Fed predicts strong growth in 2021 The Federal Reserve reiterated a conditional pledge not to raise interest rates for years to come and forecast the U.S. economy would expand by 6.5% in 2021, the fastest since 1984, after Washington approved the $1.9 trillion...

Major Equity markets rise again on sector rotation Equities turned in another positive month across the major markets in February. Among the global market sectors, leadership moved from technology to financials, as investors switched their focus from growth to value....

Market Commentary January 2021 UK shares remain dull despite EU trade agreement The EU trade agreement and the rapid roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines should have been enough to see UK equities higher during the first month of the new year. Investors have been willing,...

Brexit Trade Agreement drives UK shares and Sterling higher The announcement, on Christmas Eve, of a trade agreement between the UK and the EU, to come into force on 1st January, helped UK shares generally to end the year on a positive note. Most of the positive...

Covid-19 vaccine drives markets higher On 9th November, Pfizer announced the creation of a successful Covid-19 vaccine. Although this was a slightly tricky vaccine to transport and deploy, requiring storage at -80c, markets around the world reacted with unbridled...

Election jitters add to uncertainty in US equities US Equities had seemingly moved to discount a Democratic win in the November election, but repeated threats from President Trump to challenge any result that did not favour him, sent ripples around the markets, with...

Technology profit-taking hits US equities After a sustained rally, US equities ran out of steam in September, with the S&P 500 Index falling by almost 4%. A major feature of the hiatus was technology stocks, which have been the driving force behind the positive...

Technology drives the US market higher US equities enjoyed another strong month in August, despite weak jobs data. Although there was some evidence of the rally broadening to other parts of the market, technology remained firmly in the driving seat, with Apple’s...

Economic data reverses gains in Europe                                                                                                                                                                                                  The EU member states’ agreement on...

Equity markets close second quarter strongly. June saw a continuation of the second quarter rally in global equities, with most markets turning a third successive month of gains. Investors, emboldened by the prospect of further central bank support if the global...