News & Views

This week, equity markets moved lower overall, with technology stocks seeing the sharpest falls. UK inflation rose to 3.50%, while oil prices remained elevated and attention turned to a busy week ahead, with the UK Budget and interest-rate decisions from both the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank.

Explore September 2026 market performance as AI boosts technology stocks, inflation drives interest rate rises, and developed and emerging markets diverge.

Technology shares led gains while UK equities fell, as rising mortgage costs added to pressure on households. This week’s review also looks at higher Eurozone inflation, the ECB’s response to energy pressures and the FCA’s decision to step back from mandatory climate disclosures.

Rising energy costs kept inflation and interest rates firmly in focus, as the ECB announced a rate increase and US wholesale inflation accelerated. This week’s review also explores the financial fallout from UK flight disruption, escalating US–Canada trade tensions and new sustainability guidance for advisers. Looking ahead, decisions from the Federal Reserve and Bank of England take centre stage alongside key economic data.

This week’s ESG in 5 explores how governments, companies and financial institutions are supporting the transition to a lower-carbon economy. Developments include Greece’s €4.77 billion Social Climate Plan, legalised plug-in solar panels across Great Britain, Philips’ first European Green Bond and a new green shipping partnership between Singapore and Brazil.

US equity markets rebounded over the week, led by technology stocks, while UK shares finished slightly lower. Investors remained focused on renewed energy-driven inflation pressures, rising government bond yields and the prospect of further interest-rate increases. This week’s review also examines record ocean temperatures, Nepal’s flood-recovery challenge and the key economic releases ahead.

Markets delivered a mixed week, with technology shares edging higher while UK and US blue-chip stocks lost ground. Investors balanced softer US inflation against renewed oil-price pressure, extreme weather risks and increasingly difficult choices for central banks. This week’s review also examines Lloyds’ £100 billion sustainable finance target and the geopolitical tensions reshaping global alliances.

July saw market leadership broaden beyond technology, with UK equities, commodity-linked markets and selected emerging markets delivering strong returns. However, renewed energy-driven inflation pressures kept central banks cautious, while a sharp correction in semiconductor and AI-related stocks weighed on technology-focused markets. Against this mixed backdrop, the Balanced portfolio benchmark returned -0.45% during the month.

UK equities led a broadly positive week for markets, although technology stocks remained under pressure. Extreme heat and wildfires dominated headlines across Europe, while volatile oil prices kept inflation risks in focus. Attention now turns to key interest-rate decisions from the Federal Reserve and Bank of England, alongside fresh eurozone growth and inflation data.

This week’s review covers mixed equity markets, UK political uncertainty, steady inflation, softer commodity prices and ongoing US-Iran negotiations, alongside ESG developments focused on low-carbon fuels and cleaner energy investment.