We explore Reeves Spring Statement 2025 and what it means for UK Growth, Inflation and Rates.

What is driving the rising demand for Custom Model Portfolios?

European security architecture has been dismantled and new one needs to take shape.

Trump’s second tariff war has unsettled markets.

The US and UK have kept rates on hold this week.

Elston Portfolio Management offers ​direct gilt model portfolio service (MPS) for financial advisers, aimed at clients paying a higher rate of tax. 

The UK equity market has underperformed the US and Global Equity over the long-term.  How much should UK investors allocate to it?

The “Mar-a-Lago Accord” is a concept, not an event.  Some are advocating a new currency accord and debt restructuring to fix the US balance sheet.

Henry Cobbe, Head of Research, Elston Consulting explores gaps in product development with Investment Week.

Over $2.5 trillion has been switched from actively managed to index-tracking funds.  What does this mean for providers?

Transatlantic security is going through a reset.  Europe needs to shift to hard power to guarantee its own security.

Gold has continued its surge as a safe haven investment.

Find out more about the Elston Smart-Beta UK Dividend Index (ticker: ELSUKI)
For latest UK Equity Income index factsheet click here

by Rob Davies, UK Equity Income Index Specialist at Elston Consulting
​
After a strong start to the year in January UK equities only just managed to deliver a positive return in February. Only two sectors, Financials and Health Care, recorded healthy gains in mid-single digits while the rest either had small gains or losses. Only one sector, Information Technology, was down in mid-single digits.

There was little economic news during the month and political developments, especially from the United States, dominated the news flow. Concerns about the effects of tariffs was paramount.
Sterling made gains against both the US Dollar and the euro in February even though bank rate was reduced by twenty-five basis points to 4.5% at the beginning of the month. A sluggish economy, a benign inflation outlook and slightly weaker oil prices were the background for this move.
​
Most large UK companies have now declared their results for 2024. And it is these companies that provide the bulk of the dividend income into the UK equity market. As 2024 recedes into history the index starts to include forecasts that apply to the next forecast year which is 2026. As a consequence of this rollover the consensus forecast for total dividends from UK listed companies increased by about 1% to nearly £98 billion. The main increases came from the banks and were enough to offset reductions in forecasts from the oil and mining companies.

We explore the key characteristics of our Equity Income index.

Differentiating between trusts that hold real assets and listed securities allows more nuanced approach.

Trump’s chaotic tariff policy is destabilising markets and raising concerns around impact on US economic growth and inflation.

Trump's volatile tariff policy is creating uncertainty in global markets.  This could hinder not help the US economic outlook.

Domestic politics is becoming more polarised.
International politics is moving from a unipolar to a multipolar world.
The transatlantic security alliance is under threat.
The weaponisation of tariffs is leading to deglobalisation.
How to make sense of this increasingly fragile world?
We explore some of the key themes of this new world dis-order.