We are entering the height of the typical summer doldrums, but our present circumstances are anything but conventional. Historically, August is a quiet month in terms of turnover and liquidity which typically earns a reserved but positive performance for those assets that have a risk bearing. Yet, traders have been much more reticent to shift to autopilot and take a vacation from the screens through this year's solstice. That is owing to a persistent harassment from systemically important fundamental themes that draw serious scrutiny to the decade of ...