Analysis

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The UK stock market feels less volatile, and there are tangible signs of stabilisation and incremental improvement in the global economy.

Following a 70% rally from the lows of March, Asian equities' outperformance gap versus the rest of the world has widened even further, resulting in 31% outperformance for the first seven months of the year.

Following significant fiscal and monetary stimulus, optimism regarding a US economic recovery is building with the change in Q3 2009 GDP expected to be a positive 2.2% following a 1% decline in Q2 2009 and a worse 6.4% contraction in Q1.

When making asset allocation decisions, the temptation is always to opt for markets and funds that are performing well.

Japanese Smaller Companies sector makes gains of 25.4% over the last year

Emerging market debt held up well relative to other asset classes in 2008, and in 2009 has performed strongly as global financial markets have rallied.

The UK economy is struggling but it is not all bad news in the stock market.

Expectations that the July IPD Monthly Index would show an increase in capital values after two years' declining figures were not met, falling short at -0.1%.

It has, on the whole, been a positive time for markets, and enthusiastic investors have been rewarded accordingly.