Uncertainty and the correlation conundrum

A familiar pattern returned this week: headlines moved first, markets reacted fast, and certainty did not last long. 

The price of oil recently reached four-year highs. Will this be a short-lived shock or a long-term issue?

While energy prices and government bond yields rose this week, the impact on equities was different across regions, and credit stress was contained. The situation so far is one of uncertainty rather than a downturn.

The “Magnificent Seven” begin to split as two tech giants break away from the pack.

Correlation is one of the most widely used statistical measures in modern finance. But investors looking for genuine portfolio diversification may wish to use it alongside other metrics as they look to mitigate risk.

Vital industries for UK growth like steel or cement are also energy intensive, and their decarbonisation is essential. We convened a roundtable of experts to discuss barriers and solutions to unlocking low-carbon investment opportunities.

The current macro environment poses significant challenges for investors. Our AIMS Target Return team explain why a less conventional approach can help maintain portfolio resilience and unlock return opportunities.

Welcome back to Bitesize, our monthly data-viz series, where we unpack market developments in a single chart (or two), giving you sharp insights in under five minutes. This month, we explore what history can tell us about the likely market impact of the US-China tariff dispute.

Markets continued to digest the endless news flow on global tariffs, while Nvidia provided further indications of the resilience of company earnings in the first quarter of the year.

US fiscal concerns took centre stage this week, as investors reassessed the long-term sustainability of government debt.  

Welcome back to Bitesize, a monthly data-viz series in which we unpack market developments in a single chart (or two), giving you sharp insights in under five minutes. This month, we explore the recent gold rush, and the surprising implications of taking money out of the equity market during dips.

This week, equity markets have been riding a wave of optimism on the back of positive news flow, with the US stock market, as measured by the S&P 500, remarkably erasing its losses for the year.