Month: June 2025
Market Update: Markets recalibrate to Trump 2.0
What a week. No sooner had the US shocked the world by bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities than President Trump declared a ceasefire and subsequent end of the Israel-Iran war. More astonishing still was that the Israeli and Iranian governments obeyed, albeit only after their strikes made ‘the Donald’ lose his rag in the most unpresidential manner the White House lawn has ever witnessed in public.
How to Build a Stronger Investment Portfolio Through Diversification
Investing can often feel overwhelming. Markets swing, headlines shift, and uncertainty seems like a constant. But one strategy consistently proves itself in times of volatility: diversification.
Market Update: The risks are real – but priced in
We have, unsurprisingly, had a bit of a down week. The Israel-Iran war has pushed up oil prices about 4%, with a slight knock to equities. The ‘safe haven’ dollar has risen but only slightly, up 0.5% against a stable sterling. None of these moves were too sharp – barring perhaps oil’s gain – and it is fair to say that the market reaction has been more muted than the human one. Experience of the Russia-Ukraine should caution us against thinking this will be over quick or that markets will be insulated, but it does seem like many of the...
Market Update: Calm but not comfortable
Last week’s political events did not disturb markets until Israel’s military action on Iran on Friday morning. Even then, the reactions were relatively muted. In the days prior, Brent crude oil rose from $66 per barrel to $70 but other markets showed no discernible price reaction. Investors seem to be waiting for the actual event before deciding to move, as many past rumours have been nothing more, while much else can happen while one waits.
Navigating the New UK Inheritance Tax Rules: What Families Need to Know Before 2026
In a move that could affect thousands of families and business owners across the UK, the government’s October 2024 Budget introduced sweeping changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT). These changes, set to take effect in April 2026, mark the most significant shift in how estates are taxed in decades.
Market Update: Summer starts with less spring
Last week, a number of the world’s stock markets edged closer to all-time highs. Thursday’s Musk-Trump spat weighed on Tesla shares, though, and therefore the US’ S&P 500 (and the ‘Magnificent Seven’ tech stocks in particular). Fortunately, other than entertaining the general public and knocking Tesla’s share price, there seems to be limited investment impact.
Market Update: Complacency or checks and balances?
Last week’s pullback proved to be just a blip in the impressive stock market recovery. On tariffs, markets were buoyed in the early part of the week by the notion of the so-called “TACO trade” (Trump Always Chickens Out) and then, on Thursday, the US Court of International Trade’s ruling that the tariffs already imposed were illegal – though an appeals court quickly suspended the decision, allowing tariffs in the meantime. The trade court’s ruling made markets happy but Trump angry, as did the TACO epithet.