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?”

Irish Funds: Where Are The Risks?

Last week the Central Bank of Ireland published a report on the key risks and trends shaping the financial sector. The Regulatory & Supervisory Outlook (RSO) report gives the Bank’s view on these risks and what they see as the key priorities to address them in the next two years.  From this we get aContinue reading “Irish Funds: Where Are The Risks?”

What do Fund Investors really want?

Those well known investment experts, Simon and Garfunkel, way back in 1970 stressed the importance of keeping the customer satisfied.  It’s a point that shouldn’t be lost on investment managers. I imagine most managers think they have a clear sense of what their customers want from them. Fact-finds, for example, may  give them a good senseContinue reading “What do Fund Investors really want?”

Red Flags. Are Markets Risky Now?

Maybe it’s time for investors to be careful. The latest batch of annual outlook pieces from investment managers in the main stick to the tried and tested views of being cautiously optimistic, based on lower interest rates and still positive growth in economies. I agree we are likely to see somewhat lower interest rates and reasonable growthContinue reading “Red Flags. Are Markets Risky Now?”

China: More Risk than Return?

It used to be Top of Mind for investors.  China was an economic power house driving global markets and commodities. Posting annual growth rates of 10% and more in the early 2000’s, the health of the Chinese economy was a critical box to tick in building a positive case for financial investors. Not any more.Continue reading “China: More Risk than Return?”

Should Investors just forget about Emerging Markets?

It is one of the key tenets in investment. If you take on more risk, you expect more reward. It underlies why we invest in start-up businesses, new technologies, illiquid assets and much, much more. And it explains why individuals and institutions have ploughed vast sums into Emerging Markets.Emerging Markets, now taken as a givenContinue reading “Should Investors just forget about Emerging Markets?”