Last Updated: September 30, 2025

This has been one of the most begrudged share market rallies in modern times. Our chief investment officer, Julian Chillingworth, explains why political deadlock may help it continue.

Last Updated: September 30, 2025

Inflation has flared up again in the UK, but that doesn’t mean the globe is awash with soaring prices.

Last Updated: September 30, 2025

Currencies bounced around last month as investors debated the strength of the UK’s Brexit negotiating position, whether the Federal Reserve (Fed) will slow its rate hikes, and if the European Central Bank will soon cut the number of bonds it buys each month as part of its quantitative easing programme.

Last Updated: September 30, 2025

A North Korean missile, potentially capable of carrying a nuclear payload, soared over Japan in late August and sunk into the Sea of Japan. In response, 10-year Japanese government bond (JGBs) yields sunk too, from 0.009% to -0.009%.

Last Updated: September 30, 2025

British investors may get a shock when they look at their returns this month. For those investing in sterling, overseas stock market performances were downright dismal

Last Updated: September 30, 2025

The Bank of England (BoE) raised rates in early November from 0.25% to 0.5%. A decent boost from the services sector helped third-quarter GDP grow by a faster than expected 0.4%, a solid enough justification for the hike.

Last Updated: September 30, 2025

When Donald Trump won the presidency in November 2016, we believed he would struggle to make headway on virtually all of his flagship policies.

Last Updated: September 30, 2025

Last week the UN World Happiness Report 2018 revealed that Finland is the world’s happiest nation. In contrast, the US slipped five places to 18th in the global ‘happiness’ rankings. The S&P500 fell 1.6% over the week in sympathy, amid fears of rising trade friction and fallout from the political merry-go-round at the White House. UK shares fell too.

Last Updated: September 30, 2025

Last Friday was a momentous day. Not only did it feel like Spring may finally be in the air, but it also marked the nine-year anniversary of the start of the current bull market. Yes, the previous bear market officially ended on 9 March 2009 following a 17-month bloodbath that saw US markets fall by 57% – the second-steepest peak-to-trough decline since 1932.

Last Updated: September 30, 2025

In Iceland, there’s an old saying: if you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes.  Since the start of this year, the markets have proven just as changeable as the fickle Icelandic climate.  Earlier this month, the VIX index of volatility – Wall Street’s “fear gauge” – briefly hit the heady heights of 50, marking the biggest one-day rise in the history of the index and its highest level since August 2015.

Last Updated: September 30, 2025

Volatility is back. After more than a year of record calm in stock markets, the VIX index of S&P 500 volatility briefly hit 50 as it exploded upwards last week.

Last Updated: September 30, 2025

The tone of 2018 will be set by bond markets, we believe. How they react to the monetary tightening (or not) of the world’s largest central banks will have important consequences for share markets and investor confidence.