Investment Market Updates

Our Investment Committee meets monthly and we speak regularly to top industry fund managers for greater insight into market conditions. Here you will find some of what we discussed to give you insights between our quarterly newsletters. 

If you would like to discuss any of them (or any other aspect of your financial planning) in detail, please contact us or give us a call on 01905 731 864 and ask to speak to one of our Independent Financial Advisers.

April 2023 - We reflect on a volatile first quarter of 2023
 

Piers Mepsted, Managing Director & Adam Smith, Operations Director discuss their thoughts on Quarter 1 2023 and what has happened within the investment and financial markets already this year. 

March 2023 - Spring Budget

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has delivered his spring budget, in which he set out plans that aim to boost UK economic growth while being mindful of the need not to spook financial markets.

March 2023  - Silicon Valley Bank

SVB is a US-based bank that specialises in providing financial services to technology and life science companies. US regulators shut down SVB and took control of its customer deposits. This was the largest failure of a US bank since 2008, and came after the bank failed to raise new capital to strengthen its balance sheet.

February Webinar - What's ahead for 2023

We speak to Lucy Mitchell, Investment Director, Evelyn & Partners and Tom Leck, Client Portfolio Manager, aberdn discuss themes arising for 2023 and what to look out for as key indicators of market activity for the year ahead.

January Markets Update  - click to watch our top 3 themes to watch.

 Read more here

October 2022 - Markets in a Minute

In this month's market update, we have looked not only at the events impacting markets over the last month, but at another measure for the year 2022 so far. This measure is 'Big Market Days' or BMDs - a count of how many days the market moved – up or down – by more than 1%.  Read more

September/October 2022 - Ask the Market Experts Webinar recording:

Our webinar entitled “Are global markets still in turmoil? was held 4 October 2022.  In case you missed it, you can now access the playback via the link below. During the session, Blackfinch Group's, Investment Director, Alex Sumner and MAIA Asset Management's, Chief Investment Officer, Laurence Boyle discussed..Read more

August 2022 - Markets in a Minute:

In August, the focus for markets once more was that of inflation and central bank policy tightening. Bond markets in particular found it difficult to navigate the month, posting losses among increased levels of volatility. Equity markets showed mixed results, with marginal losses in the UK and Europe offset by positive returns in Japan... Read more

 

June 2022 - Ask the Market Experts Webinar recording:

Our webinar entitled “What global events are impacting your investments? was held today. In case you missed it, you can now access the playback via the link below. During the session, Blackfinch Group's, Investment Director, Alex Sumner and MAIA Asset Management's, Chief Investment Officer, Laurence Boyle discussed... Read more

 

May 2022 - Markets in a Minute:

Investments have unfortunately continued to be negatively impacted due to a number of factors. UK inflation touched a 40-year high of 9%, up from 7% in March, although it was slightly lower than estimates of 9.1%. Gas and electricity were the main catalysts behind inflation, accounting for 75% of the rise... Read more

 

Ask the experts: What global events are impacting your investments?:

Many investment clients have seen their portfolio values go down over the last few months due to a number of circumstances. This has raised a number of questions from clients and concerns about the current market situation. For these reasons we have asked two top fund managers to host a webinar to discuss... Read more

 

April 2022 - Markets in a Minute:

In a continuation of the forces that have driven markets throughout the year, inflation and central bank policy remained the dominant factors in April. While there were no meetings from the Bank of England or the US Federal Reserve (Fed), and therefore no rate increases, early May will see botks make new policy... Read more

 

9 March 2022 - Ukraine invasion and the impact on investments:

As the tragic situation continues to unfold in Ukraine, we hope for peace and a safe resolution. Our investment partners are continuously monitoring the situation so please be assured that they will revise portfolio allocations if the situation in Ukraine escalates from here... Read more

 

28 February 2022 - Ukraine invasion and the impact on investments:

We wanted to reach out to you to reassure about your investments and explain market responses to the current situation in Ukraine. History suggests it is rarely a good idea to drastically change investment strategy on the back of geopolitical tension, and we do not see this time as being any different... Read more

 

November 2021 - Markets in a Minute: 

Developed market equities drove positive performance in October, with the exception of Japan, which gave back some of the gains made in September. After a strong rally throughout the month, Chinese equities fell back in the final days to leave them marginally positive... Read more

 

October 2021 - Markets in a Minute: 

Developed market equities drove positive performance in October, with the exception of Japan, which gave back some of the gains made in September. After a strong rally throughout the month, Chinese equities fell back in the final days to leave them marginally positive... Read more

 

August 2021 - Markets in a Minute: 

China and the wider emerging market region continued to experience heightened volatility as concerns over state-imposed regulation of various sectors rumbled on. During the summer months, trading activity and volumes decrease, and August was no exception... Read more

 

May 2021 - Markets in a Minute: 

Equity markets have continued their “wait and see” mode and economic data has been closely scrutinised as the inflation debate rages on. According to the published results of a Bank of America global survey of fund managers, for the first time since February 2020 Covid-19 is no longer the biggest threat to the world economy... Read more

 

April 2021 - Markets in a Minute: 

Global equities generally had a positive month despite the spread of COVID-19 remaining firmly in focus. Vaccination rollouts continued across the world, but rising cases in many regions, particularly India and Japan, raised fears of a new wave... Read more

 

February 2021 - Markets in a Minute: 

February was a tale of two halves for global bond and equity markets. What started out as a relatively positive month quickly reversed into a period of turbulent trading. Almost exactly one year to the day since the initial pandemic sell-off, inflation concerns caused bond yields to rise, causing a negative impact... Read more

 

January 2021 - Markets in a Minute: 

After an eventful 2020, developed equity markets took somewhat of a breather at the start of 2021. While we all waited patiently to see just how effective the global vaccine rollout can be, returns were depressed. Emerging Markets, in particular China, on the other hand, produced strong returns in the month... Read more

 

October 2020 - Markets in a Minute

This month saw markets continue to be influenced by the resurgence of Covid-19 cases across the globe. But a double shot for markets came in the form of the US elections and promise of a vaccine... Read more... 

 

August 2020 - Markets in a Minute:

Read Markets in a Minute and Watch the introduction to hear about another unusual month and some personal updates and news from two advisers.  We have an exciting new addition to our Financial Advice Centre team and one of our Adviser's is up to all sorts for charity, Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust. 

 

July 2020 - Markets in a Minute:

Read Markets in a Minute and Watch the introduction from Piers to hear about how markets have grappled with the risks of a resurgence of COVID-19 cases, the optimism of a potential vaccine or cure and the continued support from governments and central banks. Read more....

 

May 2020 - Markets in a Minute: 

We thought this month would be a helpful time to reflect not only on the previous month’s market activity but to demonstrate the performance of invested funds over this period.

 

April 2020 - Markets in a Minute: 

These are indeed unprecedented times and we have seen this reflected in market activity in the last month where global shares had their best month in nearly a decade.

 

31 March 2020 - Coronavirus Update:

Markets, Client FAQs and a Fraud Warning

 

18 March 2020 - Coronavirus Update: 

Investments, Mortgages & 10% drop notifications in a volatile market

 

10 March 2020 - Coronavirus Update:

Oil price plunge adds to stock market pressures

 

2 March 2020 - Coronavirus Update:

How the virus is impacting your investments

 

25 February 2020 - Coronavirus Update:

How is it affecting Markets?

 

December 2019 - Post Election Update:

Conservatives triumph in the general election, but what does it mean for investors? 

 

October 2019 - Markets in a Minute:  

UK investors will likely have endured losses from their investment portfolios in October however, these losses mask what is an improving story for the global economy.

 

September 2019 - Markets in a Minute

Markets delivered a positive return in July, maintaining the upward trend enjoyed so far this year.

 

August 2019 - Markets in a Minute

Markets delivered a positive return in July, maintaining the upward trend enjoyed so far this year. At the very end of the month, however, and into the early days of August, souring US-China trade rhetoric weighed heavily on market sentiment. 

 

June 2019 - Markets in a Minute

Global stock markets recovered smartly in June as US-China trade tensions eased and central bank policy moved further into expansive territory.

 

May 2019 - Markets in a Minute

Markets have endured their first negative month in 2019 after a blistering start to the year. Read more

 

April 2019 - Markets in a Minute

Stock markets have enjoyed another positive month in April, building on the positive momentum from the first quarter... Read more

 

February 2019 - Markets in a Minute

The equity market recovery continued in February, though gains were more subdued relative to the sharp relief rally enjoyed in January. The dominant drivers of equity market performance remain the policy actions... Read more

 

January 2019 - Markets in a Minute

Welcome to your first Markets in a Minute for 2019. Following the alarming stock market falls of ‘Shoctober’ and ‘Deathember’, global equities enjoyed a significant recovery in the first month of the year... Read more 

 

November 2018 - Markets in a Minute: 

We hope this will give you insight into the factors affecting your investment portfolio value and the current volatility across global markets... Read more 

 

October 2018 - Markets in a Minute: 

Welcome to your first Markets in a Minute monthly bulletin, looking back at what mattered to the markets in October. At Financial Advice Centre our Investment Committee... Read more 

 

2018 - Autumn Budget

After Mondays budget we have come together as a company to look at the potential impact of the chancellors Autumn Budget, to summarise the changes in relation to personal finances... Read more

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