Economic and market insight
Review of the week
Review of the week: Everything is up
Markets have had a stellar run, despite mixed news on inoculations. It’s in everyone’s interests for asset prices to remain high, but that’s no guarantee they will stay that way. As always, diversification is key.
6 mins
Review of the week: E pluribus unum
One President will be sworn in as his predecessor is set to be impeached. What matters for the US now is a united front from lawmakers to support the economy against the latest wave of COVID-19.
7 mins
Review of the week: A Christmas like no other
While we were all cooped up inside, everything was happening out there. Breakthroughs on Brexit and COVID-19 collided with political strife and big moves in bond yields.
7 mins
Review of the week: Playing fair by trade
Brexit was always going to be hard. The tortuous negotiation of a trade deal highlights the difficult compromise at its heart: the freedom of sovereignty or the prosperity that comes with smooth trade.
7 mins
Review of the week: Making sense of the numbers
Stock markets shot the lights out in November as news of promising vaccines hit the wires. The realities of distribution have lessened the glow a bit recently, leading investors to start reassessing their approach.
7 mins
Review of the week: Thanksgiving may be a super-spreader; will vaccine news bring holiday cheer?
Thanksgiving may be a super-spreader event this year, as governments around the world try to plan their way through the upcoming festive season. But investors have been given a boost from good vaccine news.
5 mins
Review of the week: The race to roll out a vaccine is on as markets soar
News of a potentially viable vaccine is welcome, yet markets have rocketed back extremely quickly considering it is yet to be approved. With COVID-19 spreading rapidly once again, time is of the essence.
7 mins
Review of the week: Telling stories
When it comes to grabbing headlines and stealing attention, reality is at a disadvantage to imagination. Our chief investment officer, Julian Chillingworth, ponders what it means for politics and investments.
8 mins
Review of the week: Here we go again
England will soon plunge back into lockdown. It shouldn’t be as economically painful as the first time around, says chief investment officer Julian Chillingworth. But it won’t be good.
8 mins
Review of the week: The spooky season
Halloween is stuffed full of potential frights this year and a bit light on the fun. Chief investment officer Julian Chillingworth tiptoes around Brexit, US elections and earnings season.
6 mins
Review of the week: Sliced and diced
We all try to structure our financial affairs as efficiently as possible, so we have more money to do what we want with our lives. Yet sometimes our financial affairs start to affect the structure of our lives and our communities, notes chief investment officer Julian Chillingworth.
8 mins
Review of the week: Predicting the unpredictable
Biden has taken the edge in the polls but previous experience begs the question: do polls really matter? Our chief investment officer, Julian Chillingworth, mulls the possible outcomes of the US election and the effectiveness of the UK government’s spending packages.
6 mins
In process we trust
A strong investment process is what gets you through ragged markets without making hasty, terrible decisions. But have you actually got a process, or is it simply a bunch of preferences?
3 mins
How to handle hammer time…
When markets get hammered, everything trades together explains business development executive Julianne Smith. And this may open up opportunities for savvy investors.
3 mins
Ice cream is for eating
Some companies are confused about the purpose of purpose, argues David Coombs, our head of multi-asset investments. Products and services should be tailored to their customers, not to fuzzy marketing slogans.
4 mins
Can UK equity income shake off its dinosaur image?
Rathbone Income Fund co-manager Carl Stick explains why he believes the UK equity income sector remains a compelling alternative to more highly valued, crowded alternatives.
3 mins
2022: The year ahead. Maybe?
You’d think that two years of pandemic-induced uncertainty would persuade David Coombs to stop trying to predict the future, yet here we are. Our head of multi-assets gives his lucky dice another blow…
1 min
Not a Christmas quiz
The battle between personal freedom and governmental control is extremely important for economic performance, argues David Coombs, our head of multi-asset investments. It affects consumption, inflation, the currency and investment.
4 mins
How green was your Black Friday?
Lots of companies have lofty green goals, but Rathbone Ethical Bond Fund manager Noelle Cazalis thinks many should be more accountable about their success in meeting them.
4 mins
The blue economy
The ocean makes up 70% of our planet’s surface, yet it gets nowhere near the attention it deserves. Our sustainable multi-asset investment specialist, Rahab Paracha, looks at the next frontier of sustainable action.
4 mins
Own the tent not the circus
COP26 has produced a lot of hot air, argues our head of multi-asset investments David Coombs, and that’s half the climate problem facing the world. The other half is empty gestures and a lack of action.
4 mins
Will it be a good COP?
The eyes of the world are watching the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. As the parties begin their deliberations this week in Glasgow, Matt Crossman concludes this two-part series by laying out what needs to happen.
3 mins
Cult classic
Scaredy-cat David Coombs, our head of multi-asset investments, explains why assets with overly reverent devotees give him the creeps.
4 mins
Good COP, bad COP?
The eyes of the world will be watching the COP26 global climate summit next week. Our stewardship director Matt Crossman asks: what will make it a good COP? And how will we know if it’s a bad one?
2 mins