Investment Review Quarter 1 2018
Market Review The first two weeks of 2018 saw a continuation of steady growth within investment markets. Although many of these markets were trading near to or at all-time highs, economic data still appeared relatively supportive of further growth. However, history has taught us to be…
The Investment Committee
6th April, 2018
When we launched our range of five model portfolios on 1st March 2008, we didn’t quite know it yet, but one of the deepest financial crises in modern history was ensuing. At the market open, the FTSE 100 index priced at 5,884 but markets were firmly in panic…
Ashley Brooks
9th March, 2018
Investment Review Quarter 4 2017
Market Review of Quarter Four A strong start, a flat middle and a buoyant finish – the three distinct phases that characterised investment markets in 2017. The main stock markets started the year on the front foot, led by Europe and Emerging Markets. The…
Ashley Brooks
12th January, 2018
Investment Review Quarter 3 2017
Market Review of Quarter Three The summer of 2017 may be remembered as a turning point in this economic cycle. After a decade of pumping money into developed economies, Central Banks look to have put that policy in their rear-view mirror, signalling that interest rate hikes…
Ashley Brooks
13th October, 2017
Investment Review Quarter One 2016
Market Review of Quarter One: Regular readers of this publication will recall that our outlook for 2016 involved low growth, low interest rates, lots of headwinds, and regular bouts of volatility in investment markets. At the end of the first quarter, we can look back and see that…
Ashley Brooks
15th April, 2016
IC Quick Response: “Just Turbulence, Not a Crash”
In a response to current market conditions, this note is written with the purpose of reassuring and reaffirming the positioning of your investments. You will no doubt be reading that markets have started the year in a negative fashion, but please rest assured that we have been managing…
Ashley Brooks
21st January, 2016
Question the Committee, Edition 1, December 2015…
Committee’s Note A note from the Investment Committee (“IC”) Chairman Firstly, I’d like to thank you all for your questions and engagement with Question the Committee 2015. The success of this pilot has made it clear that further such initiatives will be well received and we have consequently…
Alex Chappell
14th January, 2016
Investment Review Quarter 4 2015
Market Review of Quarter 4 The final three months of the year saw improved returns within most investment markets, although in summary 2015 was a disappointing year across bond and equity markets generally. In many ways, the year can be characterised as a false start. Fantastic pre-April growth…
Ashley Brooks
12th January, 2016
Investment Review Quarter 3 2015
Market Review of Quarter 3 2015 A torrid August ensured the summer holidays were not as relaxing as most investors had wished. Many of the business pages focussed on China, as markets worried about the effects of the slowing of a $10 trillion economy. In a…
Ashley Brooks
8th October, 2015