Market Updates
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Free financial market updates & insights
In this section of our website, you will find a mix of written and visual financial market updates. Each financial quarter has three written downloadable updates and a video.
You will find information covering:
- Global stock and bond market performance
- The impact of global events on world markets
- The outlook for the global economy
- Interest rates and inflation
As always, if you have any questions about any of the information in these guides, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Market updates – 2024
Here are the latest market updates for 2024 covering January and February.
February 2024
Here is a quick overview of what’s inside this edition:
- Strong corporate earnings in the US from the likes of Nvidia helped to support equity markets
- Given these market conditions, portfolios typically generated a positive return over the month, with higher risk portfolios outperforming lower risk ones over the month
- Almost all asset classes generated strong returns over the 12-month period
- The March Budget failed to impact financial markets. The British ISA has good intentions, but more details are required
Simply click on the button below to access the guide.
January 2024
Here is a quick overview of what’s inside this edition:
- After a blistering rally at the end of 2023, markets had a mixed month in January as some asset classes gave back part of the large gains generated in November and December last year
- Asset class performance was mixed as central bankers tried to moderate investors’ hopes of imminent rate cuts. Economic strength in the US continued to surprise though
- Inflation rose by 0.1% to 4.0% in the UK in December. The US and eurozone also saw small increases to CPI
- Given these market conditions, portfolios were typically flat over the month
- Almost all asset classes generated a strong return over the 12-month period
Simply click on the button below to access the guide.
Market updates 2023
Here are our market insights for 2023.
Q4 2023 - Video
Q4 2023 - Market Summary
Here is a quick overview of what’s inside this edition:
- All asset classes performed strongly over Q4 2023 as positive sentiment drove equity and bond prices higher. Global equities generated 6.3% over the quarter and ended the year up over 15%
- Better than expected inflation data from the US, UK, and euro-zone, as well as talk of rate cuts from the Federal Reserve (Fed), helped support the asset rally. UK inflation fell by 2.8% to 3.9% in the three months to November
- The Bank of England held interest rates level at 5.25% throughout the quarter
- Given these market conditions, portfolios generated a positive absolute return over the quarter
Simply click on the button below to access the guide.
November 2023
Here is a quick overview of what’s inside this edition:
- The Autumn Statement had a limited long-term impact on markets but a small increase in government bond yields on the day is a reminder that fiscal prudence is still important
- UK inflation fell by 2.1% to 4.6% in October thanks to less energy price inflation. The market now believes we have reached peak interest rates, which has increased the hope of rate cuts next year
- Most asset classes performed strongly in November as positive sentiment drove equity and bond prices higher. Global equities generated 4.7% over the month and are now over 10% up year-to-date
Simply click on the button below to access the guide.
October 2023
Here is a quick overview of what’s inside this edition:
- The UK equity market, with its above average exposure to energy and materials, underperformed as such sectors struggled amidst signs of further weakness in Europe and China. The US, however, outperformed given the continued outperformance of the technology sector
- October brought negative returns for the majority of asset classes, especially equities as market sentiment was impacted by events in Gaza
- Central banks continued their “higher for longer” messaging; as a result, bond markets adjusted their expectations leading to higher yields which hurt prices (prices fall as yields increase)
- October saw the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East which has the potential to have broad investment impact and acts as (yet another) reminder of the need for portfolios to be well diversified
Simply click on the button below to access the guide.
Q2 2023 - Video
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