The war in Ukraine has united typically quarrelsome European states against Russian aggression. Meanwhile, unity in President Vladimir Putin’s nation has been enforced through the strength of an authoritarian regime.

Russia’s invasion at first wrong-footed both Ukraine and the West, but the defenders’ resolve has been tougher than expected. Now, financial sanctions are hitting Russians hard.

UK retail sales bounced back after a COVID-crushed Christmas. Yet the longest income squeeze since Sir Robert Peel was Prime Minister is set to intensify in the coming months.

Talks to ward off conflict over Ukraine are failing and a Russian invasion is reportedly imminent. Is it brinkmanship or a real risk?

The Bank of England seems poised to raise interest rates aggressively to combat inflation, yet its explanations don’t square with its own forecasts and analysis. Expect fewer hikes than the market currently implies.

The years of loose money are coming to an end. That will cause some short-term upheaval in markets, but if economies remain strong stocks should soon bounce back. 

Bond yields have been climbing almost as much as investors’ worry levels. Pausing to remind ourselves what central bankers are trying to achieve – and how stocks typically react – is helpful.  

Much has happened since our last series. COVID-19 threw us another curveball with Omicron spreading fast. This aggravated existing supply chain and employment issues, fuelling inflation and political instability. Central bankers are under pressure to tighten monetary policy earlier than expected. So, what does this all mean for investor sentiment?  

Join head of regional sales Ben Johnson as he introduces our latest ‘In conversation’ series.  A lot has happened since the last check-in with our managers. The world isn’t yet back to normal, yet there are plenty of opportunities on the horizon. Ben explains how these videos provide a concise and pertinent overview of our funds.

Manager James Thomson explains how he picks his best ideas from around the world. As 2022 progresses, he believes we will remain in a world of unreliable growth, with the worst of the supply chain disruption behind us. This could lower the bar for earnings expectations, making for a year of explosive earnings upside, but the journey might be less than smooth.

Co-managers Alan Dobbie and Carl Stick explain why UK Equity Income could offer an antidote to the corrosive effects of inflation. Throw in better economic news, a UK stock market that’s cheap versus other major markets, and an environment where sentiment can seemingly only get better, then arguably there is a margin of safety in UK income that should warrant careful consideration by investors.

If investors are concerned about global valuations, the UK could offer a rare combination of ‘growth’ and ‘value’. Manager Alexandra Jackson explains how she is buying UK “quality growth superstars” on a postcode-driven discount. With unpredictable COVID-19 outbreaks, tax increases, Brexit wrangling and central bank tightening both here and abroad, she explains how she is navigating hurdles and finding opportunities into 2022.