Last Updated: November 25, 2025

"When France sneezes,” Austrian diplomat Klemens von Metternich remarked in the wake of the French Revolution, “Europe catches a cold.” Reflecting shifts in global power, this maxim has metamorphosed over time and is now most often framed in terms of US hegemony. “When America sneezes,” we usually say today, “the world catches a cold.”

Last Updated: November 25, 2025

Last week’s round of central bank meetings sent a mainly consistent message. Most held interest rates on hold and suggested rates are now at (or very near) their peaks.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025

Our booklet explains our four core principles, or pillars, of responsible investment and how we put them into practice.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025

Conversations about money are rarely straightforward, particularly when they involve family. How do you tackle the topic of inheritance, your will or other issues with your loved ones, so that everyone is on the same page? During this webinar our speakers provide valuable insights into running a family meeting– from inheritance plans to making tax-efficient financial decisions and ensuring your affairs and wishes are in order.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025

Lately we’ve had to acknowledge the distinct possibility that some of the content in these weekly updates could be rendered out-of-date before they’ve even been read. The White House’s somewhat arbitrary approach to policymaking suggests that we should brace ourselves for more of this volatile market behaviour, both positive and negative.

Last Updated: November 25, 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.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025

With the UK heading to the polls sooner than expected, the government announces policies that resonate with older voters. Meanwhile, disappointing inflation may have kiboshed a summer rate cut.

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Last Updated: November 25, 2025

Major new technologies often result in investors over-extrapolating: think of radio stocks in the 1920s, or internet stocks in the late 90s. Or even the dominance of miners and oil producers in 2010 as globalisation — which is technological in a sense — was touted as never-ending. The history of artificial intelligence (AI) is filled with predictions that now seem absurd: pioneering computer scientist Herbert Simon said that by 1985 a computer would be as capable as the human brain.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025

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.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025

UK inflation simply won’t drop as fast as everyone hopes, leading the Bank of England to admit it needs a new model. Meanwhile, a compromise is proposed to kick the can on the US debt ceiling till after the next election.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025

Global consumer values, behaviours and spending habits are changing.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025

Markets were buoyed by fading American inflation, but they may be getting ahead of themselves. Meanwhile, the UK high street reports some rare good news.