Insights for professional partners

Stock markets have reacted badly to the worse than expected news on US trade policy. We favour a more conservative asset allocation in response – but it’s possible to be too gloomy.

In the opening months of President Trump’s second term, attention-grabbing trade policy and a dramatic pivot on Ukraine have ratcheted up the level of uncertainty investors are facing. Our lead article considers the ‘collateral improvement’ this has brought to Europe’s outlook for growth.

When it comes to managing wealth, there is a big difference between the concepts of “risk” and “uncertainty”. Risk is deemed to be quantifiable in some way, allowing managers to construct portfolios with the right balance between assets and the right mix within those asset classes. At least then we might have some idea of the potential gains and losses to which clients are exposed.

After a good start to the year, an onslaught of policy announcements from the White House has since sent US equities into retreat. But falls of this magnitude are a normal part of investing, and the importance of politicians shouldn’t be overrated.

Watch Ed's video update below.

Rathbones’ co chief investment officer, Edward Smith and director of fixed income, Shilen Shah discuss the key themes shaping the investment landscape in 2025.

Events in the US continue to shape the global economy and financial markets, reinforcing the country’s outsized influence. Throughout this edition, we examine the domino effects of key developments across the Atlantic and explore their implications for investors everywhere.

In these videos Rathbones’ co-chief investment officer Ed Smith gives a review of some key lessons from 2024 and discusses our outlook for 2025

Although returns over the past year have been at times hard won, and often made in defiance of a doom and gloom narrative about the state of the world, most investors can look back on some reasonable gains.

Will China roar back from its slump? How can we protect your investments from rising geopolitical conflict, and will the US election make it worse? And how are UK markets reacting to big tax, spending and borrowing increases?

UK CEO pay lags behind US peers - this article explores the reasons, risks of a brain drain, and how Rathbones approaches executive pay as responsible investors.

This recording explores whether elections have accelerated the trend for activist policy and what it means for our long-term investment outlook.

Can we start to anticipate a period of strengthening economic and market recovery following cuts to interest rates by central banks? Our experts share their insights.

With no clear view on which outcome markets would prefer, the battle for the white house is too close to call. Our experts discuss how we need to be prepared for a range of possibilities when making investment decisions.

The new Labour government will be setting out its agenda in more detail soon with its first Budget. There may be big changes coming that affect your finances, or it may be an opportunity for a much-needed reset to encourage investment and boost economic productivity.

In his latest video update, Rathbones co-CIO Ed Smith warns against excessive expectations for US interest rate cuts – and against over-reacting to stock market volatility.

Subsiding inflation has allowed interest rates to fall – but are bond markets factoring in too much?