Specialist

Tech not immune from growth concerns

Two hard years for African equities

Biotech has fallen

Tom Delic, assistant fund manager at Seneca Investment Managers explores the demographic trends - from opportunities in tech to wealth management - that are available for investors to take advantage of

Just over a month ago, volatility, as measured by the VIX index was around 26%, the highest reading since the Chinese slowdown scare of last August. The FTSE 100 was plunging, reaching its nadir of 5,500 in the morning of 11 February.

Growth in derivative-based defined return investments

The biotechnology sector has been hit particularly hard by the risk-averse sentiment sweeping through global stock markets and after reaching a high in July 2015, the Nasdaq Biotechnology index shed about one-third of its value.

If you buy the 30-year inflation protected gilt today and hold it to maturity you are guaranteed to lose 24% of your real capital. Where should you put your money instead?

The FTSE ET 100 returned 5% versus the MSCI All Countries World index, which advanced 3.3%, in 2015 rounding off what was a successful year for environment markets.

Changing demographics in developed nations, a growing demand for both digital and physical infrastructure, and renewed interest in good corporate behaviour are set to rule 2016 and beyond.