Markets love a Democrat in the White House

Before the weekend bombshell over e-mails hit her campaign, Hillary Clinton appeared to be edging closer to the winning line in the US election, and commentary revolved around the question of whether another four years of Democratic rule will help or hinder the stock market.

According to much financial lore, a Republican president is often seen as a champion of free trade and the best bet for a rising Dow Jones index, while Democrats suffer the perception of leaning toward regulation and a willingness to harness the excesses of Wall Street.

However, in her famous 2013 speech at a Goldman Sachs’ investment symposium, Ms Clinton said it was “an oversimplification” to say the banking system caused the 2008 economic collapse, and that blaming banks was “politicising” the issue.