Markets faced continued pressure last week with China the only major stock market out of five ending the week higher. Stocks struggled particularly in the US and Japan as tensions in the Middle East continued to spook investors.

Markets faced pressure again last week with major stock markets in the US, China and Europe falling. The main focus of the week was over inflation data released in the US and China which disappointed investors. The UK and Japan held up better, delivering the strongest performance of the week out of major stock markets.

Markets were broadly down over the last week as heightened geopolitical tensions and uncertainty about the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy trajectory weighed on global equities.

The prospect of interest rate cuts has helped push stock markets around the world to record highs

Expectations of lower interest rates have propelled stock markets around the world to record highs.

For the month of April, we cover:

Market-moving events

Investment highlights

Asset allocation

Returns from stock markets were muted over shortened pre-holiday week. The week’s best performance from major markets came from the US and Europe.

Japan, the US and the UK led major stock markets last week after positive noise over future interest rate policy. Japan increased interest rates for the first time since 2007. In the US and UK, central banks continued to signal to investors that interest rate cuts could soon be on the horizon.

Market returns were mixed over the last week as prices of goods and services stopped falling in China for the first time in half a year. Whilst Japan narrowly avoided a technical recession, the UK economy shows signs of a recovery from its recession experienced in the second half of 2023.

Market returns were mixed over the week with only a few major stock markets rising in value. The big stories of the week included the European Central Bank’s latest meeting where positive noises were made over a reduction in interest rates and the Spring Budget announcement in the UK.

Strong earnings results from a range of companies helped to push stock markets to new highs. Read our full update here.

Stock markets around the world have hit record highs, while bond values have fallen back slightly.

For the month of March, we cover:

Market-moving events

Investment highlights

Asset allocation

Another decent week for equity markets with most major stock indices finishing higher. Highlights included reassuring inflation data out of the US and continued strength from Japanese equities after comments from the Bank of Japan’s governor. Stickier inflation data in Europe disappointed investors with mixed returns across stock indices in the region.

The UK fell into recession during the final three months of 2023, after the economy shrank by more than expected. We explore what recessions usually mean for markets and why it’s a good idea to stay invested regardless of the news.