Feature

Bull bond market potentially coming to an end

UK income hunters face headwinds of historical proportions: 10-year gilt yields hit an all-time low of 0.5% on 12 August, accompanied by a similarly record-breaking feat from sterling corporate bonds of 2.3%.

Japanese equities have earned themselves a reputation over the years as the market everyone loves to hate, writes Trevor Greetham, head of multi-asset, at Royal London Asset Management.

Housing remains one of the brighter spots for the US economy. After enduring four years of depression, the housing industry began to recover in 2012 and now seems more like a tailwind than a headwind.

Concerns have been mounting in the run-up to the US election, particularly over Hillary Clinton's proposed clamp down on drug pricing, writes Carl Harald Janson.

In Europe, the European Central Bank (ECB) remains the dominant driver for yields. This year, it has been willing to extend the pace of quantitative easing (QE), add other instruments to the eligible pool, and signal new stimulus should it be warranted....

May be time to take profits

Renewed expectations of a US interest rate rise and the uncertain outcome of the imminent US election have recently contributed to more moderate returns from emerging market bonds after their solid year-to-date performance.

One of the issues about investing in Asia Pacific is the dominance of China in the index, writes Andrew Herberts, head of private investment management at Thomas Miller Investment.

GDP growth has been sluggish, so there has been a premium for companies that have improved margins in the US, expanded their business, spun off non-performing assets or segments, cut costs, etc, while still operating at a high level.