Returns in 2020 of 16% from global developed world equities, 18% from emerging markets, and 10% from global government bonds (all in USD terms) mask the enormous turmoil wrought by the coronavirus pandemic and the scale of its economic, financial and human damage:
14 Dec 2020
Scotched Eggs
There are signs of life
on the high street and
hope for 2021 with
the vaccine rollout
gathering pace just five
weeks after the first
vaccine discovery was
announced
10 Dec 2020
Monthly Viewpoint – November 2020
Despite a positive start to the month, risk assets sold off as the month progressed, weighed down by the rapid rise in coronavirus cases across Europe and the US, and uncertainty ahead of the US Presidential election.
7 Dec 2020
A Pack of Wolves
When I was a kid, the concept of wolves being dangerous, aggressive animals was instilled in me: they growl, they stalk, they kill. Yet, have you ever heard spine-tingling howls breaking through the night? It is primordially majestic. As I grew up, I found myself seeing wolves as fascinating, widely misunderstood creatures. I had to find my own pack.
30 Nov 2020
A Brief History of How to Lose Money
At times like this it is
worth reflecting on
the common ways in
which investors suffer
permanent impairment
of capital as opposed to
short term fluctuations
in the value of their
investments
25 Nov 2020
Road to recovery
Following a third consecutive Monday of hugely encouraging news in the fight against COVID-19, global equities are well on track to delivering their best one
month return in over a decade, up 11% and counting. Vaccine developments
17 Nov 2020
Light at the end of the tunnel
News last week of a potentially highly effective vaccine against Covid-19 has raised hopes that there is an end in sight to what has been an extremely challenging time for countries around the world. The virus has claimed the lives of 1.25 million people and paralysed the world economy.
10 Nov 2020
Cheque List
Over the weekend we had confirmation that Joe Biden has won the race to become the next President of the United States of America. Despite Trump claiming election fraud, vowing legal action and thus refusing to concede, Biden is set to take up residence in the White House.
6 Nov 2020
Inflated expectations?
It has been one of the main discussion points of the past three years, five years and even decades in the case of Japan: will inflation return? Low prices and ultra-low rates must surely end at some point; or maybe not… We are amid a pandemic and going through a period of depressed economic activity, so why would inflation even register on investors’ radars?
23 Oct 2020
What does Jam have to do with successful investing?
In early 2000 a couple of US academics published a research paper on decision making, and while the experiment was not investment focused, the lessons
