We previously cast the spotlight on Japanese Equities late in 2023, at a time when the region was seeing a sharp rally in values, which extended through to the start of this year. Recent performance has, however, been disappointing, as investors become wary of the impact of tariffs imposed by the US. Despite these challenges, Japan remains an interesting opportunity for investors.
Read moreMany investors will look back at 2024 and be satisfied with returns from investment markets. Whilst pockets of positivity remain, 2025 may well be a year when investors are likely to face more testing conditions than the calm waters seen last year. We look at five themes that could shape market direction over the next twelve months.
Read moreThe last decade has seen an increase in availability of investment funds that aim to meet a social, ethical or sustainable objective. In response to the rapid expansion of the sector, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which regulates financial services companies in the UK, has introduced a series of new measures which will change the way funds, and other products and services making sustainability related claims, can be marketed to investors.
Read moreThe US election in November is currently too close to call, with the polls showing Kamala Harris and Donald Trump neck and neck. It is likely that polls will remain close until polling day and bearing in mind the fallout from the 2020 election, markets could be more volatile as we head towards the vote on November 5th, and immediately beyond.
Read moreCommercial property has traditionally played an important role in portfolio diversification. Direct Property funds that invest in UK physical property assets, such as warehouses, office and industrial space, has traditionally found a place in many portfolio strategies, as it tends to produce consistent returns, that show little in the way of correlation with other assets, such as Equities (shares).
Read moreFirst available to investors in 1975, a passive investment fund aims to replicate the performance of a specific market index, rather than actively selecting individual assets within a particular market. Over the last decade, passives have grown substantially in popularity, with Morningstar research confirming that passive funds saw higher inflows than active funds during 2023 1.
Read moreRecent events in the Middle East have once again led to increased concerns about the impact that World events can exert on global financial markets. In such times, it is important to remain focused on the long-term trend, and to try and avoid taking short-term decisions that could prove detrimental, as history tells us that the initial knee-jerk reaction to global events is often short lived.
Read moreWe often highlight the importance of diversification in an investment strategy, which includes investing in different geographies. Whilst most will allocate funds to developed market equities, such as those in the UK, developed Europe (e.g. Germany, France, Spain) North America (US and Canada) and developed Asia-Pacific countries (such as Japan and Australia), introducing an allocation to emerging markets can help spread risk further, as returns from these markets do not necessarily correlate with their developed counterparts.
Read moreAs we enter a new year, we highlight some of the key factors that are likely to determine market direction over coming months, and provide our outlook for the main asset classes during 2024.
Read more