News

Market Update 13th June 2022

News: 13 June 2022

Mrs Johnson’s lip-read commentary on the Jubilee Pageant is a slightly far-fetched illustration of why it is likely that we have yet to see the worst of current markets. Nonetheless, it is still a relevant encapsulation of why equity markets are still falling.

Market Update 6th June 2022

News: 06 June 2022

The markets are of the view that the euro may be due a spot of form. The dollar has already soared, while there are queues of scribes proclaiming the ills of sterling. If no more than the need to try to do something different, the euro is becoming the currency of the moment.

Market Update 30th May

News: 30 May 2022

Equity markets enjoyed a much better time of things last week. It was overdue. The American markets had fallen for seven consecutive weeks and a bounce of some sorts was in the offing.

Market Update 23rd May 2022

News: 23 May 2022

This tells us a great deal about the composition of indices and very little about the wider performance of equities. Equity indices are typically weighted according to the size of their components: the largest companies make the greatest contribution to the performance of the index.

Market Update 16th May 2022

News: 16 May 2022

There is though just the outside possibility that everyone is excessively gloomy. The strong majority of companies, in all walks of the economy, that we speak with or listen to are reporting that trading is pretty good. Certain parts of retail are struggling, especially in the UK, but beyond this business activity strikes us as being good.

Market Update 9th May 2022

News: 09 May 2022

So, all else being equal, inflation rates will fall in probably 12 to 18 months’ time. Unfortunately the road from here to there is going to be bumpy. On Wednesday this week, we get to see the latest calculation of US inflation. As is habitual, the ‘consensus’ is that the headline rate will fall, this time from 8.5% to 8.1%.

Market Update 25th April

News: 25 April 2022

Our statement of the obvious is that markets are going to stay volatile. Today is a very red day. There will be better ones. Trying to guess which is which from week to week, or month to month, will almost certainly result in more bad decisions than good ones. It is time to retain focus on how to invest in times of rising prices and we reiterate the merits of patiently holding companies with proven pricing power and high barriers to entry.

Market Update 4th April

News: 05 April 2022

Solving a problem like manifest inflation is a tough one. Central banks will do what they can by moving rates higher, but the cost of refinancing debts means this approach has only limited scope. Corporate innovation should again prove to be an ally.

Market Update 21st March

News: 22 March 2022

More broadly, are ESG (environmental, social and governance) concerns simply going out the window at the current time? Are investors losing interest when there are more pressing concerns elsewhere?

Market Update 14th March

News: 14 March 2022

Central bankers have a very difficult job on their hands. The market has priced in several rate hikes and pressure is mounting to turn to a tightening cycle with inflation running out of hand. But with an ongoing war and fears of slowing down the economy, it feels as if they are trapped between a rock and a hard place.