We have been writing about inflation since late 2020 and believe it’s safe to say that inflation has become a significant problem facing global financial markets. While inflation is still very much making daily headlines in the financial press globally, the focus is shifting increasingly to the impact on monetary policy, economic activity and financial markets.
When evaluating investments, it is often difficult to consider which of the vast number of possible solutions is the best one to suit your needs.
As usual, the answer lies in the detail. We have done an analysis which compares unit trusts and segregated portfolios. We have listed key differences between the two in order to provide key details which will facilitate the determination of which approach best suits your situation.
Although climate change is always a hot topic, recent weather patterns have highlighted its impact on the world. The closer we get to Global Day Zero and the more realistic 2012 seems, humanity will be forced to act on then necessary changes. These changes will be permanent and as investors we should position ourselves to benefit from them.
The first half of 2022 was by no means a walk in the park. The global economy, and capital markets in turn, had to face a barrage of shocks. Our central investment theme, “The Return of Inflation”, which we have written about at length since late 2020, has taken centre stage. Read our latest newsletter by Benjamin van Wyk, CFA, below.
When volatility rears its head in the market and investors become nervous, one cannot help but wonder if it might be better to exit the market and wait for things to settle down before participating again.
This month, we investigated whether there is any benefit to selling out and sitting on the side-lines when markets take a turn for the worse.
Taking over all headlines at the beginning of 2022, the Russia Ukraine tension seems to have taken a back seat as the world encounters the politics of billionaires, the fear of EU instability and temperamental weather. The war however is far from over, with conflict exacerbating the rise of inflation and supply challenges. Hot on the press for the month of April was Elon Musk’s hostile takeover of Twitter, as well as the French election and devastation in KwaZulu Natal.
Capital markets have been exceptionally volatile during the first quarter of 2022. Benjamin van Wyk, CFA takes a look at the benefit of staying invested over the long-term, as well as the importance of determining a suitable asset allocation based on an investors’ objectives, risk profile and unique circumstances.
We saw an increase in Eastern tension as Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February. Tension, which has been rife since the early 2000s, has intensified. Since then, we have seen the Russian rouble fall more than 20% to the United States Dollar as sanctions are imposed on the country. A notable sanction is the restriction on the Russian central bank’s access to their funds held by other central banks, limiting their access to their own financial reserves. Ukrainian President Zelensky announced on 28 February that he had signed a request to join the EU, a possibility which the bloc leaders will potentially consider this month at their informal meeting on the 10th and 11th of March.
At Pyxis Investment Management we continuously scrutinise our strategies and work at incorporating new information into our investment views, where the situation has changed or new information has become available. Although we are not active traders, but rather long-term investment managers, we are active thinkers and attempt to pre-empt scenarios – no matter how far fetched they may appear.
Tensions between Ukraine and Russia are at their highest in years. As talks between the nations involved continue, it is important to stay abreast of developments and monitor these, as well as any additional implications which may affect global economies.
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