Majority of asset classes will take a hit in 2005

Fund managers across the globe have predicted a disappointing 2005 across the majority of asset classes on the back of steadily worsening economic data. The worst hit asset classes will include US equities and the UK bond and residential property markets but there is also positive news with forecasts of out-performance in UK equities and a stabilisation in Japan. Edward Bonham Carter, chief investment officer of Jupiter Asset Management, believes that 2005 will be a challenging year for the market. "I do not expect 2005 to be easy," he said. "The UK stock market has performed well compar...