AHR Weekly Market Update Podcast

Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 24th November 2024. 

US equities led global markets this week, with the S&P 500 advancing around 2% as small-cap and value stocks outperformed growth counterparts. 

Investor sentiment was buoyed by economic data from the US, where initial jobless claims fell unexpectedly to 213,000, the lowest level since April 2024. 

Adding to the upbeat tone, nearly all third-quarter earnings results are now in, with S&P 500 companies on track to post an average year-over-year growth of 5.8%. 

In the UK, inflation pressures mounted significantly in October. 

Despite this, UK equities emerged as a standout performer among European markets, rising 2.5% over the week. 

After a sharp decline the prior week, US crude oil prices rebounded, gaining more than 6% to trade above $71 per barrel on Friday. 

In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin extended its record-breaking rally, climbing above $99,000 by week’s end. 

That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.

Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 17th November 2024. 

Global equity markets retreated for the week, giving back much of the previous weeks gains, as investors digested what the incoming US presidents proposed policies might mean for the global economy.

US consumer prices rose as expected in October, driven largely by higher shelter costs such as rents. The pace of progress toward lower inflation has slowed in recent months, potentially limiting the number of interest rate cuts the Federal Reserve may implement next year. 

Underlying inflation remained slightly elevated, though expectations remain for a third rate cut from the Federal Reserve in December. 

The UK economy slowed more than expected in the three months to September, with GDP growth slipping to 0.1% from 0.5% in the previous quarter. 

The services sector, which grew by a modest 0.1%, provided little support, while the construction sector was a rare bright spot, expanding by 0.8%. 

Major US retailers wrapped up earnings season, with S&P 500 companies on track to post a 5.4% increase in third-quarter earnings compared to a year earlier. 

Over the week US equities fell around 2% with US technology falling over 3%. European equities followed suit, falling over 2% as concerns of the new US President’s trade policies unsettled investors. 

Perhaps the most notable performance since the US election result has been that of Bitcoin. 

That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.

Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 10th November 2024. 

US equities surged to their best weekly performance in over a year, as a decisive result in the US presidential election lifted a cloud of uncertainty from the markets. 

With Republicans securing control of the presidency, Senate, and potentially the House, the stock market responded with its strongest post-election rally on record. 

The Federal Reserve’s latest policy decision underscored a more cautious approach, with a 25-basis-point cut bringing the federal funds rate to 4.5%-4.75%. 

Across the Atlantic, the Bank of England mirrored the Fed’s gradual shift towards easing, lowering its key rate by a quarter-point to 4.75% amid falling inflation. 

All major US equity markets hit record highs during the week, with Wednesday’s election results the catalyst for the move. 

Meanwhile, US Treasury yields saw substantial volatility, with the 10-year yield surging briefly to 4.48% in mid-week trading before retreating to close around 4.30% on Friday, down from 4.37% the previous week. 

That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.

Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 3rd November 2024. 

In what began as a relatively subdued week for markets, Thursday saw a jolt of volatility, with stocks taking a tumble as fresh worries over the growth potential of technology shares and artificial intelligence rattled investors.

The third-quarter earnings season for S&P 500 companies is now in full swing, and results have so far delivered modestly positive surprises. 

In the latest snapshot of the US labour market, October’s nonfarm payroll report disappointed significantly, with just 12,000 jobs added versus an expected 100,000. 

Over in Europe, the eurozone economy notched up a 0.4% expansion in the third quarter—double the growth rate seen in Q2 and ahead of the 0.2% consensus forecast. 

Eurozone inflation provided another key talking point. Headline inflation ticked up to 2% year-on-year in October, a slight acceleration from 1.7% in September, due in part to last year’s energy price declines dropping out of the comparison. 

In the UK, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves unveiled the first Labour budget in 14 years, earmarking an additional £70 billion in spending over the next five years, funded through £40 billion in tax increases and £32 billion in further borrowing. 

US equities shed over 1% for the week, reflecting concerns over tech sector valuations and rising bond yields. 

Looking to the week ahead, markets will be bracing for several pivotal events likely to drive sentiment. 

That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.

Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 27th October 2024. 

Global equity markets experienced a sell-off last week amid a flurry of third-quarter corporate earnings announcements, while bond yields continued their upward trajectory, and oil prices saw a strong rally.

As we reach the midway point of third quarter earnings season, a handful of mega-cap technology giants in the U.S. are anticipated to drive the bulk of earnings growth. 

Tesla, one of these tech behemoths, led the charge as last week’s top performer in the S&P 500, boosting the broader index and staving off a steeper decline. 

Equities in the U.S. slid broadly by 1% over the week, with value and small-cap stocks hit hardest, dropping nearly 3%. 

U.S. Treasury yields continued their ascent, with the 10-year note climbing for the fifth time in six weeks. 

Finally, crude oil prices in the U.S. rallied almost 5% last week, reaching close to $72 per barrel by Friday afternoon. 

That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.

Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 20th October 2024. 

Equity markets edged higher over the week as investors navigated a mixed bag of corporate earnings from the US, a rate cut by the European Central Bank (ECB), and a drop in UK inflation.

Nvidia, one of the globe’s top chipmakers, saw its share price surge to an all-time high, pushing its market value to an eye-watering $3.4 trillion. 

As anticipated, the ECB lowered its key deposit rate by 25 basis points to 3.25%, marking the first back-to-back rate cut in 13 years. 

In the UK, softer-than-expected inflation figures and a dip in wage growth have fuelled speculation that the Bank of England (BoE) will move to cut rates again, with a further 0.25% almost guaranteed at the upcoming November meeting. 

Meanwhile, the latest data out of China painted a mixed picture. 

US equities rose almost 1% over the week, led by the energy and utilities sector. 

That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.

Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 13th October 2024. 

The US equity markets surged to fresh record highs this week, while emerging markets, particularly China, saw a pause following their recent rally spurred by stimulus measures. 

In the United States, inflation data revealed a modest increase. The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.2% in September, matching the previous month’s rise. 

On an annual basis, inflation eased to 2.4%—the smallest increase since February 2021—down from a 2.5% rise the previous month. 

Also, during the week, earnings season began in earnest, with two major US banks posting strong third-quarter results, helping to lift their shares. 

Following the recent rally in Chinese equities, China’s National Development and Reform Commission reiterated its commitment to ramping up countercyclical measures to support growth. 

Across global markets, US equities rose more than 1% for the week, led by financial stocks. 

That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.

Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 6th October 2024. 

Tensions in the Middle East weighed on global equity markets for the week, as energy markets rallied and Chinese equities continued to gain momentum following the recent announcement of stimulus measures from the People’s Bank of China.

In September, the U.S. economy outpaced expectations by generating 254,000 new jobs, well above economists’ forecast of 140,000, marking the strongest performance in six months. 

The robust labour market report has sparked speculation over its implications for Federal Reserve policy. 

Wage growth, which remains elevated at 4.0% year-on-year, suggests that inflationary pressures are still a concern for policymakers. 

US broad equities and technology both etched out small gains for the week, gaining momentum of Friday following the stronger than expected labour market report. 

While weighing on sentiment generally, the prospect of a wider war in the Middle East sent oil prices to their highest level in about a month, benefiting energy shares as well. 

That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com

Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 29th September 2024. 

Global equity markets experienced a buoyant week, bolstered by fresh economic stimulus measures from China and softer-than-expected US inflation figures.

China’s central bank unveiled a series of initiatives designed to revitalise stock markets and provide support to its beleaguered property sector. 

In Europe, equity markets notched solid gains, with the broader index reaching its previous highs. 

Over in the US, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index, revealed a gradual easing of price pressures. 

US equities ended the week with modest gains, extending their winning streak to a third consecutive week. European stocks were buoyed by China’s policy announcements, rising 2.69%, while UK equities posted a gain of over 1%.

Meanwhile, US crude oil prices slid nearly 4% for the week, ending below $69 per barrel by Friday, a sharp drop from July's high of nearly $84, leaving oil prices little changed for the year.

That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com

Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 22nd September 2024. 

Global equity markets saw a boost this week after the US Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate for the first time since March 2020. 

While equity markets welcomed the rate cut, its scale may indicate a shift in the Fed's priorities—from controlling inflation to supporting economic growth. 

Meanwhile, in the UK, the Bank of England (BoE) held its base rate steady at 5.0%, as widely anticipated, with the Monetary Policy Committee voting 8–1 in favour of maintaining the current rate. 

UK inflation held steady at 2.2% in August, unchanged from July’s annual rate. 

US equities rose around 1.5% for the week, with US technology nearing its historic highs once again. 

That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.