Engines That Move Markets

Find the most lucrative markets of the future by looking to the past Some of the biggest technological innovations in the world have followed similar market and social patterns – scepticism is replaced by enthusiasm; venture capital is supplied; many companies are started and their stocks rise. But as the technology is developed and financial reality sets in, companies disappear, stocks collapse, and naive investors lose money. Through exhaustive research, Alasdair Nairn captures this pattern and examines the impact that some of the greatest technological inventions of the past 200 years have had on financial markets and investors' fortunes. Each chapter explores a different technological innovation, and provides valuable insights on how to apply these lessons to appraise the 'new technology' companies of the future. Some of the key historical episodes examined include: - electric light and its commercial exploitation - the railway boom in Britain and the United States - the development of the automobile industry - the discovery and early development of crude oil - the rise of the PC - the wireless world - the Internet and dotcom bubble. Don't be left behind when the next technological innovation revolutionises the market. With Engines That Move Markets you'll learn how to recognise the familiar patterns unfolding in today's economy so you can profit from these market-shaping events.

Engines That Move Markets is a comprehensive history of market-shaping industries and their impact on how we invest today. Now in its second edition, this modern investing classic highlights the history of industrial development and its impact on investors. By exploring key technological advances of the past and what they meant for investors - including electricity, the railroad, the telephone, the computer and more - it provides vital insights on how to appraise the new technology companies of the future. A complete and deeply researched history of industries and investing, the book is filled with fascinating and instructive details, including how Thomas Edison lost control of his company, the impact of the Standard Oil breakup, the early days of the wireless industry, and the course of the computer and internet revolution. Investors looking for industry-shaping investments will undoubtedly use Engines That Move Markets as their guide. This revised and updated second edition is the most definitive and comprehensive version yet.