Like the UK, Latin America has suffered greatly during the pandemic – perhaps even more so. The World Bank estimates that regional GDP may slip by as much as 8%, with more than four million…
The case for sterling
Ben Kumar, Investment Manager. 18 January 2017. So Theresa has finally spoken, and we are… not that much the wiser. There were a few new bits of information though – highlighted below with some comment.…
Mexico Scares Investors
It seems a long time ago now but when Enrique Peña Nieto managed to pass a series of structural reforms in late 2013 investor optimism in Mexico peaked. To be fair to Peña Nieto he…
On The Eve of Change
Donald Trump held his first press conference since the election last week. Just in case there was any doubt, we think the style and the substance tell us that change is coming; potentially big changes.…
Week in Review: the Russia House
It could have come from a John le Carré novel. This week, a 35-page dossier emerged, alleging that Russia has damaging information about US President-elect Donald Trump’s business interests and extremely compromising material relating to…
The Trump trade may be close to an end – A round up of Markets
We wish everyone a happy New Year, and with the FX and rates markets entering the year with a bit of a bang, there is a lot to get through this week. We will try…
What are the prospects for markets and the investment company industry in 2017? (video)
[embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnaV5r1iLCA[/embed] The AIC talks to Bruce Stout, manager of Murray International, Peter Ewins, manager of F&C Global Smaller Companies and James Henderson, manager of Lowland, Law Debenture and Henderson Opportunities, about what 2017 may…
AIC fund manager poll: The American Dream in 2017?
The AIC has issued the results from its 2016 fund manager poll. The Association of Investment Companies’ (AIC) annual fund manager survey finds managers more optimistic on the outlook for equities than a year ago,…
A prescription for providing 21st century healthcare (video)
Global healthcare systems are reaching breaking point. In developed markets, rising costs, aging and growing populations, an increase of chronic and communicable diseases are the perpetual and metaphorical headache. In developing markets, systems and infrastructure…
Week in review: New Year, new me…
Try a new career: With each New Year’s Day comes the usual ritual of making New Year’s Resolutions. Getting healthier, saving more money, or trying a new career are among the top cited promises we…
The Year Ahead 2017
January 2017. Our positive economic outlook for 2016 was pretty much correct and, at the end of the year, it looks as if markets reflected that growth with almost all major equity indices in positive…
Week in Review: goodbye Monte
Christmas is upon us but the end is nigh for Monte dei Paschi. Or at least it is as a privately owned bank. The various attempts to recapitalise the world’s oldest surviving bank through the…
A review of 2016: A test of endurance…
2016 is certainly a year that will go down in the history books – for both the right and wrong reasons. Apart from a swathe of celebrity deaths, we’ve had Brexit, the still surreal rise…
Central Bank Policy Divergence – The Impact on the Dollar
Before we dive into this week’s missive, this will be our last commentary before Christmas. We may try and write a short commentary between Christmas and New Year if market movements warrant one. We wish…
Week in review: a creditable performance
The attention of European investors was again focused on Italy’s troubled banks. But for once there was some reason for cheer. Unicredit, Italy’s biggest bank, announced a radical restructuring plan to help shore up its…
Equity Bulls in Charge as ECB Makes Way for the Fed
Having spent the second half of last week on the road meeting investors, I have not yet managed to catch up on all the nitty gritty of what happened at the coal face. This is…
Week in review: shock absorbers
After Brexit and Trump, investors have grown used to shocks – especially of the political variety. And in any case, it was widely accepted that Italian voters might use Sunday’s referendum to reject the constitutional…
Risk
“ Life is not an illogicality; yet it is a trap for logicians. It looks just a little more mathematical and regular than it is; its exactitude is obvious, but its inexactitude is hidden; its…
Oil and the Dollar Dominate Thoughts as We Wait for Italy to Decide
It’s been a busy week already with OPEC announcing its first production cut in 8 years, the usual monthly US employment report and the build up towards the Italian referendum this weekend. These are all…