Filters
The coronavirus pandemic
Last Updated: July 22, 2025
Markets have reacted to the collapse in demand that will be wrought across many sectors by attempts to contain the coronavirus outbreak, as conferences, business travel and holidays are cancelled and consumers are encouraged to stay indoors. The longer the crisis lasts, the greater the risk that companies will face severe cash flow problems. When the economic tide is turning, as it is now, any shortcomings of business models are left exposed. As Warren Buffett famously said: “It’s only when the tide goes out that you learn who’s been swimming naked.”
Economic and investment outlook
Last Updated: July 24, 2025
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.
Planet Papers 5: The economic ecosystem
Last Updated: July 22, 2025
Back to Planet Papers hub If you focus narrowly on the returns delivered to shareholders since the onslaught of COVID-19, you would have to say capitalism has navigated this extreme challenge successfully. But not in a sustainable way if the other stakeholders — employees, customers and the wider world — aren’t sharing in the benefits or, worse, if they’re paying a cost for delivering those returns.
Online retailers benefit from a presence on the high street
Last Updated: July 22, 2025
We’re spending more time than ever before shopping through our smartphones and laptops rather than braving multi-storey car parks and crowded high streets.
Review of the week: Same World, Different Views
Last Updated: July 22, 2025
The US House of Representatives is struggling to agree on a new Speaker as the US ticks toward a shutdown of government. Strangely, stocks seem more perturbed by strong economic growth.
Weekly Digest: The Heat is On
Last Updated: July 21, 2025
Markets are braced for some big events on the tariffs, tax and spending fronts that have the capacity to shape economic outcomes well into the future.
Weekly Digest: Weapons Of Mass Distraction
Last Updated: July 19, 2025
The world is a very noisy place at the moment, and it’s increasingly designed to be that way. It doesn’t seem to matter where you go or what you do, someone or something is always trying to attract your attention. The proliferation of media outlets only increases the competition, potentially distracting us in the short term from longer-term goals.
Monthly digest: A catalyst-rich environment
Last Updated: July 19, 2025
May wasn't short of market-moving news - much of it about tariffs. In response, investor sentiment on the US economy soured - and then sweetened (somewhat) again.
Weekly Digest: The first innings
Last Updated: July 24, 2025
Markets have reacted positively to news of US trade deals with the UK and China. But these are still bad deals compared to the previous status quo, so what could propel equity markets higher from here?
Weekly digest: as time goes by
Last Updated: July 19, 2025
Some calm has returned to markets amid a temporary truce in the tariff wars, but the clock is ticking and there is plenty of potential for further volatility. Meanwhile, things are less rosy in bond land. Still, as John notes, there is reason to relax and enjoy the bank holiday weekend.
Quarterly Investment Update Q3 2025: After much sound and fury, stock markets are at record highs
Last Updated: August 6, 2025
Major equity indices hit bear market territory on twists and turns in US tariff policy, before responding to news of a partial climbdown. Meanwhile, the oil price rose and fell and the dollar weakened.
Don't bet the house: Why the Golden Age of UK property investment is over
Last Updated: August 27, 2025
As the property market cools, diversified portfolios of financial assets show their strength.