Comprising around 25 per cent of world GDP, the US has a significant influence on the business and financial cycles of other economies - in other words, when America sneezes, the world catches a cold. With ever increasing concerns that the US would fall into a recession, we assess those claims and offer ways investors might navigate periods of economic uncertainty.
For fifteen years UK interest rates have been set at historic lows. As a result, cash deposits have earned very little interest, while markets have generally advanced. But higher inflation has ushered in a new regime of rapidly rising interest rates, making cash returns more appealing. We consider whether now is a good time to be holding more money in savings.
Yesterday’s Spring Budget included pension measures that went further than recent rumours suggested, with Jeremy Hunt announcing the abolition of the pensions Lifetime Allowance (the limit on total pension benefits above which there is an additional tax charge) alongside increases to the various forms of the Annual Allowance (the maximum that can be paid into a pension before additional tax charges apply). Here we summarise some of the key announcements.
High inflation and rising interest rates are causing a global set of worries for households, businesses, and central banks. Add to the mix crumbling public services, geopolitical conflicts, and an economic slowdown on the horizon, it can be tempting to think that things are bad and only getting worse. This insight piece challenges that view, asking: are there reasons to be cheerful?
Jeremy Hunt used the Autumn Statement in an attempt to calm markets and reset public finances with a series of tax rises achieved through cuts and freezes to allowances. Here we have provided a summary of the key points in the Autumn Statement.
2022 has been the worst year for government bonds in decades. September alone posted declines of 8% in the broad UK gilt market. Equities have suffered too, as central banks attempt to supress inflation at any cost. The result has been a simultaneous drop in stock, bonds, and most other asset classes, sending correlations positive. Our insight piece this quarter dives into why correlations – or simply, the relationship between assets – matter.
"Other companies told me that I would be living off the money I had for the rest of my life and therefore needed to ensure it lasted. I wanted a company who would do that job, but who were also caring, thoughtful and would listen."
By their very nature, economic cycles include both periods of growth and periods of decline. “What goes up must come down”, as they say. Over the last few months, speculation of an imminent recession has risen as economic growth shows signs of weakening globally. Our insight piece this quarter considers the impact of recessions on portfolio returns using 70-years of data. And while warnings of a downturn can be unsettling, it explores why attempting to time the market can be risky.
2022 is proving to be a turbulent year for financial markets. In this audio update Andre Pimenta is joined by Chris Barrie, responsible for investment research, and James Brown, head of investment management at Edison. Together they discuss the current monetary and macroeconomic backdrop, implications for investors and explore how this has influenced recent investment decisions at Edison.
When it comes to investing, we often hear that volatility is normal. Markets are both reactive and (striving to be) predictive, so it makes sense that when the news turns sour, stock tickers turn red. In this insight piece, we consider the valuable lessons we can take from 36 years’ worth of market data on downturns. In short, dips rarely mean disaster.
The value of investments and the income arising from them can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed, which means that you may not get back what you invested. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to the future. The information contained in this website does not constitute advice. The FCA does not regulate tax advice. The FCA does not regulate advice on Wills and Powers of Attorney. The Financial Ombudsman Service is available to sort out individual complaints that clients and financial services businesses aren’t able to resolve themselves. To contact the Financial Ombudsman Service please visit www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.