Global Markets Global equities continued to rally last week, buoyed by ongoing hopes that the US and China will eventually conclude a trade deal – despite some uncertainty over whether existing tariffs will be rolled back or not.  Despite his bluster that “China wants a trade deal more than I do”, markets sense that Trump

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Global Markets It was yet another positive week for global stocks, with the S&P 500 reaching new record highs.  Ongoing optimism with regard to US-China trade talks, a good US earnings reporting season, and signs of stabilisation in global manufacturing were all contributing factors.  Even the Fed’s decision to signal a potential end to the

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Global Markets Global stocks rose for the third week in a row, reflecting another (so far) better than feared US earnings season, tentative signs of stabilisation in global manufacturing and “no news is good news” progress in US-China trade talks. As regards the Q3 US earnings reporting season, FactSet reports that 40% of S&P companies

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Global Markets Global equities ground higher again last week reflecting ongoing hopes with regard to US-China trade discussions, encouraging US earnings reports, and a new UK-EU Brexit deal. The S&P 500 is only 1.3% away from a new record high! Both the US and China are now focused on drafting a trade deal that could

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Global Markets Hopes and fears regarding a possible US-China trade deal pervaded global markets for much of last week and the tentative agreement struck on Friday was greeted with restrained relief.  The S&P 500 bounced 1% on Friday to be up 0.6% over the week.  Consistent with the risk-on sentiment, US 10-year bond yields rebounded

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Global Markets Last week provided further tangible signs that the trade-induced slowdown in the global economy was finally filtering through to the United States, which seemingly should make US President Trump more prepared to strike a deal with China sometime soon. Adding to the trade angst last week was the World Trade Organisation’s decision to

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Global Markets It was another modest risk-off week for global equities with the US S&P 500 again failing to push through the previous record high of 3,027 set in late July.  Weaker European manufacturing data, the threat of a Trump impeachment and lingering uncertainty over US-China trade talks took their toll. In Europe, the slowdown

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Global Markets Ongoing trade concerns and a less dovish than hoped Federal Reserve saw global stocks edge lower last week. Reflecting risk-off sentiment, bond yields also dropped back while the $US and gold lifted. On the trade front, China’s decision to cancel a planned trip to US farms plus Trump’s declaration he wants a “complete

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Global Markets Global equities continued to recover last week, buoyed by ongoing signs of a thawing in the frosty trade relations between the United States and China. Each side offered the other olive branches, with China agreeing to exempt certain US imports from tariffs and the US announcing a two week delay before planned tariff

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Global Markets Global equities enjoyed another positive week thanks largely to confirmation that the US and China will engage in another round of trade talks next month. Bond yields pushed higher and gold eased as ‘risk-on’ sentiment tentatively prevailed in markets. Despite weakness in global manufacturing data, service sector surveys in both Europe and the

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