Knowledge and insight

Over the past decade, appetite for sustainable investment has increased across the global asset management industry and in the US, sustainably managed assets now represent 26% of the total. Commitment to the Stewardship Code has also shot up as and more managers have become involved in proxy voting and other forms of engagement with underlying companies. We’ve been doing this for a while – this year marks a decade since Rathbones signed the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).

Last week chief investment officer Julian Chillingworth set the scene for what proved to be a week of happy mood music from major central banks. This week all ears will be tuned to the G20 summit of world leaders in the hope of hearing more of the same on the trade front.

The world seemed to unravel further last month, with British voters electing members to the EU Parliament whose goal is to leave it, and Donald Trump continuing to wield his trade cudgel. Our chief investment officer Julian Chillingworth considers the implications.

Sustainable investing isn’t just about avoiding the risks of outdated businesses or environmental PR disasters, explains our Global Sustainability Fund manager, David Harrison. It’s also about spotting opportunities that can be captured if you keep your eyes on the future instead of the past.

These days, when markets get a bit rocky investors shuffle their feet and hint to central bankers that firing up the money presses would be a great idea. Our chief investment officer Julian Chillingworth sets the scene for a potentially blockbuster week of monetary policy.

They used to call David Coombs crazy. When he set up our multi-asset funds 10 years ago, many people didn’t get why we were setting targets for return and risk that investors could hold us to.

The old investment adage of buying gold to protect your wealth from money-printing central banks inflating it away doesn’t quite sit well with us. Our research shows gold tends to be a poor way of protecting your wealth from inflation. However, gold has historically attracted many investors when things get rocky, pushing its price higher. So, holding a small amount can be a good way to reduce the volatility of your portfolio.

When we set up our multi-asset funds 10 years ago, we thought people would appreciate accountability and value reliability. Turns out we were onto something. Rathbones head of multi-asset investments David Coombs looks forward to the next decade.

The death of the Chinese economic miracle has been greatly exaggerated many, many times. Rathbones head of multi-asset investments David Coombs thinks you need to think differently about the Eastern giant.