Economic Commentary

The much-anticipated 1 August tariff deadline coinciding with corporate earnings season has proved to be an interesting barometer for market health. Barring some specific sectors that have found themselves exposed to tariffs and other factors, those that have reported earnings have generally performed well amidst the year’s turbulence.

Tariffs are an unavoidable factor of global commerce currently and this is unlikely to change for the rest of Donald Trump’s time in office…

Despite the first half of 2025 being marked by significant market falls, the US launching strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran and tariffs at a 100-year high, markets appear to be performing well. With the first half of 2025 behind us, now is a good time to take stock of the current environment and consider how to navigate what’s ahead.

An ongoing problem in the financial services industry is how much capital people hold in cash. According to the FCA’s Cash Savings Market Review, in 2023, UK consumers held £1.5trn in savings accounts. With recent market volatility and higher interest rates, it is unsurprising that some people may assume that their money is better held in cash…

Earlier this year, the FCA announced its intention to undertake a multi-firm review of MPS . While waiting for the regulator to reveal their findings may not be keeping you awake at night, it will be an important test of how firms have adapted their services to deliver good client outcomes post-Consumer Duty…

It was a surprise to many that President Donald Trump authorised Operation Midnight Hammer just six months into his term, particularly given that he was elected on an anti-war ticket.
Although there were some fluctuations in oil prices, they remained largely stable in comparison with prices earlier in the year. Markets also held steady, even following the US involvement…

It is hard to get through a week these days without hearing something new regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI). Whether it be regulation or innovation, praise or criticism, most people have had their say by now.

As an investor, it may have initially been hard to look beyond the providers at the centre of AI development. For a while, the group dubbed the ‘Magnificent Seven’, consisting of Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Nvidia and Tesla, appeared the place for unmitigated growth…