January Market and Economic Update 2016

January Market and Economic Update 2016
18 Jan 2016
Gareth Lewis
Gareth Lewis
Authors
  • Gareth Lewis
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Economic outlook

Once again a weaker sterling helped disguise what was otherwise a lacklustre month for global equities as worries over slowing growth and disappointment with new European Central Bank (ECB) stimulus measures sent major equity markets lower. In commodity markets, oil was a notable underperformer with the price of crude oil falling to an 11-year low on concerns of oversupply. Sterling fixed income also lost ground as markets digested the first US interest rate rise in nine years.

The European Central Bank increases quantitative easing

  • The ECB announced further monetary easing in an attempt to raise inflation, after admitting inflation was likely to remain lower for longer.
  • However the measures fell short of investor expectations, causing large swings in the euro and Eurozone equity markets.
  • The ECB decision was not a unanimous one, with some board members arguing that Eurozone growth was already rebounding and lower inflation was being driven more by external factors.

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Disclaimer

This article was previously published on Tilney prior to the launch of Evelyn Partners.