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1 week ago | 
portfolio-adviser.com | Tom Aylott
Markets have been in dismay following Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff announcements, with the S&P 500 dropping 12.1% in the week after. A 90-day pause on enforcing higher tariff rates saw the US index recover 9.5% on Wednesday, but the brash trade policy is set to create uncertainty for months to come. Many investors are therefore looking to make their portfolios more resilient, especially considering how large of an allocation the US has become to most.
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3 weeks ago | 
portfolio-adviser.com | Tom Aylott
Retail investors removed £563m from funds in February as Donald Trump’s volatile tariff policies loomed, according to the Investment Association (IA). It was a de-escalation from the £3bn of outflows the month prior. The vast majority of February’s outflows came from equity funds, which lost £1.6bn over the period.
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4 weeks ago | 
portfolio-adviser.com | Tom Aylott
Economic growth forecasts for the UK in 2025 have been halved from 2% to 1% at the chancellor’s Spring Statement today (26 Mar). In what was called an “Emergency Budget” by the opposition, inflation expectations were also raised from 2.6% to 3.2% for this year compared to initial estimates made at Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget in October.
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1 month ago | 
portfolio-adviser.com | Tom Aylott
A renewed bout of inflation from tariffs could diminish any hopes of a resurgence in US small caps
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1 month ago | 
portfolio-adviser.com | Tom Aylott
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has unveiled a five-year plan to “significantly streamline” its operations in a drive to improve efficiency. The City watchdog said it would take “a less intensive approach” to overseeing financial services companies and “strip out redundant requirements” holding the industry back, starting with a review of its redress regime. It also wants to simplify its authorisation processes by automating jobs currently carried out by supervisors.
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1 month ago | 
portfolio-adviser.com | Tom Aylott
Comgest’s head of responsible investment Sébastien Thévoux-Chabuel (pictured) has left the firm to join a boutique launched by former CEO Arnaud Cosserat late last year. Cosserat resigned from Comgest alongside fellow portfolio manager Alistair Wittet to found Aecus Partners in December. Thévoux-Chabuel will now be reunited with his former colleagues to manage the firm’s European equity funds.
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1 month ago | 
portfolio-adviser.com | Tom Aylott
The Bank of England (BoE) held interest rates as 4.5% today (20 March) following its latest Monetary Policy Committee meeting. It follows the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) same decision to hold rates yesterday in the US. Both central banks will likely be taking a more cautious approach to monetary easing until greater clarity on how Donald Trump’s fast-evolving trade policies will impact global markets, according to Lindsay James, investment strategist at Quilter.
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1 month ago | 
portfolio-adviser.com | Tom Aylott
The Federal Reserve (Fed) held interest rates at 4.25%-4.5% as Donald Trump’s tariff threats increase uncertainty and risk an renewed bout of inflation in the US. The central bank downgraded its growth forecast amid rapidly changing trade policy, lowering its GDP expectations for 2025 from 2.1% to 1.7%. Lindsay James, investment strategist at Quilter, said the Fed is likely to remain cautious until it has more clarity on how Trump’s potential trade war plays out.
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1 month ago | 
portfolio-adviser.com | Tom Aylott
Aegon has received approval from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to launch a private credit long-term asset fund (LTAF) – the firm’s first use of the investment vehicle. Head of institutional business Jill Johnston highlighted investors’ growing interest in private markets, stating that an LTAF launch made the most sense to provide clients with access to the previously opaque asset class.
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1 month ago | 
portfolio-adviser.com | Tom Aylott
Invesco has appointed Georgina Taylor (pictured) as its UK head of client investment solutions in an ongoing drive to “simplify its global structure”. Taylor has spent almost 12 years at the firm overseeing its multi-asset funds. She co-manages 12 of the portfolios herself, including Invesco’s £563.5m Managed Growth and £164.5m Managed Income funds. Taylor also manages its Summit Growth and Summit Responsible fund ranges, which contain assets under management of £351.9m.
