This publication aims to provide an insight into the changing economic environment and importantly, how this has impacted financial markets and investments. Our Multi-Asset Solutions team at Santander Asset Management UK share their thoughts on the market outlook and how they have adapted investment portfolios to position our clients for the road ahead.

This publication aims to provide an insight into the changing economic environment and importantly, how this has impacted financial markets and investments. Our Multi-Asset Solutions team at Santander Asset Management UK share their thoughts on the market outlook and how they have adapted investment portfolios to position our clients for the road ahead.

Our central macroeconomic scenario for 2024 is for economic growth to remain in positive territory (but more limited, yet avoiding a global recession), inflation to ease (but remain high), and interest rates to start falling (gradually).

This publication aims to provide an insight into the changing economic environment and importantly, how this has impacted financial markets and investments. Our Multi-Asset Solutions team at Santander Asset Management UK share their thoughts on the market outlook and how they have adapted investment portfolios to position our clients for the road ahead.

This publication aims to provide an insight into the changing economic environment and importantly, how this has impacted financial markets and investments. Our Multi-Asset Solutions team at Santander Asset Management UK share their thoughts on the market outlook and how they have adapted investment portfolios to position our clients for the road ahead.

Investor expectations of the path interest rates would take fluctuated during the first quarter amid mixed signals on whether inflation is easing. A banking crisis in March added to volatility, spurring uncomfortable questions regarding the health of the global financial system.

Encouraging signs emerged this quarter that inflation may be beginning to plateau. However, the overall picture for the global economy remains defined by stubborn inflation, and the interest rate rises central banks are implementing trying to contain it.

Shares experienced their biggest monthly rally in three years fueled by investor hopes that central banks are close to winning their battle with inflation.

Global stock markets fell for a third month in October after a sharp increase in bond yields triggered volatility across financial markets.

Share and bond prices declined across a wide range of markets in September as investors came to terms with the fact that interest rates are likely to stay higher for longer as rising oil prices make it more difficult to reduce inflation.

Shares experienced their biggest drop in eight months and developed nation bonds delivered negative returns in August on worries that interest rates will stay higher for longer.

Stock markets rose in July amid expectations that US and European interest rate hikes are nearing an end and that the global economy will grow more than previous International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts suggested.

Stock markets rose in June as a slowdown in US inflation offered hope that the Federal Reserve is nearing the end of its interest rate hiking cycle, improving the odds that the world’s biggest economy will avoid a recession.