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High inflation is a dominant concern for markets but investors were comforted when October US consumer price rises were shown to be a little less than expected. Meanwhile, the prices that businesses pay and pass on are varying hugely across the world,...

Overview: Prospects of a Fed pivot put on pauseOn the whole, investors enjoyed another positive week in markets, as better-than-expected US retail spending figures, a falling dollar and still-declining European energy prices prolonged last week’s positive sentiment swing initiated by slowing US...

The Autumn Statement, budget-in-all-but-name, had been sign posted as very likely to bring bad news to UK taxpayers, as the third Conservative government of this parliament changed course from Trussonomics back to Rishinomics. As we had suspected in our video update this...

During stressful periods for markets investors commonly look for strategies to provide protection for portfolios outside of traditional asset classes. ‘Put options’ are often described as portfolio insurance for investors. For the price of an “insurance premium” they give you the right...

Overview: signs of ‘peak’ inflation emboldens marketsThere were three big stories in capital markets last week: the US midterm elections, the latest crash in the surreal world of crypto currencies, and the release of US inflation data for October. By Friday, it...

There were three big market-moving stories this week: the US midterm elections, the latest crash in the surreal world of crypto currencies, and the release of US inflation data for October. By Friday, it was the lower-than-expected inflation data that dominated in...

Overview: divergent paths and scary season messagesConsidering the gloomy news from the US and UK central banks last week, investors enjoyed a decent enough start to November. In the UK, the 0.75% rate rise from the Bank of England (BoE) came as...

Considering the gloomy news this week from central banks in the US and UK, investors enjoyed a decent enough start to November. Following on from the rebound over the second half of October, it has been welcome news that capital markets no...

The UK has a new government, and thanks to the speed of events, the recent turmoil in the UK gilts market may start to feel like an episode of the distant past. At the same time, it remains a vivid example of...

Overview: New governments, new and old challengesThe most turbulent October experienced by UK bond markets since 2008 is drawing to an end and one could easily get the impression nothing of significance happened. Sterling is back to where it traded just before...

The most turbulent October experienced by UK bond markets since 2008 is drawing to an end and one could easily get the impression nothing of significance happened. Sterling is back to where it traded just before that fateful 23 September ‘fiscal event’,...

There appears to an endless supply of gloom when it comes to the UK economy at present. The cost of living crisis, higher prices in the shops, war in Europe, the growing effects of climate change, the debacle of three Prime Ministers...

Overview: markets look on as Westminster psychodrama continuesGiven the volatility in UK politics last week, broader capital markets felt like a sea of calm in comparison. Markets had already priced in the upside on sterling, believing unfunded Tory tax cuts were no...

Given the volatility in UK politics over the week, broader capital markets felt like a sea of calm in comparison. As far as the outcomes from the political side are concerned, markets had already priced in the upside on sterling, based on...

Outlook: Bond markets 1 – UK Government 0It is seldom that the UK alters the course of global capital markets, particularly given our domestic stock market comprises just 3.1% of global equities and 4.1% of the global government bond market. However, over...

It is not often that market action in the UK capital market moves the global capital market dial, given our domestic stock market comprises just 3.1% of the global total and 4.1% of the global total government bond market. However, over the...

Outlook: Reading the runes of October’s market bounceAs last week reminded us, volatile markets do not always swipe down, nor do they stay volatile forever. Monday and Tuesday saw a formidable ‘relief’ rally in global equities. Indeed, on Tuesday, US stocks recorded...

Market volatility has been in the air all year and given the macroeconomic backdrop this is not at all surprising. A weakening global economy marred by war and labour market-driven supply squeezes, while simultaneously trying to cope with aggressive central bank rate...

Overview: UK gains global attention – for all the wrong reasonsLast week provided evidence for the fragility of capital markets, which have been grappling with the strain of transitioning from an ultra-low interest rate environment back to the one we knew before...

This week provided the evidence for the fragility of capital markets as they grapple with the strain of transitioning from an ultra-low interest rate environment back to the one we knew before the global financial crisis of 2008. A policy mistake around...