Our Views on the Markets and the Economy
Articles, investment updates and economic analysis
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There has been much commentary recently about falling bond prices, especially around coverage of US Treasury bonds. But what does this mean for investors who hold bonds and even for those who are not invested in this asset class?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine overshadowed all other issues during the quarter. Indicators of market volatility, which were already elevated, snapped higher as investors assessed the tragic humanitarian consequences as well as the wider economic implications for the European and global political order.
The conflict in Ukraine, global inflation and the attempts to control it are primary causes of worry now. But it’s unusual to have a period when there are no concerns whatsoever, so investors should plan for multiple scenarios and try to prepare portfolios which are resilient.
Despite the ongoing uncertainty around health and policy in 2021, the year represented a good one for equity investors. The UK equity market continued its rebound from the volatility of 2020, while the US maintained its dominance over all other markets, delivering its 12th year of positive returns in the 13 years since the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, when measured in sterling terms.
Our Chief Economic Strategist, Gerard Lyons, and our Head of Portfolio Management, Iain Barnes, look at the events that are impacting the global economy and financial markets, and what this means for your investments.
We don’t need a crystal ball to tell us that the future is inscrutable. Whether we are talking about economic or market crises, social upheavals or so-called black-swan events, commentators seem to utter the words “We didn’t see that coming” with remarkable regularity. But if the future is so unknowable, should we embrace caution and not invest at all?
In our latest investment update, our Chief Economic Strategist, Gerard Lyons, and our Head of Portfolio Management, Iain Barnes, look at the events that are impacting the global economy and financial markets, and what this means for your investments.
The investment environment has been rather quiet in recent weeks and months. Few market-moving events have occurred, which is not always the case in summer months as liquidity tends to dry up somewhat and markets can become slightly more volatile. So let’s take a closer look to see what’s going on.
May 31st 2021 represented a milestone for the seven sterling Netwealth portfolios, as they reached their fifth anniversary since launch. Alongside other key aspects of our service, it feels like a good time to look back at what the investment experience has been like for our clients, as well as highlight some areas of interest for the future.
While inflation is still a concern, the underlying environment for investors now is one of relative stability. That said, as previous events have shown, and because the outcome of interconnected factors can be hard to quantify, it is never a time to be complacent.
Team Contributors
Gerard Lyons
Charlotte Ransom
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Why transparent investing – and transparent advice – matters
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Why shouldn’t Investors Expect Greater Transparency, Better Consumer Education, plus Simple Advice?
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Missed Opportunity: How Investors Counted the Cost of being Overcautious in 2019
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How a Network gives Families Investment Control and a More Efficient Way to Invest
Matt Conradi
Thomas Salter
Iain Barnes
Simon McConnell
In The Press
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Read what the press have to say about Netwealth
