What’s top of mind for investment managers today? There’s clearly a lot to consider. On the positive side, economies are holding up (for now). Company profits seem resilient, interest rates may have further to fall, markets have been making all time highs. But on the other hand, there is unprecedented uncertainty around issues like tradeContinue reading “Just what are Investment Managers thinking?”
Tag Archives: Markets and Politics
Markets: Uncertainty, Volatility and Risk – What’s the Story?
A constant theme for investors in 2025 has been the disconnect between what’s been happening in the real world of politics and policy, and how financial markets have responded. The chaos of constant policy shifts has to date been weathered by financial markets, with stock indices not far off all-time highs. This can only beContinue reading “Markets: Uncertainty, Volatility and Risk – What’s the Story?”
Investment Managers in this Crisis: What are they saying; how are they doing?
How are investment managers faring in this current market crisis and what are they saying to their customers? Scrolling through the comments and advice that investment managers and financial advisors are giving currently reveals a broadly consistent message. I’ve looked through the comments and advice from firms based here or selling into the Irish market.Continue reading “Investment Managers in this Crisis: What are they saying; how are they doing?”
Bonds: Boring or Ballistic? Time to think again?
For many investors, bonds are a substantial part of their allocation. They are seen as a stable asset class, offering some balance with other assets and reduced volatility – generally not meant to be the “exciting” part of the portfolio. Most Balanced Managed funds here in Ireland have an allocation to fixed income. I lookedContinue reading “Bonds: Boring or Ballistic? Time to think again?”
For investors, does China matter anymore?
The South China Morning Post is worried about a recession in China. Fortune magazine speaks of a dead-end for the Chinese economy. And Bloomberg talks of China’s economic miracle fading. Chinese consumers lack confidence and the property sector’s problems seem to be intractable. It seems a far cry from the years when China was growingContinue reading “For investors, does China matter anymore?”
Why is the US economy in better shape than Europe?
Today the European Central Bank described Europe as being fragile and vulnerable. In contrast, the US Central bank spoke of broad based strength across all categories. What are the facts? Compared to the US, Europe has higher inflation, higher unemployment, weaker stock-markets and significantly lower economic growth. And the gaps aren’t marginal – unemployment in Europe isContinue reading “Why is the US economy in better shape than Europe?”
Globalisation – is it over? Does it matter?
Talk of the end of Globalisation seems everywhere. Tanaiste Michael Martin and Ursula Von der Leyen, European Commission President, have both spoken recently about “de-risking” our trade flows. More extreme views believe that current global trade trends point to the end of Globalisation. The Peterson Institute sees Globalisation in retreat, and in its place theyContinue reading “Globalisation – is it over? Does it matter?”
Irish Fund Managers 2022 – What Worked; What Didn’t
It was a shocker! Red numbers across all significant stock markets, global bonds and most investment styles, made for very negative outcomes for most Irish investment funds in 2022.Fear of inflation followed by fear of recession, coinciding with huge geo-political risk (Russia/China) and Central Bank catch-up, made it a year of living dangerously for manyContinue reading “Irish Fund Managers 2022 – What Worked; What Didn’t”
Pension Funds and the Big Question
Three Facts This year, 830 million people will go hungry. We waste 40% of food globally. Pension Funds can help. After steadily declining for a decade, world hunger is on the rise, affecting nearly 10% of people globally. Of the 830 million going hungry, 50 million are facing absolute famine. This set-back is driven largelyContinue reading “Pension Funds and the Big Question”
The Global Food Crisis and Pension Funds
We are in a global food crisis. While food prices have eased somewhat from the highs of March April, they are still 43% higher than 2020 levels (as measured by the FAO index). Though the rise is widespread, grains have been to the fore in pushing higher. In lower income countries, where food makes upContinue reading “The Global Food Crisis and Pension Funds”
Irish Pension Funds and the War in Ukraine
As a world event, the Ukraine War is seismic, and has edged out most topics from the financial news cycle since February. The human horror and loss is evident and growing daily. It is also having a wide impact on global politics and finance. Given its role in financial markets, it is worth seeing what hasContinue reading “Irish Pension Funds and the War in Ukraine”
Currencies – the Next Stop for Volatility?
Volatility is on the up in asset classes like stocks and bonds, as governments and central banks around the globe look for an exit strategy from highly supportive pandemic policies. US bond volatility (as measured by the options market index) has practically doubled in the past 4 months and stock markets have been displaying heightened volatilityContinue reading “Currencies – the Next Stop for Volatility?”
Emerging Markets – is it over?
Emerging Markets have long played a role In investment portfolios whether pension funds or retail investors. Investing in sometimes more “exotic” markets has been seen to be a way of tapping into higher returns while diversifying away risk. Investors could have exposure to Coca-Cola bottlers in Argentina, software companies in India through to supermarkets inContinue reading “Emerging Markets – is it over?”
How are Asset Managers managing?
We see regular coverage of how different industries and sectors are doing during this pandemic economy. It’s obvious, for example, why airlines would be among the hardest hit as flights fall away, or why e-commerce names, such as Amazon, would benefit from the tailwind of changing consumer behaviour.Investment managers in fact seek to profit fromContinue reading “How are Asset Managers managing?”
Beyond GDP. Using other measures to fine tune our exit from economic lock-down.
At this point in the pandemic, what becomes very important is measuring the extent of economic revival as economies across the globe look to reopen and map any impact on the spread of the virus. Being able to measure economies is tough at the best of times but given the size of the shockContinue reading “Beyond GDP. Using other measures to fine tune our exit from economic lock-down.”
It’s the Politics, Stupid!
Except it’s not – really. James Carville, Bill Clinton’s campaign strategist was right, way back in 1992, when he advised that it was the economy that would drive the political outcome, and not the other way around. But for investors it’s very easy to get distracted by politics, but maybe it’s not that helpful. WeContinue reading “It’s the Politics, Stupid!”
Tradewinds 