International support

A home bias means holding a higher proportion of investments in your domestic financial markets than is justified by that market’s size. And many investors have far higher levels of assets invested in the UK than its global capitalisation in any asset class warrants. James Robertson highlights the reasons why this may be a bad approach.

During the week of 6 September, US job openings rose to a record high, while the country’s producer prices also surprised to the upside, as COVID-19’s Delta variant continues to exert pressure on global supply chains. In contrast, the EU appears to be focused on continuing to support economic growth.

Take Five Week aims to keep you safe from cyber fraud and scams. Remain vigilant and remember to stop, challenge, protect!

In the latest edition of our client magazine, Opportunity, we review the role of philanthropy post pandemic, take a look at the bitcoin phenomenon and more.

August was a relatively quiet month for market participants, although concerns regarding the Delta variant and further regulatory changes in China occasionally disrupted the calm. However, US employment data left a positive impact, as Tom Caddick's update discusses.

During the week of 30 August, global economic activity remained sluggish. The refrain from market commentators continues to be the Delta variant, which affected US payroll figures, that surprised on the downside, and inflation that hit a 10-year high in the Eurozone.

In the week of 16 August, financial markets ended the week marginally lower on the back of disappointing US economic data and concerns that the continued increasing COVID-19 case numbers could impact future growth prospects globally.

We provide another operational update relating to COVID-19, with news from all of our international offices.

In the week of 9 August, the US reported continued strong growth to the extent that its central bank started to talk about tapering its quantitative easing programme, just as the European Union finally rolled out its emergency pandemic support package.

Brian Middlemiss, treasury executive, discusses interest rates, what might bring about a change and what impact this may have.

Investors enjoyed a good start to the second half of the year, with most markets generating positive performance in July, despite economic concerns over the spreading COVID-19 Delta variant, and the regulatory crackdown in China, which Tom Caddick’s update discusses.