As UK and global markets face the unprecedented challenge of the coronavirus pandemic, Louise Kernohan, co‑manager of Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust, advocates a focus on high-quality companies and the need for a long-term mind-set.…
Market review: Saving the euro
For many years now, Mario Draghi has relied on a four-word promise to keep the Eurozone ship on an even keel. The European Central Bank (ECB) president has repeatedly asserted that he would “do whatever…
What is Priced in to the ECB Meeting This Week?
Financial markets have enjoyed a very robust recovery in the last three weeks. In our opinion, the rally has not been driven by any fundamental improvement in economic growth or corporate or emerging market prospects.…
Market review: playing the game
Risk made a comeback this week – and we don’t mean the perennially popular, seemingly never-ending board game. Rather, investors – who recoiled as volatility struck equity markets early in 2016 – returned in their…
A simple exposure to markets
It is possible to introduce a lot of complexity into the selection of investments. Is it better to invest in large or small companies, for example? Or with this fund manager or that fund manager?…
Tracking the market
How best to track the market Understandably, most investors assume that if a fund claims to track an index, their return will be exactly the same as the index. There are a number of reasons…
FTSE All Share versus FTSE 100
Once an investor has made the thorny decision over whether they want to look for an active fund manager, or simply to track an index, it may feel like all the hard work is done.…
Week in review – the impending ‘Brexit’ referendum
The main topic du jour for most commentators has been the impending ‘Brexit’ referendum, the date of which was revealed at the weekend (23 June). Conservative politicians were not particularly EUphoric following Mr Cameron’s trip…
Market review: A bite of the apple
Leading tech firm Apple Inc announced on Tuesday its fifth multi-billion dollar offering of corporate bonds since 2013. Likely inspired by low interest rates, the household name synonymous with smart technology issued $12 billion of…
Market review – Markets get the jitters
It’s been an edgy week for investors. Fears of a US recession are rising, with recent industrial production and manufacturing data proving disappointing. Exports have been hit by the strong dollar and weakness in…
Recession Risks are Rising and Equities are Vulnerable
Equity markets certainly decided to look at the negatives from the US employment report released at the end of last week. That does not happen in bull markets. On the surface, and ignoring a few…
Market review – Deal or no deal?
And so the duel in Westminster continues. Prime Minister David Cameron is, according to the outspoken Boris Johnson, ‘making the best of a bad job’. Hardly encouraging words for Dave as his draft EU…
Market review – Less Than Zero
We awoke on Friday to the news that the Bank of Japan had cut interest rates to below zero. This marks a new departure in the central bank’s quest to stimulate the economy and…
Longest serving investment company managers comment on market volatility
The start of 2016 has proved a turbulent time for markets, so the AIC has collated fund manager views. The start of 2016 has proved a turbulent time for markets. After closing 2015 at…
Central Banks Face Difficult Choices in a Changing Investment Environment
When we started writing this weeks’ commentary, we did not realise how long it would be. We hope that you find it interesting, as we truly believe that we touch upon the most important…
Market review – The bears are back
The year so far has been a particularly unhappy hunting ground for global investors. China, the tumbling price of oil and a recently downgraded forecast for global economic growth by the International Monetary Fund…
A Disastrous Start to 2016….What Next?
Happy New Year to all our readers. We promised late last year that we would update our views in the new year. There is a lot to discuss and we will have to break…
Market review – The men who sold the world
Investors started the week in nervous mood. Little wonder, when the advice proffered by one team of City brokers was to “sell everything”. Concerns about China, the falling oil price and rising interest rates…
Market review – Does abstinence make the heart grow fonder?
For some of us, temperance in January is a lifestyle choice after seasonal over-indulgence; but for investors in Chinese equities, the decision to abstain has been taken out of their hands. Twice this week,…