News

Market Review – July 2024

UK An impending trilemma? Politics continued to garner headlines during June during the run-up to the General Election. Ahead of the election, however, the Institute for Fiscal Studies criticised the principal political parties for “ducking” key issues over tax and spending and warned that the winning party will face an immediate “trilemma” of raising taxes, cutting... Read More »

Market Review – June 2024

UK General Election on 4 July: the UK was placed on an election footing during May as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a snap General Election. UK voters will head to the polls on 4 July. Although the announcement was unexpected, reaction from financial markets was comparatively muted. At present, polls indicate a clear win for... Read More »

Market Review – May 2024

UK UK equity markets buck the global trend: although many developed markets fell over the month following disappointing US inflation data, the FTSE 100 Index reached a new all-time high, driven up by sterling’s weakness against the US dollar, signs of a shift away from the technology sector, and encouraging corporate earnings data. A flurry of... Read More »

Market Review – April 2024

UK UK economy rebounds: having slipped into recession in the final three months of 2023, the UK economy posted month-on-month growth of 0.2% in January, raising hopes that the economy may be picking up. Activity was boosted by growth of 0.2% in the services sector. The FTSE 100 Index rose by 4.2% over March and by... Read More »

Market Review – March 2024

UK A “weak” recession: the UK economy slipped into recession during the final quarter of 2023: having contracted by 0.1% in the third quarter, it shrank by 0.3% during the final three months of the year, dampened in part by weakness in manufacturing and in consumer-facing services. Over 2023 as a whole, the UK economy grew... Read More »

Market Review – February 2024

UK UK equities fall in January: share prices fell during January as an unexpected uptick in the rate of UK consumer price inflation dampened optimism over the likelihood of interest rate cuts. The FTSE 100 Index fell by 1.3% over the month, while the FTSE 250 Index declined by 1.7%. Inflationary pressures bite once again: having fallen... Read More »