The textbook view of markets comprising either defensive or cyclical stocks has been turned upside down due to current valuations, in the view of Rob Morgan, pension and investments analyst at Charles Stanley Direct.
The net effect of growth in the US and Europe and a structural slowdown in China is that global economic growth should accelerate in 2014.
Barclays Wealth and Investment Management believes a stock market setback is long overdue and has been adding further to its cash positions.
Its the day after our office Christmas party, and my inbox is bulging like Santas sack with heaps of commentators views on the next investment crackers, and those assets as appetising as yesterdays plate of cold sprouts (image included!).
Albert Edwards, strategist at Societe Generale, continues to believe in his Ice Age thesis [a period of low inflation and near deflation], and argues investors should be moving to an overweight position in bonds.
A central bank should never leave any doubt over its capacity to act, particularly during a monetary cycle low and, of course, some actions are more likely to take effect than others.
All financial advisers remember Arc and many lost out thanks to the firm’s compliance around the marketing of Lehman-backed products – but how many will benefit from one of its products four-times FTSE growth returns later this month?
The financial services industry is often prone to fads where a boutique structure or an institutional-type investment vehicle is desired by the retail world.
Schroders Joanna Shatney said the biggest threat facing her next year was that of an external monetary policy mistake, with the proximity and importance of the election in Q3 likely to dampen the threat of any domestic political manoeuvring.
Winterflood Securities is predicting that more investment trusts will be taking on longer-term gearing arrangements, especially those larger trusts that have an income objective.
City Financial is set to launch a Japanese Opportunities fund as it names Philip Kay to head its Asia operations.
Japanese trusts have dominated performance in the closed-end space throughout the year with discounts narrowing leading to a rerating of the sector.
