Insights & Markets

Latest analysis and views

Structured, clear perspectives on market outlook, strategy, regulatory change, and investment education — authoritative yet accessible.

More Insights

Further reading

Sustainability and Governance in Investment Practice
Responsible Investment·8th may 2026

Sustainability and Governance in Investment Practice

In mid-2026, responsible investing focuses heavily on financial materiality and climate adaptation, moving beyond political debates to treat environmental and social metrics as core risk-management drivers. A defining trend is the AI energy crunch, which forces investors to balance lucrative technology holdings with the massive power and water demands of expanding data centers. Concurrently, capital is shifting toward physical climate resilience to protect vulnerable supply chains, alongside a mainstream rise in natural capital preservation and stable green bonds. This landscape requires a practical approach that couples standard growth portfolios with long-term ecological and infrastructural survival.

Largest initial public offering (IPO) in history
Market Outlook·13th June 2026

Largest initial public offering (IPO) in history

The largest initial public offering (IPO) in history is SpaceX, which raised a record-shattering $75 billion on the Nasdaq exchange on June 12, 2026. This tech-driven milestone dramatically eclipsed the previous global records long held by state-owned energy giants and massive e-commerce networks. Specifically, it surpassed Saudi Aramco’s $25.6 billion listing in 2019, SK hynix’s $26.5 billion debut in 2026, and Alibaba’s $21.8 billion offering from 2014. Ultimately, this monumental shift in capital moved the center of gravity for historic listings back into the U.S. market, firmly replacing older financial and commodities-based records with advanced space and satellite infrastructure.

Economic Commentary: Policy, Growth and Geopolitics
Economics·29th july 2026

Economic Commentary: Policy, Growth and Geopolitics

The UK economy grew in July as the rapid expansion of AI appeared to outweigh the economic damage from the Iran war, in a welcome boost for John Healey. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed a surprise 0.4% increase in gross domestic product (GDP), compared with 0.3% growth in June. City economists had forecast zero growth.

Global Fixed Income: Yields, Risks and Opportunities
Fixed Income·26th aug 2026

Global Fixed Income: Yields, Risks and Opportunities

For investors seeking broad exposure and stability, Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) and iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) are highly recommended. Both are low-cost, broadly diversified, and Gold-rated by Morningstar, offering yields around 4.6% and 4.5% respectively, with high liquidity and strong credit quality. These ETFs serve as a solid foundation for a fixed income portfolio, providing income and diversification across U.S. Treasurys, agency mortgage-backed securities, and investment-grade corporate bonds

Emerging Markets: Diversification and Long-Term Trends
Global Equity·19th sept 2026

Emerging Markets: Diversification and Long-Term Trends

In September 2026, North Asian emerging markets led gains, with South Korea and Taiwan at the forefront due to strong growth in AI-driven tech hardware. The KOSPI and Taiwan Weighted Indexes saw impressive year-to-date returns, driven by semiconductor and technology stocks. China’s onshore hard-tech shares outperformed offshore ones, while India experienced slower growth from rising energy costs, highlighting the dominance of tech-focused markets in the emerging space this month.