Knowledge and Insight - Coronavirus

While we were all cooped up inside, everything was happening out there. Breakthroughs on Brexit and COVID-19 collided with political strife and big moves in bond yields.

A free trade agreement with the EU avoids damaging tariffs, but other barriers remain.

We close a difficult year with a sense of relief, and the tools to deal with the challenges ahead.

Stock markets shot the lights out in November as news of promising vaccines hit the wires. The realities of distribution have lessened the glow a bit recently, leading investors to start reassessing their approach.

Rather than try to reduce it by austerity, inflation or default, the government should focus on keeping the rate of economic growth above the cost of servicing the debt. 

Thanksgiving may be a super-spreader event this year, as governments around the world try to plan their way through the upcoming festive season. But investors have been given a boost from good vaccine news.

The Bank of England has recently added to its stimulus programme yet again, and it isn’t ruling out negative interest rates. But don’t believe the hype – it’s not yet ruling them in either.

The shock of the pandemic has made many businesses question how and why they do things. You shouldn’t underestimate how valuable these re-evaluations are, argues head of multi-asset investments David Coombs. Or underestimate the changes they could have on the future.