Unless you’re under 35 or over 65 you might not have noticed that there’s been an explosion in city living. London apartment developments have been popping up all over the capital fed by a growing need for neat single living units and a desire to be where the action is, and at the most within a night bus home.In the UK some 50% of new homes are apartments, a trend that’s found worldwide, and this has led to some unusual trends in garden design and gardening. In particular it has led to gardens on a tiny scale with a new trend in micro gardening including vertical green walls and grow your own. Community gardening in these new neighbourhoods is a big trend that we’re hearing about. But one trend that has gone under the radar is the rise of slick independent male apartment living – old style bachelor pads with a new twist. They want a garden to match their stylish new homes.The rise of these new bachelor pad gardens is led by a few different influences. First of all there is a new sophistication for staying home and if you are entertaining your date then what better than taking them out into your stylish outdoor space, sitting around a fireplace at night time whatever the season. Second climate change in city centres has led to more exotic gardening, if you have a warm micro climate in your London garden then you can grow exotic plants like luxurious tree ferns and sexy jungle plants like canna lilies.The other big influence is technology, serious boys toys for the garden. New LED lighting technology gives a great atmosphere year round and even when it snows what better view than a snow lit landscape. But of course night time garden lighting allows busy city boys to relax in the garden when they get home, have a beer from their slick stainless steel cooling drawer and chill out. Add in a great sound system linked into the internal computerised music feed and an outdoor TV and you’ve got an extension to your small apartment for year round entertainment.A challenge for every small city garden is seclusion, especially if you’re a bachelor entertaining his latest girl or boyfriend. It doesn’t have to be the usual timber fence and the contemporary horizontal trellis that has sprung up in suburban gardens isn’t enough when your home displays your tastes to people you want to impress.And plants are just as important to create that secluded atmosphere. In small gardens every plant counts and it’s important to choose wisely. For the gardener he might sacrifice seating space for planting but for many it’s about low maintenance garden design that means occasional gardening whilst enjoying great simple planting schemes with a peak of interest for the summertime. For the minimalist bachelor pad it might mean a single great Japanese Maple but the clear white branches of multi-stem birches and black bamboo are a popular choice. For the single male interested in emanating Gordon Ramsey or Jamie Oliver there’s also an interest in planting more unusual exotic edibles like Szechuan pepper or Cocktail Kiwis that thrive in the warmth of the city.Whatever their taste for planting and gardening there seems to be a cool modern garden for every bachelor, whether it’s the city banker with his rooftop space for entertaining or the newly independent divorcee retiring into the city rather than out to the country and wanting a city garden to enjoy for gardening and relaxing in. So next time your London garden is looking a bit tired check out the garden of the single male living next door and get a few tips for a fab garden design.
S&P 500 Rallies As U.S. Dollar Pulls Back Towards Weekly Lows
Key Insights
The strong pullback in the U.S. dollar provided significant support to stocks.
Treasury yields have pulled back after touching new highs, which served as an additional positive catalyst for S&P 500.
A move above 3730 will push S&P 500 towards the resistance level at 3760.
Advertisement
Pfizer Rallies After Announcing A Huge Price Hike For Its COVID-19 Vaccines
S&P 500 is currently trying to settle above 3730 as traders’ appetite for risk is growing. The U.S. dollar has recently gained strong downside momentum as the BoJ intervened to stop the rally in USD/JPY. Weaker U.S. dollar is bullish for stocks as it increases profits of multinational companies and makes U.S. equities cheaper for foreign investors.
The leading oil services company Schlumberger is up by 9% after beating analyst estimates on both earnings and revenue. Schlumberger’s peers Baker Hughes and Halliburton have also enjoyed strong support today.
Vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna gained strong upside momentum after Pfizer announced that it will raise the price of its coronavirus vaccine to $110 – $130 per shot.
Biggest losers today include Verizon and Twitter. Verizon is down by 5% despite beating analyst estimates on both earnings and revenue. Subscriber numbers missed estimates, and traders pushed the stock to multi-year lows.
Twitter stock moved towards the $50 level as the U.S. may conduct a security review of Musk’s purchase of the company.
From a big picture point of view, today’s rebound is broad, and most market segments are moving higher. Treasury yields have started to move lower after testing new highs, providing additional support to S&P 500. It looks that some traders are ready to bet that Fed will be less hawkish than previously expected.
S&P 500 Tests Resistance At 3730
S&P 500 has recently managed to get above the 20 EMA and is trying to settle above the resistance at 3730. RSI is in the moderate territory, and there is plenty of room to gain additional upside momentum in case the right catalysts emerge.
If S&P 500 manages to settle above 3730, it will head towards the next resistance level at 3760. A successful test of this level will push S&P 500 towards the next resistance at October highs at 3805. The 50 EMA is located in the nearby, so S&P 500 will likely face strong resistance above the 3800 level.
On the support side, the previous resistance at 3700 will likely serve as the first support level for S&P 500. In case S&P 500 declines below this level, it will move towards the next support level at 3675. A move below 3675 will push S&P 500 towards the support at 3640.
Golf Clothing – How to Look Your Best on the Course
Gone are the days of goofy golf pants and socks. No more knickers with plaid socks. With more and more younger players on the course, in this day and age, what matters most is having great style on the golf course.New designers are racing to attract the young golfers to their brands with argyle sweaters, pastel polos, stylish plaid pants, and updated hats. While most young golfers seem to not pay attention and go out on the course with jeans and t-shirts, following these simple rules will keep you looking your best on the course.Here are a few of the designers at the forefront of the new designs:J. Lindeberg – From mild to wild, J. Lindeberg has a great selection
Travis Mathew
Sligo – An extremely popular manufacturer that has a huge selection of great designs.
Quagmire – Carries a good selection of unique designs
Hollas – A Canadian manufacturer, Hollas has a nice mix of mild shirts.
Puma – Puma is coming out with a lot of new, trendy shirts. They have a good selection of the mild to wild.
Ian Poulter – You really have to be comfortable with yourself here. Ian Poulter clothing is known for pastel colors and variation of pink.
Lacoste – One of your less risky choices. They have a good mix of striped and plain shirts
Pahr Fairway Essentials – Definitely for the fashion conscious. Has a good mix of plain and stylish shirts
Original Penguin – Funky colors and style
Dunning Sportswear – focuses on more of a clean aestheticsStep 1: Choose a shirt that fits your styleThere are thousands of different shirts out there, but which one fits you? Polo? Striped, solid, argyle, funky? Sweater? Long/short sleeved shirt? With so many choices, do your research to figure out which style best fits you.Step 2: Choose Pants or ShortsDon’t be afraid to choose plaid pants or shorts. While the old school pants are definitely gone, plaid pants and shorts are very much still in style.Step 3: SocksYes, socks. Don’t even think of wearing plain white socks with your new shirt or pants. It’s a simple addition that really counts when you’re on the course.Step 4: Hat or no hatThis one is very much up to you, and not a requirement. It might be a good choice to keep the sun out of your eyes on a very sunny day.Step 5: The buckleWhat? A special belt buckle for golfing? This isn’t your grandpa’s game anymore. Belt buckles are coming back with a vengeance, and can make or break your new wardrobe.