Stock Take Since it was opened up and reformed in the late 1970s, China’s economy has grown at an average rate of 9% a year. Not this year. Facing strong disinflationary pressures, a severe property downturn and frail consumer confidence, China risks missing its own annual growth target of around 5%. So, as the week…

Stock Take Investors began the week digesting news of a second assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but otherwise all eyes were looking towards the US Federal Reserve and whether it would cut interest rates for the first time in more than four years. In the run-up to Wednesday’s announcement, market bets implied a more than…

Stock Take A mixed start to the week saw Asian markets suffer further fall out from the previous week’s US job numbers. The mood wasn’t helped by disappointing Chinese inflation data. Consumer prices rose in August at their fastest pace in six months as weather disruption hit food prices, while producer prices dropped further than…

Stock Take For much of the post-COVID period, equity markets have been largely driven by strong returns from massive companies collectively dubbed ‘The Magnificent Seven,’ thanks to their excellent performance. However, since Nvidia’s recent annual results came in below some market expectations, this sector has struggled. Due to its scale and importance to the US…

Stock Take The wider media interest in Nvidia’s second quarter results last week demonstrated just how important a few large technology companies have become to the US market. The market reaction also demonstrated just how much is now expected of them. In this case, Nvidia beat most expectations, reporting second quarter revenue of $30 billion,…

Stock Take Speaking at the Jackson Hole economic symposium last week, Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell indicated the time had finally come for the Fed to begin cutting interest rates. The annual event had taken on additional interest this year, with the question of when, not if, rates would be cut high on a lot…

Stock Take Worries around a potential US recession continued to fade last week, as a raft of positive economic data appeared to help build confidence in global markets. Chief among these was UK GDP, which grew by 0.6% in the second quarter of 2024, compared to the first quarter. The first quarter itself saw some…

Stock Take As the dust started to settle from the panic in markets at the start of August, many investors were left thinking ‘what was that all about?’ Global share prices had started to unwind two weeks ago after the Bank of Japan raised interest rates, spurring a jump in Yen prices. In addition, weakening…

Stock Take  Last week will provide a good case study into why predicting short-term market moves is so difficult. The week started with all eyes on Central banks, as investors waited for an expected interest rate cut in the UK, and to hear what the US Federal Reserve was planning. The Bank of England duly…

Stock Take So much for a quiet summer. Global markets took Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the US presidential election race in their stride, beginning the week in more positive mood. While contemplating the prospect of a closer contest against Trump, investors’ focus was on a packed week of corporate earnings, together with…