The S&P 500 reached a record high last week, as the boom in valuations for large technology companies continued.

This boom has occurred despite a number of uncertainties facing markets this year. These include the 2024 presidential election, which will almost certainly be a rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. While this will likely have the biggest impact on the US, it’s worth noting that there are several elections due this year, including in the UK, India, and Russia.

Geopolitical risks also seem to be heating up. Aside from the ongoing war in Ukraine and events in Israel and Gaza, Houthi attacks on international shipping have continued unabated, while over the weekend three US servicemen were killed and many more injured at a military outpost on the border between Iraq and Jordan. An Iran-backed Iraqi militia has claimed credit.

Despite all these risks and uncertainties, technology share prices have continued to rise on the back of AI hopes. In addition, a belief that interest rates have peaked was bolstered by figures released on Friday, showing US core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation was 2.9% in December, down from 3.2% in November.

PCE inflation uses a different set of data compared to the more traditional Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation measurement. Although CPI tends to be more widely reported, PCE is the main source used by the Federal Reserve in deciding interest rates.

Despite this, Mark Dowding, Chief Investment Officer at BlueBay, warns against getting too excited about a potential interest rate cut: “Overall, we think a robust economy, coupled with favourable disinflation trends, means the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) can afford to be patient and bide its time in the monetary loosening process, and we expect [FOMC Chair] Jerome Powell to take a similar tone.”

Turning to Asia, in what has become a somewhat rare occurrence recently, Chinese equities concluded last week in positive territory. The Shanghai Composite rose by 2.8% in local currency terms with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index faring even better with a 4.2% rise. This came after the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) announced a cut in the amount of cash that domestic banks must hold in reserve. The goal is to hopefully boost the amount of lending available to both businesses and consumers to try and stimulate an improvement in the country’s economic recovery.

Whilst the announcement was clearly welcomed by markets, over the weekend property giant Evergrande was ordered to liquidate by a Hong Kong court. This reiterates just how fragile the Chinese financial landscape is right now.

There was good news in Europe, where the European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde noted the process of bringing inflation down was working although it remains premature to consider rate cuts for the time being.

Although Lagarde’s words appear to rule out an imminent cut to rates, markets were heartened by her indication that things are heading in the right direction, and the MSCI Europe ex UK rose 3.2% over the week.

It is worth noting over half of ECB staff said they felt Lagarde was performing poorly or very poorly, in a poll of 1,159 members of staff at the central bank, released last week. Lagarde is just over halfway through her eight-year term.

There was also good news for investors in UK companies, as the FTSE 100 rose last week. Unfortunately, some of this was down to a case of ‘bad news being good news.’ Recent attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen, and continuing worries of wider instability in the Middle East, have helped lift oil prices, which in turn has helped the performance of energy companies. The FTSE 100 has a relatively large energy sector, and therefore benefited.

Becoming mortgage-free feels fantastic. After all, a mortgage is often the biggest debt we ever take on – and it usually takes up to 25 years to pay it off and own your home outright. That’s decades of putting money aside, comparing interest rates, or shopping for the right mortgage.

Not only will you own what is probably your biggest asset, you’ll also have a comfortable sum each month back in your bank account. And while there’s no harm in rewarding yourself with an extra holiday this year, or changing your car, it’s also a golden opportunity to think about how this money can help your long-term financial wellbeing.

Your financial landscape is changing. Now’s the natural time to focus on what you want from life going forward – and fit your finances to achieve that.

Those few extra hundred pounds every month can seem quite a modest amount; certainly not like a life-changing lottery win. Which is why it can easily be ‘absorbed’ into the household budget or an extra lunch out.

But that extra money can be surprisingly powerful if saved or invested over a longer period. You won’t notice it if you’ve been paying the same amount into the mortgage anyway.

Even if you’re not thinking of stopping work just yet, it’s never too early to start thinking about your retirement.

If, for example, you pay off your mortgage at 57 and work until you’re 67, you could invest the money you save on your mortgage repayments over those ten years. You’ll reap the benefit of compounding – essentially ‘growth on top of growth’, which means your investment has the potential to enjoy a bumper couple of years by the time you’re ready to retire.

More and more of us want our money to help others as well as ourselves; helping our children, or our parents, and hopefully leaving a legacy that might mean your own children can pay off their mortgage early too.

With careful planning and personal financial advice, your money can make all those goals a reality.

An investment in equities does not provide the security of capital associated with a deposit account with a bank or building society.

“We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism. And have no doubt – we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner our choosing”.

US President Joe Biden responds after several American servicemen were killed in Iraq.