Global markets are broadening out now and as equity values rise this wealth is helping to generate economic stimulus in several ways, which we explore here ..read more

Global economic growth has been resilient while inflation has been slowing. We look at the reasons for this and why central banks are under pressure to balance growth and inflation ..read more

In 2024, voters will go to the polls in a record 77 countries. We explore how they will impact economies and stock markets. We also consider how supply chains and shipping routes are affected following Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea ..read more

Equities are set to outperform bonds, boosted by company sales growth and elevated profits. Bonds, meanwhile, should benefit from interest rate cuts, which could lead to higher bond prices. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) boom is expected to continue in 2024, but the US stock market should broaden out beyond this sector into unloved areas like energy and small caps ..read more

Despite global economic uncertainty, investors took comfort from an impressive set of company earnings in the third quarter of 2023. Gold has hit a high this month driven by an outbreak of optimism that US interest rates have now peaked. Equities rallied partly thanks to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) boom, but appetite for these stocks may not last ..read more

Until recently, inflation appeared to be in retreat. Central banks felt sufficiently confident to pause on interest rate hikes. However, a blip in the inflation figures has worried investors, who fear more US rate rises could emerge as a result. The main culprit has been oil prices, which have moved higher in response to supply cuts from OPEC, Expectations are still for a ‘soft landing’ in the US, with any recession likely to be short-lived and shallow. The UK and Eurozone face greater economic headwinds, In the UK, employment data has seen a notable deterioration in recent months. Nevertheles ..read more

The services sector continues to drive growth in the global economy, despite rising interest rates. Spending on services is being driven by savings built up during the Covid era, and pent-up demand for areas such as travel and leisure activities. Along with resilient labour markets, this has continued to push up consumption. In the near-term, there is no sign of this stopping. Unemployment is still low and consumers still have money to spend. Phenomenon such as Swiftonomics – the blockbusting billion dollar tour by Taylor Swift – have shown the consumer’s ongoing propensity to spend.   Ma ..read more

The S&P 500 has just capped its longest winning streak in over a century, encouraged by better data on inflation, economic growth and corporate earnings. However, data remains volatile and it is possible that markets have moved too far too fast. Valuations now leave little margin for error. July saw the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank raise rates once again, though many economists expect this to be the peak. However, central banks are keeping their options open and have made it clear they will respond to new data as it emerges. There are also strains in the fixed income market, w ..read more

With the S&P 500 up 20% since October 2022, another bull market has begun. To date, it has been led by a narrow group of technology companies, but there are signs it may broaden out in the months to come. This may create momentum for global stock markets in the second half of the year, even as a recession looms. Consensus expectations are now for a less severe recession than was expected a year ago. Falling expectations of peak US interest rates have also helped stocks to rally too. The weaker dollar may also be a swing factor for investors. Dollar depreciation is usually indicative of an ..read more

2023 has seen a surprising revival in the technology sector. This defied the grim predictions of some investors who saw rising interest rates marking an end to the decade-long dominance of technology stocks. The sector’s strength has partly been driven by the excitement around artificial intelligence and its potential for disruption. Artificial intelligence could be a major force over the next decade. Its influence is likely to be felt in more industries, and investors need to align themselves with the disruptors rather than the disrupted. Ultimately, new and as-yet-unseen opportunities will e ..read more