Month: August 2024
Market Update: Late Summer heatwave
Equity and bond markets got hotter earlier last week. Jerome Powell all but confirms the start of rate cuts, but the US dollar is no longer a beneficiary.
State Pension Awareness
In April 2024, the state pension rose by 8.5% to £11,502.40 a year for post-2016 retirees. However, according to new research, one in seven (14%) retirees receive less money from the state pension than expected. This highlights the need for more information about the payments people can expect to receive from the government later in life.
Market Update: Tornado rather than hurricane
After stocks sank in early August, we warned that volatility could ripple on, and the market storm turn into a full-blown hurricane. But last week saw a remarkable dying-down of the volatility, like a whirlwind that passes in an hour: stock markets climbed up all over the world, with no hint of pullback. The rally has been so strong that global stocks are almost exactly where they were at the end of July – before the sharp sell-off.
The Essential Guide to Financial Protection
Nobody wants to consider what would happen if they became too ill to support their family financially. Financial protection is essential to creating peace of mind for your loved ones, but understanding what cover you may need can be confusing.
Market Update: Market correction turns into pothole
Our sign-off the week before last was supposed to be cautiously optimistic – predicting a bumpy ride to a decent destination in markets – but friends told us it read a little negatively. Cue the worst daily loss for the S&P 500 in nearly two years on Monday after a terrible session in Japan, and sharp losses for most other major indices. US recession fears – stoked by a distinctly disappointing jobs report last Friday – formed the backdrop for the sell-off, however, market liquidity concerns emanating from Japan’s actions were the spark.
Market Update: Central bank week
Interest rate policy reflects the differing, yet interconnected, pressures within leading global economies, while signs of a softer US economy make investors impatient for Fed cuts.
DPMS Portfolio Commentary August 2024
With a generally positive Q2 now firmly in the rear-view mirror, we are focusing on looking forward to a more accommodating picture for monetary policy for the remainder of 2024. Interest rate cuts are expected across developed markets as inflation starts to ease with growth prospects expected to improve as debt costs fall.