News

Please see below, an article from EPIC Investment Partners highlighting recent developments for energy storage. Received today – 30/10/2025

Last week we highlighted the emergence of Long Duration Energy Storage, also referred to as energy storage systems (ESS). The advent of AI, and the consequent rapid development of new larger data centres, has ‘shifted the curve’ of power consumption forecasts across the globe. Simultaneously the roll out of green generation (particularly solar and wind) has left most countries struggling to upgrade their power transmission infrastructure to cope with the variable nature of green power generation. Some are coping better than others but it appears a widespread issue.

The ESS industry is in its infancy. In 2024 ESS installations reached 74.9 gigawatts (gw). China (39gw) dominates while the US (12.3gw) is also a significant player. Bloomberg NEF forecasts that installations will double by 2027 (to 137.7gw) and, in round numbers, double again to 243.4gw by 2035.

Recent regulatory oversight has been confusing in both China and the United States. The removal of storage mandates in China for renewables earlier this year was a big concern, but new energy storage targets were set in September and underline China’s commitment to ESS. In the US, some federal policy shifts introduced uncertainty due to frequent changes in import tariffs while new restrictions on the use of Chinese equipment were equally unhelpful.

US market players are adapting to this new environment supported principally by US based battery manufacturing initiatives by leading Korean firms. Battery technology is moving at a rapid pace. Sodium-ion batteries are the latest development. While lithium batteries are lighter (thus widely used for EVs) sodium-ion batteries are cheaper, safer and perform better in extreme cold. They are, therefore, ideal batteries for ESS. There is no shortage of sodium. CATL, the world’s largest battery producer by some margin, expects to start production of sodium-ion batteries in the first quarter of 2026. There is no doubt that the other players, Chinese and Korean, will follow suit. Rapid growth is set to continue.

Please continue to check our blog content for the latest advice and planning issues from leading investment management firms.

Alex Kitteringham

30^th October 2025

Please see this week’s Markets in a Minute update below from Brewin Dolphin, received yesterday afternoon – 28/10/2025.  

U.S. inflation exceeds expectations

We examine the latest U.S. inflation figures, which beat market predictions despite a modest rise in September.

Key highlights

• U.S. inflation rose to 3%: the modest pickup was lower than expected and reinforced the view that inflation is still under control despite U.S. trade tariffs.
• President Trump to meet President Xi Jinping: the first in-person meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping since 2019 fuels hopes of trade tension de-escalation.
• Oil price rally: Brent crude oil prices jumped after new U.S. sanctions on Russia’s largest oil producers, including Rosneft and Lukoil.

Markets are leaning on optimism

Global markets ended the week on a firmer note, with sentiment noticeably more constructive than a couple of weeks ago.

A catalyst was the latest U.S. inflation data for September, which came in slightly below expectations, rising from 2.9% to 3% year-on-year. The modest pickup was lower than expected and reinforced the view that inflation is still under control despite U.S. trade tariffs. This paves the way for an interest rate cut next week, a move already fully priced in by markets.

Optimism also rose after the White House confirmed that President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet on Thursday in South Korea, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. It will be their first face-to-face meeting since President Trump’s return to office, coming just days before the current trade truce is set to expire on 10 November.

Markets are leaning on a more optimistic outcome from the upcoming talks, even if a major breakthrough remains uncertain. Discussions are expected to cover a broad range of issues, from technology exports and agricultural purchases to restrictions on rare-earth minerals. The tone from Washington has softened recently, which investors are viewing as an indication that both sides want to extend the tariff pause while leaving room for longer-term negotiations.

Meanwhile, the U.S. signed a rare-earth partnership with Australia, agreeing to co-invest in mining and processing capacities to secure access to critical minerals used in clean energy and semiconductor production.

The deal improves America’s leverage ahead of the summit, though China remains overwhelmingly dominant in this strategic area. For instance, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that China accounts for about 61% of rare-earth production and 92% of rare-earth processing. That concentration highlights Beijing’s enduring influence over global supply chains and its leverage in any trade discussions.

Ahead of the talks, China held its fifth plenum last week, which sets its long-term strategic plans and policy goals. Its 15^th five-year plan focuses on artificial intelligence (AI), energy transition and stronger domestic consumption. This underscores China’s long-term ambition for innovation-led and self-reliant growth. The five-year plan ensures that the strategic rivalry between the U.S. and China won’t go away, but both countries will need to learn to co-exist and not decouple for the stabilisation of the global economy.

Gold cools after a blistering rally, while oil prices jump

After months of relentless gains, gold prices finally took a breather from record highs of above US$4,300 per ounce. The pullback was largely technical, with investors taking profits after an extended rally, and the momentum indicator that measures the magnitude of recent price changes suggested that gold was overbought.

Nevertheless, the case for gold remains intact, supported by central bank purchases, widening fiscal deficits and lingering geopolitical uncertainty.

Meanwhile, Brent crude oil prices jumped about 8% last week after new U.S. sanctions on Russia’s largest oil producers, including Rosneft and Lukoil. This move is intended to increase pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

Oil prices jumped while gold prices slumped

Source: Bloomberg

The measures caused short-term oil supply disruption mainly for Asian buyers, with some Indian refiners scaling back Russian imports and Chinese buyers cancelling spot cargoes.

Even so, the IEA expects global supply to exceed demand by nearly four million barrels per day next year, suggesting the market remains comfortably balanced overall.

Japan’s ‘Sanaenomics’ energises markets

In Japan, Sanae Takaichi made history by being confirmed as the country’s first female prime minister, a milestone that injected optimism into markets and sparked enthusiasm for what commentators are calling ‘Sanaenomics’. She has pledged to boost public investment, expand defence capabilities, and deepen ties with the U.S. to help renegotiate a better trade deal.

So far, markets are receptive to her agenda. Her leadership has drawn comparisons to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s reform-driven era, with hopes that ‘Sanaenomics’ can reignite domestic demand and attract renewed global interest in Japanese assets.

Japanese equities rallied, the yen weakened, and government bond yields climbed as investors anticipated higher borrowing to finance fiscal expansion.

UK data highlight resilience ahead of Autumn Budget

In the UK, economic data painted a picture of resilient consumers ahead of the Autumn Budget. Retail sales rose 0.5% month-on-month in September, beating forecasts, while the GfK Consumer Confidence Index improved modestly in October (although it was still in deeply negative territory).

U.S. vs UK headline CPI (Consumer Price Index)

Source: Bloomberg

The UK composite Purchasing Manager’s Index also strengthened in October, signalling resilient private sector services activity.

Meanwhile, UK inflation held steady at 3.8%. Although this was lower than expected, it’s still far from comfortable. The good news is this could mark the high point of inflation, with slowing energy and utility prices likely to bring inflation lower in the coming months. For the Bank of England (BoE), it’s still a high hurdle to justify cutting interest rates this year. Services inflation remains stuck at 4.7%, a big reason to stay cautious.

The BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee remains split. Hawks are focused on sticky inflation, while doves worry about economic weakness. The BoE is walking a tightrope between stubborn inflation and slowing growth.

Markets are now pricing in a higher chance of a December rate cut. While BoE Governor Andrew Bailey is leaning on rate cuts from his recent speech, these may not come as soon as markets hope and will probably be more of a 2026 story. It’s hard to justify a rate cut in the near term unless there are more signs that inflation is truly under control or the economic data deteriorates significantly.

Please continue to check our blog content for advice, planning issues and the latest investment market and economic updates from leading investment houses.

Charlotte Clarke

29/10/2025

Please see the below article from Brooks Macdonald detailing their discussions on US-China relations, Fed chair contenders and markets. Received this morning 28/10/2025.

What has happened?

Yesterday’s wave of optimism propelled the S&P 500 (+1.23%) and Nasdaq Composite (+1.86%) to fresh record highs, marking the S&P’s strongest three-day streak since May. Tech stocks led the charge: Qualcomm surged +11.09% on a new chip challenging Nvidia’s dominance, while Reuters highlighted a $1bn AI partnership between the US Department of Energy and AMD (+2.67%). This boosted the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index and gave the Magnificent Seven (+2.60%) their best day since May. In bonds, the yield curve steepened as short-term Treasuries sold off in the risk-on environment. Gold tumbled -3.18%, slipping below $4,000/oz, now down -8.59% from last week’s peak.

Fed chair contenders emerge

US Treasury Secretary Bessent revealed the final five candidates for Fed Chair: Kevin Hassett, Kevin Warsh, Christopher Waller, Michelle Bowman, and Rick Rieder, with plans to submit the list to President Trump post-Thanksgiving. Trump, however, floated Bessent himself for the role, alongside Marco Rubio for Secretary of State and Jamieson Greer for US Trade Representative, raising questions about the shortlist’s influence. While Trump’s comments might not be serious, investors should approach them cautiously.

Corporate layoffs signal broader labour market softening

Amazon is set to slash up to 30,000 corporate jobs starting Tuesday, aiming to curb costs from pandemic overhiring and affecting nearly 10% of its 350,000 corporate staff. This follows a flurry of layoff announcements last week, including Target (1,800 roles), Applied Materials (~4% of workforce), Rivian (~4%), Charter (~1%), Molson Coors (~9% of North American staff), and Meta (600 AI positions). While these feel company-specific, they align with ongoing signs of a cooling labour market.

What does Brooks Macdonald think?

Optimism is building around President Trump’s upcoming Thursday meeting with President Xi, bolstered by Trump’s comments: ‘I have a lot of respect for Xi. I think we’re going to come away with a deal.’ He also suggested a potential TikTok resolution during talks. That said, trade and macroeconomic outlook remains fluid.

Please continue to check our blog content for advice, planning issues and the latest investment, market and economic updates from leading investment houses.

Alex Clare

28/10/2025

Please see below, an article from Tatton Investment Management, analysing the key factors currently affecting global investment markets. Received this morning – 27/10/2025

Autumn but no fall 

Markets ended last week with all-time highs, but investors remain uneasily positive. We have noticed a disconnect between people’s pessimism and recently strong investment returns. With global inflation coming down business confidence better than expected, the outlook is still strong.

The ‘better-than-it-seems’ narrative is particularly true of the UK: UK stocks and bonds outperformed last week, after lower-than-expected inflation increased the chance of an interest rate cut in December.

The Federal Reserve looks set to cut rates this week – probably 0.25 percentage points (but it could be more, not less). The Fed will be dovish, and this expectation has helped bond yields all over the world, as has a slowing of US economic data (influenced by the government shutdown). Treasury yields falling below 4% has helped balance out the stock market wobble. That’s also why markets aren’t too concerned about credit stress (covered below).

Gold prices fell sharply as traders seemed to take profits from the recent blistering rally. We think there’s an interesting parallel to Chinese tech stocks: they came down after a strong run, and we know Chinese investors are heavily invested in gold. Chinese stocks have been supported by strong liquidity, but that’s tailed off slightly. Recent data showed Beijing’s economic stimulus is working, so the government may now pull back some of its market-support measures.

The Trump administration seems to be preparing for defeat in next month’s Supreme Court tariff ruling, by suggesting alternative sector-specific tariffs. This might not be the boon for markets that some think. Without tariff revenues, US bond yields will be under threat, and sector-specific tariffs could be worse for global supply chains than the current regime. It’s unclear how stocks would respond. Uncertainty is a bigger problem now than over the summer, thanks to tighter liquidity. The recent bout of volatility might not be over. But the global economy is getting a welcome boost to capex, partly in response to tariffs. That strengthens the long-term outlook.

Private markets a concern, not a crisis 

Concerns about private credit are mounting, after the collapse of Tricolor and First Brands. BoE governor Andrew Bailey rang “alarm bells” about private credit standards last week, comparing them to the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC).

Private markets – equity, credit and everything in between – have grown rapidly in recent decades. Private credit firms sell themselves on sell themselves on their bespoke, in-depth credit spreads. But the collapses (and reports of fraud) have worried everyone that those checks aren’t being done. As JPM’s Jamie Dimon quipped, there’s never just one cockroach. Shares in private credit firms and Business Development Corporations (BDCs, somewhere between credit and equity) have been hit hard.

Andrew Bailey’s warning came after similar decrees from the IMF. Private credit now takes up a huge portion of overall lending and its standards are opaque. Many have long speculated that post-GFC regulations have just shifted leverage from public to private markets. And with so many private credit firms running checks, it’s easier for individual firms to copy others’ homework. High fees from individual deals make this problem worse: just like before the GFC, arrangers (themselves lenders) make so much commission from completing the deal they stop worrying about whether borrowers can pay.

That’s not to say another GFC is coming – far from it. We expect problems to be contained, largely because private credit’s expansion hasn’t been driven by private money creation. We do expect a credit crunch, as private lenders get pickier and start running the checks they should have done all along. Private market firms might struggle for investment capital too; we’ve noticed some reaching out to institutional investors like ourselves, rather than relying on traditional sources (families, sovereign wealth and pensions). But unlike in 2008, money will remain in the system. Expect a wobble, not a collapse.

What Britain can learn from Korean markets 

South Korean stocks are up an astonishing 70% since April. That would’ve been unthinkable a year ago, when former president Yoon Suk Yeol attempted to return Korea to a dictatorship. Despite his quick impeachment, it wasn’t until June that Korea had a stable new government. Foreign investors dumped Korean stocks en masse after Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs, but it has since become “the leading emerging-market rally”, according to Franklin Templeton. Much of that is focussed on chipmakers like Samsung and SK Hynix, benefitting from the AI theme. Korean tech stocks still have relatively low valuations, though, suggesting the rally could run.

It’s not all about chips; the rally has broadened after an IMF growth upgrade and signs of a US-Korea trade deal. The government’s reform push has helped greatly – including corporate governance (similar to the story that has boosted Japan) and its capital markets framework. Seoul wants to get encourage retail investors into the domestic stock market. This should create a virtuous cycle: the savings pool moves into equity, which improves corporate finances, which in turn makes Korean companies more attractive to global investors.

The UK is trying to do something similar, to address our market’s liquidity problems (which is why so many British companies are listing in New York). Whitehall recently announced a stamp duty holiday for new UK stock listings – though a stamp duty removal (like other nations) would bring more liquidity. The Treasury also floated a cash ISA limit proposal, though that is more stick than carrot. Britain has attractive companies (evidenced by the FTSE 100’s outperformance), we just need reforms to bring more liquidity. Korea’s experience reminds us how beneficial that can be.

Please continue to check our blog content for the latest advice and planning issues from leading investment management firms.

Marcus Blenkinsop

27^th October 2025

Please see below, an article from EPIC Investment Partners which analyses the latest inflation figures in the UK. Received today – 24/10/2025

September’s figures show that UK inflation remains stubbornly high at 3.8%, nearly double the Bank of England’s target. Not only does the prospect of further interest rate cuts display wilful disregard of the MPC’s 2% mandate, this inflation number is also understated.

The Consumer Price Index (‘CPI’) is used by governments to set inflation targets and adjust other measures such as state pensions and benefits. It also impacts interest rates, wages and other payments, and is intended to show how inflation affects household budgets. The CPI measures inflation by tracking the average change over time in the prices of a basket of goods and services purchased by a typical household. The Office of National Statistics collects prices for about 700 different items like food, energy, and clothing, to create a “shopping basket”. They then track the price changes of this basket over time to calculate inflation. However, this is a flawed measure of price rises as it excludes housing costs, unlike the more complete Retail Price Index (‘RPI’).

CPI is generally lower than RPI, an older measure that includes owner-occupier housing costs like mortgage interest payments and council tax. But does either measure provide a true reflection of the cost of living? My friend in the US has just sent his Microsoft Excel subscription renewal statement – an increase from $69.99 to $99.99. Those of us unfortunate enough to occasionally grace a supermarket, or fortunate enough to occasionally visit restaurants, can bear witness to exponential price increases that appear divorced from official CPI numbers. And, of course, there is taxation, which apart from excise duties and sales taxes that directly affect prices paid, are excluded from both indices. My American correspondent also points out that their CPI used for index linking excludes both food and energy!

Even compound inflation of 3.8% halves the purchasing power of a currency in 18 years, and a Pound will have lost 75% of its current purchasing power before my newly born grandson reaches the age of thirty-five. Now let’s look at the real erosion of what our currency will buy. Prices including owner occupiers’ housing costs, (CPIH) rose by 4.1% in the 12 months to August 2025, and of course this might not accurately reflect the inflation rate for individuals with different spending habits, such as a retired person with higher healthcare costs, or a family with young children. While necessary for a consistent measure, methods like “substitution bias” (which assumes consumers switch to cheaper alternatives when prices rise) can also lead to an underestimation of the impact of rising prices on specific goods.

As we can see, inflation is a complex topic, and different individuals may feel that their personal experience of rising prices is higher than the official CPI figure, particularly in specific sectors like housing or energy. However, these marginal differences do not seem to explain our individual perceptions of changes in the cost of living. Some basic arithmetic can help: if we focus on the underlying index of prices as opposed to individual annual increases, we might find an answer.

Following Covid, the annual CPI figure rose to high single digit percentages from which it has now fallen back to below 4%. However, this 4% figure is in addition to previous price rises. I will use a basic set of assumptions to make the point. A £100 product price, inflated by 4% rises to £104. However, if preceded by a several years of high levels of compounding inflation, 4% is multiplied by a much larger number. If we use the CPI to measure inflation, just over the past five years, prices as measured by the CPI are now over 28% higher than at the beginning of 2021. 4% inflation this year takes the price index from 128 to nearly 135, and so a further 7%, measured in 2021 prices. This figure sounds closer to what many seem to be experiencing, and by unhappy coincidence reflects some commentators’ estimates of real underlying inflation both here and in America.

Whatever the arithmetic applied, strong signals being given by the commodities markets point towards fears of accelerating FIAT currency debasement. A return to 1970s inflation levels would see the Dollar lose a further 75% of its purchasing power in a decade – this in addition to the 95% erosion of the currency’s value since 1913.

Please continue to check our blog content for the latest advice and planning issues from leading investment management firms.

Alex Kitteringham

24^th October 2025

Please see this week’s Markets in a Minute update below from Brewin Dolphin, received yesterday afternoon – 21/10/2025.  

U.S. and China trade negotiations continue

Fresh trade talks between Presidents Trump and Xi were announced last week – how have the markets responded to the news?

Key highlights

• A pause for reflection: Investors have shifted from chasing the market rally to assessing the risks.
• Credit “cockroaches”: Isolated loan defaults, such as those at U.S. firms First Brands and Tricolor Holdings, are worth monitoring, but solid bank earnings provide reassurance.
• The gold rush: Gold prices rallied amid ‘safe haven’ demand and an ongoing ‘debasement trade’

From exuberance to evaluation

After months of relentless gains, global markets took a breather last week.

Investors have shifted from exuberance to evaluation, reassessing whether stretched valuations can hold amid emerging signs of credit stress, renewed trade tensions between the U.S. and China, and concerns over a potential artificial intelligence (AI) bubble.

Stocks took a little breather as gold marches on

Source: Bloomberg

While caution has crept back in, the broader picture remains constructive, with solid corporate earnings, resilient consumer sentiments, and more Federal Reserve (the Fed) easing on the way.

The change in market tone began with renewed worries about credit quality in U.S. banks. The defaults at First Brands and Tricolor Holdings raised concerns about lax credit standards, potential deterioration in credit quality, and loan loss provisions at financial institutions.

To make things worse, two regional U.S. banks, Zions Bancorp and Western Alliance Bancorp, said they were victims of fraud in relation to loans to funds that invest in distressed commercial mortgages. This revived memories of the regional banking turmoil in 2023, and understandably investors have become nervous. JPMorgan Chase CEO, Jamie Dimon, made a goosebump-inducing analogy, which added to the unease: “When you see one cockroach, there are probably more”.

So far, the credit events feel like unconnected incidents. But when Jamie Dimon talks about cockroaches, it amplifies a long-lingering nervousness about the vast growth of private credit and the need to refinance real estate loans. The fact that the private market is so opaque makes it hard to know how strong credit quality is.

Encouragingly, the early earnings results from U.S. regional banks offered some reassurance. Reports from Truist Financial, Regions Financial, and Fifth Third Bancorp showed lower-than-expected provisions for credit losses. Several lenders also highlighted resilient consumer spending and stable deposit bases. Many regional lenders have also improved capital buffers since 2023.

Beyond the regional lenders, major U.S. banks delivered a strong earnings season, reinforcing the view that the financial system and the U.S. economy remain resilient. The biggest U.S. banks reported healthy net interest income, robust trading revenues and continued loan growth, underpinned by solid consumer spending. There are reasons to believe that the recent credit jitters are idiosyncratic rather than systemic.

Still, recent developments are a reminder that the aftershocks of higher interest rates can reverberate through smaller banks, weaker companies and credit markets. For the Fed, it helps further the argument for easing policy rather than keeping financial conditions too tight for too long.

Trade tensions are meant to escalate, then de-escalate

Renewed tariff exchanges between the U.S. and China added another layer of complexity to investors.

President Donald Trump has threatened additional 100% tariffs on Chinese goods after China tightened export controls on rare-earth materials. Yet, in typical fashion, President Trump struck a softer tone in a Fox Business interview, saying that “tariffs are not sustainable” and expressing confidence that “we’ll be fine with China”.

The markets’ interpretation is that by setting the next tariff increase deadline for 1 November, President Trump is clearly leaving room and time for negotiation. There’s still a chance, and expectation, that he’ll meet President Xi Jinping in South Korea within weeks, which leaves optimism that both sides are ready to de-escalate.

The AI story remains powerful despite talks of a bubble

The AI-driven rally that propelled stocks to record highs has paused for breath. Talk of an AI bubble is front and centre. It’s actually good to see this scepticism when optimism runs high.

Concerns over valuations, concentration and the circular nature of some AI deals have triggered some profit-taking, especially after months of extraordinary gains. Yet, the fundamentals of the AI story remain intact. Earnings from ASML and TSMC reaffirmed that demand for AI-related infrastructure – from semiconductors to equipment makers – remains robust. There’s still clear visibility of and longevity for the tangible capital investments going into AI.

That said, there are pockets and signs of froth (a lesser and milder version of a bubble) – for instance, huge intraday stock price surges from large established companies following AI deal announcements and investors chasing momentum stocks.

AI start-up valuations are also sky high despite many being loss-making at this stage. AI will no doubt be a transformative technology, but there are lingering concerns over whether all the money will generate adequate returns.

With AI capital expenditure (capex) ramping up, and the Fed cutting interest rates again, there are parallels with the late 1990s tech boom. We think the AI-driven rally could well go further and we want to have at least benchmark exposure to that. Stretched valuations keep us from being more bullish on this.

All that glitters… is gold

In this climate of cautious sentiment, gold has been the standout performer. The precious metal has surged to US$4,356 per ounce, buoyed by macro uncertainty, institutional distrust, central bank buying and lower U.S. interest rates.

Gold prices made new highs despite the sharp fall in economic policy uncertainty

Source: Bloomberg

Buying gold is described as the ‘debasement trade’, a hedge not only against inflation but also against ballooning fiscal deficits and long-term currency value erosion. Meanwhile, government bonds have found renewed demand as investors price in further Fed easing and weaker growth.

Taken together, the week’s development marked a shift from complacency and euphoria to caution. Valuations are stretched, economic uncertainty persists, and trade tensions remain.

It’s understandable that investors are taking a more measured stance after such a strong run since April, but the broader backdrop is okay. Corporate earnings are still solid, consumers are resilient, and the Fed is likely to continue easing. Markets are doing what they should, which is consolidating after exuberance, digesting new information and recalibrating expectations.

The AI investment cycle continues to provide a structural anchor, while gold and government bonds are fulfilling their roles as hedges in times of uncertainty.

Please continue to check our blog content for advice, planning issues and the latest investment market and economic updates from leading investment houses.

Charlotte Clarke

22/10/2025

 

Please see the below article from EPIC Investment Partners detailing their discussions on US Credit Woes. Received this morning 21/10/2025.

Recent instances of credit risk within the US regional banking sector have triggered a decisive flight-to-safety into US Treasury securities. This market reaction intensified last week, sparked by alarming disclosures from several regional lenders, including Zions Bancorp and Western Alliance Bancorp, concerning loan-related write-downs and exposure to alleged fraud. These issues were not isolated; they revived broader market anxieties stemming from the 2023 regional banking turmoil. The events also coincided with high-profile corporate bankruptcies in the private credit market, particularly from lenders like Tricolor, suggesting that a longer period of high interest rates was beginning to expose weakness and potential “hidden” credit quality issues across the financial system.

As fears of banking instability and a potential economic slowdown spread, investors rapidly rotated their capital out of risk-sensitive assets, such as equities and bank stocks, and into perceived safe havens. The US Treasury market, as the global benchmark for risk-free assets, was the primary beneficiary. The surge in demand for Treasuries saw the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield rally through the 4% level, and shorter-term yields witnessed even larger declines.

This rally in sovereign debt was reinforced by the simultaneous adjustment of market expectations regarding monetary policy. The emergence of credit risk, coupled with a protracted US government shutdown and lingering trade tensions, have increased the probability of a deteriorating US economic outlook. Market makers have therefore rapidly increased their bets that the Fed will be forced to accelerate its schedule of interest rate cuts in 2025 to prevent credit tightening from causing a deeper recession. The Treasury rally has been a clear sign that market participants are prioritising liquidity and safety over return, signalling heightened stress in the financial system.

Please continue to check our blog content for advice, planning issues and the latest investment, market and economic updates from leading investment houses.

Alex Clare

21/10/2025

Please see below, an article from Tatton Investment Management, analysing the key factors currently affecting global investment markets. Received this morning – 20/10/2025

Bounce and brace

Global risk assets finally ended with a bounce last week, with portfolios still closer to where they were at the beginning of October than the highs touched before Trump’s 100% tariff threat on China. The pull-back has been healthy, considering how frothy some areas looked.

Trump’s tariff threat came after China’s export restrictions on rare earth minerals. Trump and President Xi will meet face-to-face at the APEC summit starting on October 31st, and we suspect they are getting their barbs in ahead of more constructive negotiations. China goes into the summit in mixed shape, after a pickup in its imports and consumer demand (benefitting European luxury goods). But exports are flat when adjusted for seasonal patterns, while GDP has just been reported as dropping to 4.8% in Q3 -the weakest in a year – and so Beijing still has much to lose. Hopefully, that incentive keeps things stable and civil.

Government bond yields moved down, particularly for the UK. We’ve long argued Britain isn’t as bad as it looks; it’s just odd others are agreeing right before tax rises come in. Corporate credit looks less healthy, amid a spat between JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon and private credit providers over who has the worse lending standards. Credit in the spotlight means problem areas will be revealed (as with some regional US banks this week) and lending could tighten. It will be difficult for credit spreads and distressed debt to do well in this environment.

Thankfully, the Federal Reserve looks nailed on to cut rates again this week in response, which will help smaller companies (some of the week’s better performers) in particular. The other saving grace was strong quarterly bank earnings – though not enough to support bank share prices. You can’t see credit stress in the reports and earnings everywhere have been resilient.

Without those earnings, markets could have experienced more lasting downdraft. Risk appetite is waning (AI and crypto concerns are covered below) and liquidity is tightening. Lingering anxieties could mean more volatility ahead. But underlying earnings mean investors would do well to stay calm through the turbulence.

AI bubble trouble

According to Bank of America, 54% of fund managers think the AI sector is in bubble territory. AI optimism (and related cloud technologies) has been one of the main market drivers for years, and big US tech companies have poured billions into development. But most businesses struggle to say how generative AI has improved operations. That disconnect fuels bubble talk, especially after a six-month-long global stock rally that many worry is overheating. Just as the dotcom bubble burst in 2000, there are an alarming number of tech companies without any profits. Bubble trouble went into overdrive last month after an OpenAI-Nvidia deal which looks like circular ‘vendor financing’.

We should remember, though, that the ‘Magnificent Seven’ tech stocks that have benefitted the most from the AI theme remain extremely profitable. Their price-to-earnings valuations are much lower than the dotcom-era leaders, and some (Apple and Amazon) aren’t that highly valued at all. You could argue that big tech is overpaying for AI development but many of those companies were accused of underinvestment in the past. Capex is still mostly coming from free cashflow too, rather than leverage.

Bubble talk should therefore be nuanced. It is undeniable that some US tech stocks have stretched valuations, but they’re more likely small and midcap companies. There are worsening profit margins just below the Mag7 (like Oracle and CoreWeave) but those companies are betting on high future computing demand.

Interestingly, the most profitable AI companies benefit from scarcity, but that scarcity pushes up prices and hinders broad AI usage. That’s the opposite of dotcom: the internet was free, which is why companies struggled to make money. AI’s future profits require broad adoption – but its current profits hinder adoption. The biggest names are unlikely to bubble over, but there are concerns below the surface.

Gold benefits from debasement

US instability has pushed people out of the dollar this year, and into old favourites (gold) and new disruptors (cryptocurrencies). Investors call that “the great debasement trade”, but it’s becoming uneven.

Cryptocurrencies sold off sharply after Trump’s 100% China tariff threat a week ago. Bitcoin lost 16% in the aftermath, Dogecoin sank 50% and certain so-called ‘stablecoins’ (which aren’t legally stablecoins, as they’re not backed by risk-free instruments) lost their 1-for-1 dollar pegs. $19bn of leveraged positions were liquidated across futures markets – including a suspiciously large sell order (in profit), that was opened just minutes before Trump’s announcement. Volatility forced leveraged buyers to close crypto positions to cover their margin calls, and exchanges deployed $188mn from an insurance fund to cover market gaps.

Gold, on the other hand, kept soaring ahead. Its years-long rally has amped up recently, going from $3,200 an ounce at the start of August to over $4,200 now. People lump gold and cryptos together in the debasement narrative – but their drivers are different. Central bank purchases have created a momentum trade dynamic for physical gold, following Russia’s SWIFT exit and a desire (mainly from emerging markets) to de-dollarize. Gold prices rallied again despite a stronger dollar, which normally pulls down commodities through pricing effects.

The gold-crypto disparity tells us gold is seen as a currency diversification, while cryptos are risk assets. Indeed, a crypto rally is often taken as a sign of risk appetite. That might sound strange, considering that a gold rally is usually interpreted as a risk-off indicator. The debasement trade reconciles that difference, but the recent coming apart cements gold’s status as the main dollar alternative.

That’s also why we don’t think gold is a viable long-term investment (which long-term returns back up). There’s nothing to stop it rallying further, but it’s a currency diversification play more than a source of growth.

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Marcus Blenkinsop

20^th October 2025