This time three years ago, we wrote a blog wondering if we’d seen an end to Eurozone-inspired summer volatility. This week, we’re wondering if what looks like an economic turning point and some surprise central bank moves will herald volatility’s return. Political uncertainty, contradictory data and central bank surprises might just be enough to break through this QE-assisted calm … More Will volatility return this summer?
Well, we said it could be a pivotal month! I confess that I didn’t have this exact scenario in mind, but it does seem to follow recent global trends of polarised politics and electorates looking for something new. This is still – as they say in 24 hour news circles – a ‘fluid situation’. But, today I … More Where do we go from here?
Could June once again herald a shift in the capital landscape? Once again we have a major UK poll and significant central bank meetings against a backdrop of oil price uncertainty. So this week we look back at June 2016, look forward into June 2017 and explore why deal making shouldn’t, but may stutter later … More (Another) Pivotal June?
This week we highlight seven charts, taking us through the maelstrom of market themes that we take into summer. It is still a hopeful picture, but not as benign as some indices suggest. Liquidity may smooth over a multitude of stresses for some time yet, but some pinch-points are still emerging.
In the search for growth, what’s the most important question on business leaders’ minds? Our survey says: “how can I future proof my business?” It’s a central issue for companies and one that we think is changing the way they are thinking about deals. Companies are still buying for reach and scale; but increasingly they’re looking to buy skills, … More Adding capabilities
How confident are UK companies? Our latest UK Capital Confidence Barometer (CCB) shows UK companies surveying the world, acknowledging the risks and adapting to new circumstances. Confidence in the economy and markets is still there, but companies also expect less growth to come from organic sources as they adapt to new economic patterns. So, this … More Confident?
The gap between hard and soft data is one of the biggest stories in the market right now. What’s giving us the more accurate picture: surveys tracking activity or those polling sentiment? We’re going to explore the debate this week through a series of questions, asking what we mean by hard and soft data, the … More Mind the gap! Hard vs soft data
