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This month’s news round-up looks at a positive few weeks for UK real estate, with strong activity across the office, retail and logistics sectors, while continued rental rises offer more encouragement for investors.
Steady, if not speedy, disinflation has allowed monetary easing to begin in Europe, and, latterly, in the US, as well as in many large emerging markets. As a base case, we expect this process to continue. But upside surprises for inflation and rates are a distinct possibility. Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine perpetually threaten to disrupt energy and food supplies; China has opened the floodgates to more policy stimulus; and the US election may well carry Donald Trump back into office on the promise of more tax cuts and trade protectionism. Meanwhile, markets are pricing in a goldilocks ‘soft landing’ scenario for the global economy, reflected in razor-thin credit spreads and toppy equity multiples on cycle-high earnings. Downside risks for traditional asset prices are elevated, with gold and alternatives obvious redoubts for investors. But the rosy market consensus may yet prove right.
This month, we discuss the ramifications of the long-awaited first US interest rate cut, as well as stimulus in China.
This month, we discuss the global equity sell-off and the subsequent recovery, the unwinding of Yen carry trades, the outlook for US interest rates, and our duration posture.
In this article, we explore some historical examples of the types of companies that have benefited from new disruptive technologies – notably Coca-Cola’s transformation as a result of refrigeration – and draw some conclusions about the potential impact of AI, highlighting some of the companies set to be potential winners.
In July’s news round-up, we’re focusing on the positive activity in the central London office market as a surge in demand for leasings and strong interest from investors help give the sector a boost.
The frequency of severe natural catastrophes appears to be picking up and yields on catastrophe bonds are near all-time highs. In this article, Ben Hancock from Bedrock’s Research team explores some of the dynamics driving catastrophe bond markets, sharing key insights from a Q&A session with Etienne Schwarz, Head of Investment Management and Insurance-Linked Securities at Twelve Capital.
