PA Portfolio: Is the US shutdown a major concern?

Ian Kernohan, economist, Royal London Asset Management The US government shutdown could be an issue for the market but the approaching debt ceiling deadline in mid-October is a much bigger deal. Back in August 2011, we saw similar problems: the US market was downgraded and markets were volatile. However, the economy is a lot firmer now than it was and the eurozone is more stable. These shutdowns are not unusual. Although we have not had one for a while, we have had quite a few over the past decades. However, it does illustrate the degree of polarisation in US politics at the moment. Be...