Feature

Asian tech sector has structural advantages

'Keep a cool head'

Like many countries that took part in the World Cup, the emerging market (EM) space kicked off the 2018 season with euphoria, only to have their hopes dashed on the pitch.

Growth, trade and geopolitics have left the equity markets struggling to gain traction lately. Japan is no exception, with the market facing a strengthening yen as investors seek out perceived 'safe havens'.

There has been a pick-up in volatility in the US market this year after an abnormally tranquil 2017. Concerns about the end of the cycle are mounting amid rising US interest rates and higher inflation and the end of quantitative easing. 

The mining sector is often associated with ill-disciplined capital management. Through the last supercycle, driven by Chinese industrialisation, bullish management teams typically signed off overzealous projects and ill-advised M&A activity as they sought...

Trade wars a key risk

According to Smith & Williamson's Chris Ford

Concern over central bank actions

This year has seen the return of market volatility, with the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX, the 'Fear Index') having averaged 16 for the year so far.