Market Update: The resilience narrative comes under pressure
A potentially meaningful change in correlations happened last week. In recent times, a fall in yields (and therefore a rise in bond prices) would go alongside rises in equity prices, particularly the mega-cap growth consumer-related techs like Amazon, Alphabet (Google), Microsoft and Apple.
Market Update: Bond yield volatility has markets guessing
While we hold our breath over the Middle East tragedy, markets return to interpreting if bond yields are just enough to eradicate inflation or if their volatility points to something bigger.
A guide to saving and investing for the next generation
Investing in your child or grandchild’s future is a thoughtful and responsible step towards securing their financial stability. In the UK, initiating an investment early for a child makes sense and can be highly beneficial in the long run.
Market Update: Capital markets and war
If the attack on Israel last week felt as epoch changing as 9/11, then markets seemed to show determined apathy – or did they?
Mastering Your Financial Future: The Power of Cash Flow Modelling
Investing can feel like navigating uncharted territory, particularly for those new to the field. With many options and strategies available, it's crucial to grasp what you aim to achieve with your investments clearly.
Market Update: Recession fears creeping back
Financial markets are in one of those occasional periods where the world’s economic realities do not quite seem to match what some asset price moves seem to want to tell us.
Market Update: Economic resilience is about to be tested
Historically September has on average not been great for investors, and as it turns out this year is no exception to that norm. Both equities and bond valuations have declined and even though equities have not materially moved up or down when looking across the past four months, there is increasing sentiment that the 2023 market recovery is running out of steam or may even be turning.
How bonds’ structure and tax advantages can help you pass on wealth
Investment bonds offer several benefits that some investors may be missing out on, and have become even more beneficial due to recent changes in tax regulations.
Market Update: To yield or not to yield
US bond yields rose again, yet UK and European bond yields did not. We reflect on what this tells us about the prospects for growth, and both near and long term investing.
Market Update: Central bank hawks determined to defang inflation
The European Central Bank (ECB) raised rates yesterday, with the majority of its Governing Council members concerned that the inflation parasite may be alive for a while longer. Of course, parasites can continue to be robust while their host becomes pale and wan.
Market Update: Energy in focus – oil prices up and an ill wind for renewables
Markets have been generally quiet at the start of September but energy is again becoming an issue for equity and credit markets. Oil prices have risen since the start of the summer, with Brent crude having bounced along a bottom of $73 per barrel for the first half of 2023.
Market Update: Employment stats back in the lime light
Summer is officially over, but we are none the wiser regarding the direction of the economy. Or are we? Well, we quite likely are, but just a bit and not enough to know if next month’s equity markets will be higher or lower than right now. Indeed, we never actually know that with a high degree of certainty.
Market Update: Transcontinental growth divergence
We don’t seem to be able to get away from writing about how bond yields have been driving equity markets due to their influence on underlying valuation dynamics. We wrote about it previously, on many occasions over the past two years, and we have to say that last week is no different.
Market Update: Tech stocks back under bond pressure
August has undone much of what July brought to equity investors, yet the latest correction looks more technical than fundamental.
Maximising your investments in your 50’s
As you approach your 50s, securing a comfortable retirement becomes more urgent, making it essential to strategically optimise your investments for a retirement that aligns with your envisioned lifestyle and aspirations.
How to navigate ESG investing
ESG investing targets companies valuing environmental, social, and governance factors, fostering responsible practices for a sustainable future, and offering potential financial gains through high ESG scores.
Market Update: Disinflation legs and lags
A week with both lower US inflation and the return of GDP growth in the UK, yet markets traded like a yoyo rather than up. We take a deeper look.
Market Update: Expect the unexpected
Compared with July’s buoyancy, the first week of August has demonstrated markets’ continued fragile balance between optimism and the fundamentals of valuations.
10 reasons to get your tax return filed now
Filing your tax return early offers many benefits, from avoiding penalties and reducing stress to maximising eligible deductions and protecting against identity theft.
Market Update: Business belies negative data
Equity markets continue to be buoyant after the rate rises in Europe and the US. Some market participants have been calling this the ‘Teflon market’ because nothing sticks to it. We would rather think of it as a sort of running machine; no matter how steep the incline of the treadmill, markets seem able to keep running upwards.