Overall Market Backdrop, August For the third month running, the US region has proved to be a holy grail for equity investors as they led global equities. Strong economic growth and a continuation of developed markets further lifting restrictions proved to be enough to pull equities to a month of strong performance. Global markets as […]
As everyone expected, July saw the G20 endorse the plan from the G7 meeting in Cornwall to set a minimum global rate of corporation tax. A headline in City AM proclaimed that US tech giants could face a $28bn (£20bn) tax bill, with suggestions that the tax could raise as much as $87bn (£63bn). We […]
Overall Market Backdrop, July For the second month running, the US region has proved to be a beacon of light for equity investors as they led global equities. The US, UK, and European markets were the only regions showing positive returns for July. The US bond market saw yields gradually decrease throughout the month of […]
When Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak delivered his Budget speech in March much of the focus – inevitably – was on the economy’s recovery from the pandemic, and the cost of all the support measures. But Sunak also announced a host of new initiatives including freeports and a new campus for the Treasury. One […]
The effect the pandemic has had on people’s mental health has been well documented. Many people have been juggling work, a home, a family, a relationship, as well as elderly relatives they haven’t been able to see, or daren’t take the risk of seeing. Unsurprisingly, the pandemic has changed attitudes to work and life, with […]
“Amazon made millions but paid no tax.” You can substitute Facebook or Google for Amazon and, these days, you can probably substitute “billions” for “millions” but it remains a story we’ve told countless times. One of the tech giants has reported bumper revenues and/or profits and while doing so paid less tax than a moderately […]
In April it was announced that the UK and Australia had agreed the “vast majority” of a trade deal. Although talks between International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and her Australian counterpart broke up without a deal, both countries were “confident that the remaining issues will be resolved.” The final deal is expected to be completed […]
Those of you who follow the news may remember a story from early May. The Colonial Pipeline in the US – which carries 45% of the East Coast’s supply of diesel, petrol and jet fuel – was put out of action by a ransomware attack. The hackers, an organisation called DarkSide, cheerfully acknowledged the attack […]
Overall Market Backdrop, June While there were periods of volatility within the equity markets in June, the majority of regions showed strong returns with the S&P 500 leading the way. In response to many investors being fearful of inflation overshoots, the Federal Open Market Committee delivered a hawkish surprise with the forecast suggesting two rate […]
You have likely heard the terms ‘bull market’ and ‘bear market.’ A bull market is one where stock markets are rising and investors are feeling confident: a bear market is the opposite. ‘Bullish’ has even come to be used in a wider sense, meaning generally optimistic: ”I’m feeling bullish about our chances of beating United […]