News & Views

FGlobal markets came under significant pressure in March as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East triggered a sharp surge in energy prices, reigniting inflation concerns across major economies. Central banks in the UK, US and eurozone responded by holding interest rates steady, balancing persistent inflation against growing economic uncertainty. Investor sentiment deteriorated, driving a broad risk-off move in equities, while capital flowed into safer assets such as money

February 2026 saw global markets advance steadily, supported by easing inflation trends and a broadly unchanged monetary policy backdrop across major economies. Central banks in the UK, US, and Eurozone opted to hold interest rates, reflecting a cautious but stabilising environment. Beneath this surface stability, however, performance diverged sharply across regions and sectors, with commodity-linked and technology-driven markets leading gains while others lagged.

Markets ended the year on a steady footing as central banks cautiously shifted toward supporting growth amid easing inflation. The UK and US delivered further rate cuts, while the ECB held policy steady as eurozone inflation aligned with target. Market performance was mixed, with strength in banking, fintech and Asian technology offset by weakness in parts of emerging markets. Multi-asset portfolios benefited from diversification, helping to cushion volatility and position in

Global markets advanced in September 2025 as the Fed cut rates for the first time this year, while the BoE and ECB held steady. Strong performances in commodities and China-focused sectors powered broad equity gains, with the Netherlands and Peru leading the way. Despite persistent inflation, improving sentiment and policy support lifted the Balanced portfolio Index by 1.58%, signalling renewed investor confidence.