Month: December 2025
Market Update: Rate cuts for Christmas
Last week had been the last week of liquid trading for 2025. The return of US economic data has sharpened the view that the US and other regions have had a soft patch. Interestingly, that clarity has helped rather than hurt markets. Investors think the Fed will react to weakness which means there is not much likelihood of economic recession or profit decline. Equity investors have continued to be a bit unsettled but the main worry remains that very profitable companies are very expensive, especially if those profits are not used for share buybacks.
Market Update: A dovish hawkish rate cut for Christmas
We are into the last active investment days of a truly remarkable year. After a short note on last week’s events, we offer some thoughts about 2025 and an outlook for 2026. Most equity markets were solid last week but this was one of the few occasions when the major tech firms underperformed. US cloud computing giant Oracle took another blow, when its earnings results showed debt-fuelled capex expansion had accelerated faster than sales.
Guide to Securing Your Legacy
Trusts have been used for centuries to manage and safeguard wealth, yet they continue to be among the least understood aspects of estate planning. Although often seen as complicated or solely for the very wealthy, a trust is simply a legal arrangement that separates ownership from control for the benefit of a beneficiary.
Market Update: Bond markets win – again
Capital markets felt a little better in recent weeks, but with emphasis on “a little”. Global stocks gained incrementally through last week, putting most of the November market downdraft behind them. Underlying these moves is a genuine improvement in the economic outlook for next year. Interest rates are now certain to fall again and, even though there have been doubts over US and global growth momentum, corporate earnings have proven resilient.
Guide to Planning a Successful Retirement
As life expectancy rises, retirement periods are lengthening, making careful and proactive planning vital. For many, retiring in 2025 could mean funding 25 to 30 years or more without a regular income. Such a prolonged period presents unique challenges, including inflation, market fluctuations, healthcare costs, and changing lifestyle needs, all of which require a well-structured strategy.
Market Update: Next stop, Santa Rally?
Capital markets had a good week. Stocks and bonds gained virtually everywhere – particularly small and mid-cap companies. The most obvious rationale for this rally is a growing expectation of interest rate cuts, but we suspect this is just part of investors’ better mood.