Economic and market insight
Review of the week
Review of the week: Downcast, but out (spending)
The UK slumps into recession even as people’s spirits and retail sales rise. Meanwhile, trouble may be brewing in American inflation.
5 mins
Review of the week: American stocks pop
The US S&P 500 stock market index broke through 5,000 for the first time, hitting a record high last week as investors shrugged off worries that interest rates may not fall as fast as many had hoped.
6 mins
Review of the week: Don’t tread on me
US jobs strength pushes back interest rate cut forecasts yet further. Meanwhile, higher rates and changing business needs keeps squeezing commercial property.
8 mins
Review of the week: The oracle of Threadneedle Street
No change to monetary policy is expected this week, but investors will be eager for any clue about the Bank of England’s thoughts on inflation and interest rate cuts.
6 mins
Review of the week: Shoppers on strike?
UK retail sales slumped in December while inflation went in the other direction. Is the UK now in recession, albeit the mildest of the mild?
6 mins
Review of the week: Gimme shelter
Housing costs make up a big part of people’s spending, yet they can often obscure what’s going on with inflation.
7 mins
Review of the week: An old-fashioned Santa rally
A gruelling year for investors actually delivered decent returns. But how much of that strong performance is in anticipation of 2024?
6 mins
Review of the week: Rolling Returns
A Santa rally is in full swing for stocks and bonds, capping off a year of large swells for investors. While returns flow, climate policy is ebbing at COP28 in Dubai.
8 mins
Review of the week: Why not deflation?
A bout of runaway inflation could persuade some people that no inflation would be better than any at all. That’s a dangerous path to take.
7 mins
Review of the week: Happiness is Relative
After a miserable year for living standards, Brits are feeling much better about their lives and their futures. But how much will that move the dial for retail spending and economic growth?
6 mins
Review of the week: Which path are we on?
Updates on inflation and unemployment arrive this week. Will they give investors more clarity about the paths of interest rates?
5 mins
Review of the week: Up like a balloon
Central bankers have sat on their hands for another month, sending the prices of stocks and bonds soaring. While interest rates seem to have peaked, the full effects of previous increases are yet to be felt by households and businesses.
6 mins
No bongs but no tears – it could be okay
Big Ben may not be bonging when the UK leaves the EU, but our head of multi-asset investments David Coombs reckons there’s room for some quiet confidence.
3 mins
Johnny-come-Januaries
The new year always drives well-intentioned yet poorly sustained get-fit-quick schemes. That leads multi-asset fund manager Will McIntosh-Whyte to wonder about the durability of subscription service customers in a downturn.
3 mins
2020: the year ahead. Maybe?
Our head of multi-asset investments, David Coombs, consults the tea leaves as he prepares for a new decade.
2 mins
Boris gets it done
This election result – a vote for Brexit and against socialism – is just as seismic as the referendum, argues head of multi-asset investments David Coombs. But CEOS can’t relax, capitalism has to change to survive.
2 mins
The origins of capitalism: a privilege with a purpose
The idea of responsible capitalism is topical, and its merits widely debated today, but it isn’t a new concept. Taking a look back at the origins of capitalism shows us that it has roots in a social contract with a sense of purpose. With roots like these, there’s great opportunity for advisers to help their clients embrace healthy and responsible capitalism to address today’s urgent challenges.
4 mins
Sleepless in Harwich
Two times a dad, our multi-asset investment specialist Craig Brown is finding it hard to learn old lessons. Like with investments, sometimes it’s painful when you just can’t leave things be…
2 mins
Do turkeys vote for Christmas?
Misinformation is rampant ahead of the UK election, as if things weren’t chaotic enough. Multi-Asset Portfolio Fund manager Will McIntosh-Whyte worries about what plans the politicians may be hiding and how markets will react to the eventual result.
4 mins
What responsible investment looks like
Rathbones’ stewardship director Matt Crossman explains the Principles for Responsible Investing and how we’ve been putting them into practice over the past 10 years.
3 mins
Making a better world, and a profit
Rathbones’ head of asset allocation Edward Smith explains why he believes that responsible capitalism is in every long-term investor’s self-interest – even if they don’t care about the societal benefits.
3 mins
FAANGs for the memory
A jokey present from Christmas past comes back to haunt David Coombs, our head of multi-asset investments. As the nights lengthen, he spooks himself by pondering the meaning of ‘tech’.
3 mins
Be clear, be trustworthy
Brits are on board with investing sustainably to make the world a better place, but impenetrable jargon and complicated processes are preventing them from doing so. We need to try harder to speak their language, says Rathbone Global Sustainability Fund manager David Harrison.
3 mins
Time to buckle up
New threats require new defences. Our head of multi-asset investments David Coombs explains how he’s filling the sandbags to protect his funds against a populist storm.
4 mins