Geopolitical tensions and threats of trade tariffs continued to impact global investment markets at the start of 2026. Find out what factors may have affected your investments at the start of 2026.

Markets reached record highs in October 2025 despite ongoing uncertainty and disappointing economic data in some regions. Find out what may have affected the performance of your investments.

The US struck trade deals with several countries in July 2025, leading to markets rising and putting an end to some of the uncertainty that had plagued investors for months. Read on to find out what else may have affected your investments recently. While it might seem like 2025 has been a poor year for investors, due to geopolitical tensions and trade wars, the figures paint a different picture. In the first half of 2025, the FTSE 100 , an index of the 100 largest companies l

Concerns around potential trade wars following President Trump’s inauguration weighed on investment markets in January 2025, but there was positive news too. Read on to discover some of the factors that may have affected the performance of your investments. Keep in mind that short-term market movements are part of investing and taking a long-term view is an important investment strategy for many people. UK Headline figures were positive for the UK. UK inflation fell to 2.5% i

While inflation is stabilising in many major economies, markets continue to experience some volatility, which may have affected your investment portfolio. According to the latest International Monetary Fund’s Global Financial Stability Report , markets could be underestimating the risks of conflicts and upcoming elections. Indeed, the rising price of gold suggests some investors are seeking a safe haven amid news of interest rate cuts, the upcoming US election, and escalating

In July, the markets were affected by general elections taking place in the UK and France, and the ongoing presidential campaign in the US. Read on to find out what else affected investment markets in July 2024. Uncertainty and numerous other factors may affect the value of your investment portfolio. However, for most investors, long-term trends are a better indicator of their strategy’s performance than short-term movements. Returns cannot be guaranteed, but, historically, m

Interest rates and inflation continued to affect markets around the world in April 2024. Read on to find out what else may have affected investment markets and your portfolio in April. Expectations of interest rate cuts were good news for gold. Investors who feared falling interest rates would lead to lower returns on cash and government bonds purchased more gold. It led to the asset hitting a record high on 8 April  at $2,535 (£3,171) an ounce. Yet, while many experts are pr

While a new year started, many of the key factors affecting economies and markets in January were the same as those in 2023, namely high levels of inflation and recession fears. The World Bank warned the global economy is set to slow for a third successive year in 2024 and is on course for the weakest half-decade of growth since the early 1990s. It added there was a risk that the 2020s would be a “wasted” decade following a series of setbacks, including the pandemic. Tensions

As inflation remains stubborn, and interest rates may have to remain higher for longer, recessionary concerns have grown around the world. Read on to discover some of the factors that may have affected your investment portfolio in October 2023. When reviewing short-term market movements, remember to focus on your long-term investment goals. UK After a slump in July, official data shows the UK economy grew by 0.2% in August with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reporti

Data from economies around the world indicate business output and confidence could be slowing. Read on to find out what influenced the investment market in July 2023. Despite some data suggesting there could be a downturn in some areas, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lifted its global growth forecast for 2023. The organisation now expects the global economy to grow by 3%, up from its previous prediction of 2.8%. Globally, both households and businesses could face p

High inflation continues to affect economies around the world. However, there are positive signs of recovery, and some surveys indicate that people are starting to feel more confident about the future. While many things can affect short-term market movements, remember you should invest with a long-term goal in mind. If you have any questions about your portfolio or investment performance, please contact us. UK The UK economy flatlined in February, official data from the Offic

Investors should expect further volatility in the markets in 2023, experts suggest. Economies around the world are facing recession due to factors including high inflation and rising interest rates. The International Monetary Fund’s Kristalina Georgieva predicts that a third of the global economy will be in recession this year. The World Bank also has a similar outlook, as it cut its global growth forecast from 3% to 1.7% after risks identified six months ago materialised. Th

Much of 2022 has been marked by investment volatility and economic uncertainty, and October was no different. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), there is a rising risk of a global recession. The organisation downgraded its global growth forecast for 2023 to 2.7%. It said financial instability was linked to shocks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and climate disasters. While uncertainty can be worrying as an investor, remember to focus on y