| City Lodge Hotels is still battling to fill its hotel rooms despite the easing of lockdown restrictions. It hasn't reopened all its hotels yet, while those that are trading again are nowhere near the same occupancy levels as last year. The hotel group has reported a first-half loss. It seems the market was expecting it, with the result that its shares only closed a little lower on Friday. Still, they're worth a fraction of their value a year ago, exacerbated by last August's rights issue. Meanwhile, Value Group's shares rose after it confirmed it was going ahead with an offer to minority shareholders ahead of a planned delisting. More on those stories in today's newsletter, along with interim results from Blue Label Telecoms , an update from Steinhoff and the news that MTN's business in Syria has been placed under judicial guardianship. In this week's Magic Markets podcast, The Finance Ghost and Mohammed Nalla take their signature unconventional approach to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's Budget Speech 2021. Finally, in The Week Ahead, Chris Gilmour reviews some of the news that moved the markets last week and looks forward to what you can expect in the days ahead. Have a good week. Stephen Gunnion Managing Editor, InceConnect
The latest from Ingham Analytics The US could be on track for a nominal GDP increase of 7% for 2021, which would mean a good real rebound from 2020. Should that be the case interest rates are way too low. Together with huge fiscal and monetary stimulus, commodity inflation and labour tightening, inflation could return. "Booming along" joins the dots - and cautions. Other popular notes include "Dividend delight" and "Carnival or just a Bloody Circus?" and check out the website too for the Premium Weekly Letter on Sunday archive. | 
