A stronger US economy, fragile Japan and reviving European markets

clock • 16 min read

Fund managers give their views on the key issues impacting global asset classes and outline how they are positioning portfolios.

  Mike Felton on UK Growth Sterling has weakened slightly against the US dollar but investor confidence remains fairly robust, evidenced by the FTSE 100's extended multi-year rally to an all-time high this year.  However, investor focus should remain on central banks and monetary policy as opposed to any impact from last week's general election. The current deliberations in Europe and US present investors with far more pressing issues, and  central banking policies continue to drive markets in the short term.  As a consequence, the prospect of the first interest rate rise since...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Investment

Darius McDermott: The lessons from 2025 and opportunities ahead

Darius McDermott: The lessons from 2025 and opportunities ahead

'2025 has been a salutary lesson in the difficulty of timing markets'

Darius McDermott
clock 07 January 2026 • 5 min read
Trump, Modi and US-India trade tensions – who cares?

Trump, Modi and US-India trade tensions – who cares?

A bottom-up approach to finding hidden gems

Gabriel Sacks
clock 02 January 2026 • 4 min read
2026: Year of the racehorse or workhorse?

2026: Year of the racehorse or workhorse?

'Every year brings its challenges, and 2026 will be no exception'

Russell Andrews
clock 02 January 2026 • 4 min read