Insights

Overview: New bond news provides perspective for equity investors Yields of long maturity bonds across global developed markets fell quite sharply last Thursday, at the same time as economic data showed resoundingly strong activity. This somewhat counterintuitive market action was a very good...

We usually start with a brief summary of equity market action over the course of the week. This week it was developments in the bond markets that may be of more significance for investors for the medium terms, than the fact that...

Overview: US policy measures drive hopes for a ‘Goldilocks’ economic recovery The second quarter has started in positive fashion. The combination of fast progress on mass vaccinations – and real long-term structural improvement plans for the US economy – have provided investors...

Following a strong first quarter for equity investors worldwide, the second quarter is off to a good start as well, with most global stock markets already up by a few percentage points. While the sense that stock markets are potentially getting ahead...

Overview: Q1 2020 reviewIt was turbulent at times, but the first quarter of 2021 brought genuine good news for UK-based investors with exposure to global stock markets. Equity markets generally resumed an upward trajectory, while low risk assets, especially long maturity bonds,...

It may be April Fools’ Day, but ignore the ill-fated corporate PR stunts (Voltswagen!). The fact is that the first quarter of 2021 has brought genuine good news for UK-based investors with exposure to global stock markets. Equity markets have generally resumed...

Overview: Edging closer towards a post-pandemic world  Last week was another one of markets feeling on edge without going anywhere. Investors seem to have caught a bit of worry about the passage of growth, oddly just as the recent headwind of rising bond...

It has been another week of markets feeling on edge, without going anywhere. Markets seem to have caught a bit of worry about the passage of growth, oddly just as the wider populace gets more confident and the recent headwind of rising...

Overview: the tug of war between optimism and fear continues  This week marks the one-year anniversary of the turning point of the COVID stock market crash. This time last year, we were writing about a “plunging into a global recession of potentially unknown proportion and...

Overview: Markets continue to recalibrate  Last week was another choppy one for global stock markets, although for equities there was more up than down across the board, and bonds yields stopped their upwards trend, at least for now. The general upward trend notwithstanding, there was notable rotation...