Market Updates
Keeping you updated with what’s happening in the global economy, financial markets, and more.
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Monthly and quarterly market updates & insights
In this section of our website, you will find a mix of written and visual financial market updates. Each financial quarter has three written downloadable updates and a video.
You will find information covering:
- Global stock and bond market performance
- The impact of global events on world markets
- The outlook for the global economy
- Interest rates and inflation
Market updates – 2024
Here are the latest market updates for 2024.
August 2024
Here is a short summary of what’s covered in this market update:
- Equities and bond markets both generated positive returns to portfolio performance
- However, this masks what was a period of intra-month volatility (most notably in early August)
- The Federal Reserve continued to signal strongly that an interest rate cut will come in September
- This helped to drive positive bond performance over the month
- On page 3 of this document, we provide market commentary to cover the past year to 30 June 2024
To find out more, click the button below to access this month’s market update
July 2024
Here is a short summary of what’s covered in this market update:
- Equities and bond markets both generated positive returns to portfolio performance
- Lower bond yields over the month were a key driver of performance, as were UK equities
- The Federal Reserve signalled an interest rate cut for September while the Bank of England cut to 5.0% just after the end of the month
- High levels of market volatility have been experienced in early August
To find out more, click the button below to access this month’s market update
Quarterly market update- Q2 2024
Quarterly market digest - Q2 2024
Here is a short summary of what’s in this edition:
- Most asset classes generated positive performance over May
- A UK general election was called for July to little market impact
- UK inflation fell 0.9% to 2.3% but US inflation looks stickier around the 3-3.5% mark
- Equities performed well, especially the UK which benefitted from improving economic data and returned 2.4%
To find out more, click the button below to access this month’s market update.
May 2024
Here is a short summary of what’s in this edition:
- Most asset classes generated positive performance over May
- A UK general election was called for July to little market impact
- UK inflation fell 0.9% to 2.3% but US inflation looks stickier around the 3-3.5% mark
- Equities performed well, especially the UK which benefitted from improving economic data and returned 2.4%
To find out more, click the button below to access this month’s market update.
April 2024
Here is a quick overview of what’s inside this edition:
- Most asset classes fell slightly after strong performance in the first quarter of 2024
- All major Western central banks held rates level, as expected, but the Bank of England and European Central Bank look to be approaching a rate cut as inflation moves closer to target
- UK equities outperformed other markets as higher oil prices helped fossil fuel producers like BP and Shell
- On page 3 of this document, we provide market commentary to cover the past year to 31st March 2024
Keen to learn more?
Simply click the below button to access and download this month’s update.
Quarterly market update - Q1 2024
Quarterly market digest - Q1 2024
Here’s a concise overview of what’s inside this edition:
- Q1 saw US economic strength delay expectations for interest rate cuts, leading to divergent performances between equities and bonds as the UK entered a recession
- Strong corporate earnings, particularly from Nvidia, propelled global equities to their best Q1 in five years, while bonds faltered amid reduced prospects for rate cuts
- Portfolios generally saw positive returns, with higher-risk options outperforming lower-risk ones during the quarter
- Over the past 12 months, equities have shown strong performance. Detailed market commentary for this period is provided on page 3 of this document
February 2024
Here is a quick overview of what’s inside this edition:
- Strong corporate earnings in the US from the likes of Nvidia helped to support equity markets
- Given these market conditions, portfolios typically generated a positive return over the month, with higher risk portfolios outperforming lower risk ones over the month
- Almost all asset classes generated strong returns over the 12-month period
- The March Budget failed to impact financial markets. The British ISA has good intentions, but more details are required
Keen to learn more?
Simply click the below button to access and download this month’s update.
January 2024
Here is a quick overview of what’s inside this edition:
- After a blistering rally at the end of 2023, markets had a mixed month in January as some asset classes gave back part of the large gains generated in November and December last year
- Asset class performance was mixed as central bankers tried to moderate investors’ hopes of imminent rate cuts. Economic strength in the US continued to surprise though
- Inflation rose by 0.1% to 4.0% in the UK in December. The US and eurozone also saw small increases to CPI
- Given these market conditions, portfolios were typically flat over the month
- Almost all asset classes generated a strong return over the 12-month period
Keen to learn more?
Click the button below to access this month’s market update.
Market updates 2023
Here are our market insights for 2023.
Quarterly market update - Q4 2023
Quarterly market digest - Q4 2023
Here is a quick overview of what’s inside this edition:
- All asset classes performed strongly over Q4 2023 as positive sentiment drove equity and bond prices higher. Global equities generated 6.3% over the quarter and ended the year up over 15%
- Better than expected inflation data from the US, UK, and euro-zone, as well as talk of rate cuts from the Federal Reserve (Fed), helped support the asset rally. UK inflation fell by 2.8% to 3.9% in the three months to November
- The Bank of England held interest rates level at 5.25% throughout the quarter
- Given these market conditions, portfolios generated a positive absolute return over the quarter
Keen to learn more?
Click on the button below to access and download our Q4 market digest.
November 2023
Here is a quick overview of what’s inside this edition:
- The Autumn Statement had a limited long-term impact on markets but a small increase in government bond yields on the day is a reminder that fiscal prudence is still important
- UK inflation fell by 2.1% to 4.6% in October thanks to less energy price inflation. The market now believes we have reached peak interest rates, which has increased the hope of rate cuts next year
- Most asset classes performed strongly in November as positive sentiment drove equity and bond prices higher. Global equities generated 4.7% over the month and are now over 10% up year-to-date
Keen to learn more?
Click the button below to access our latest market update.
October 2023
Here is a quick overview of what’s inside this edition:
- The UK equity market, with its above average exposure to energy and materials, underperformed as such sectors struggled amidst signs of further weakness in Europe and China. The US, however, outperformed given the continued outperformance of the technology sector
- October brought negative returns for the majority of asset classes, especially equities as market sentiment was impacted by events in Gaza
- Central banks continued their “higher for longer” messaging; as a result, bond markets adjusted their expectations leading to higher yields which hurt prices (prices fall as yields increase)
- October saw the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East which has the potential to have broad investment impact and acts as (yet another) reminder of the need for portfolios to be well diversified
Click on the button below to access our latest market update.
