Knowledge and Insight

Stock markets emerged unscathed from the shock of the EU referendum result and the election of Donald Trump, but will investors be so sanguine in 2017?

With the crowning of the Strictly winner and passing of the shortest day, it often falls to a CIO to write a seasonal article or look at the year ahead. 

Baillie Aaron, Founder & CEO, Spark Inside

It’s hard to think about Christmas Carols without being reminded of Charles Dickens’ iconic work of the same name.  I’m sure you’ve read it – or at least seen the Disney version.

In early 2017, our head office will move to the City of London. To mark this move, we look at the changing face of the City over the centuries and, in particular, the last 25 years.

With the EU referendum and the election of Donald Trump, 2016 has been an interesting year. Neither result was predicted by the experts or pollsters who get paid so well to know ‘what people think’. And, in both cases, the victors made campaign commitments that were outright nonsense.

On a cold night in 1966, a BBC television play about homelessness created a sense of outrage that led to questions in Parliament and the foundation of the charity Crisis. What is the legacy of the programme that should have changed Britain?

Populist pledges to protect domestic jobs by restricting free trade proved a key feature of both the Brexit campaign in the UK and the presidential election race in the US. Although such rhetoric can seem very appealing, history suggests protectionist policies ultimately do far more harm than good.

Despite widespread calls for fiscal stimulus, the Chancellor confirmed the government will continue with austerity, albeit a little less aggressively.

What a year it has been for political surprises. It is now just over four months since the EU referendum result shook the country and financial markets alike.