the US and Asia; presented to 2,500 attendees at Haitong's annual investor conference in Shanghai.

2002 – 2009

Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley

Head of Convertible, Equity Derivative and Equity Hedge Fund Sales, Asia

Based across Hong Kong, Tokyo and London. Led a revenue-generating sales team covering convertible bonds, equity derivatives, equity hedge funds and structured credit.

1999 – 2002

Bridport & Co.

CEO and Compliance Officer; Partner

Established the UK operation of an existing Swiss firm, covering credit derivatives, convertible bonds and the full fixed income product range.

1993 – 1999

SBC Warburg / Yamaichi International / WestLB

Fixed Income Sales

SBC Warburg (precursor to UBS): set up hedge fund and cross-product bond sales desk (1993–1995). Yamaichi International: Deputy Head of Bond Sales (1995–1997). WestLB: established a new fixed income sales team (1997–1999).

1992 – 1993

JP Morgan

Rate Derivatives Sales

Covered macro hedge funds in rate derivatives sales from the LIFFE floor.

1990 – 1992

MCM Research

Senior Economist

Economic data previews, analysis, live market commentary and trading guidance. Member of the Society of Technical Analysts.

1987 – 1990

Sumitomo Finance International

Fixed Income

Progressed from graduate trainee to Eurobond market-making and fixed income risk, including US Treasury proprietary trading.