Other market opinions
Some of the opinions expressed on this page are from sources outside the FirstRand Group. They do not necessarily represent the opinions of the FirstRand Group, it's subsidiaries and/ or staff.
bridport Investor Services - Weekly Comment
Bond Outlook by bridport & cie, January 2010In these opening days of 2010, there is positive prevailing sentiment in the financial markets, based apparently on optimism that a normal recovery is underway...full document
Barclays Capital - Global Speculations
Unsettled start by Tim Bond22 January 2010
Markets have had an unsettled start to the year, buffeted by a variety of risks. We offer some views on the three main risk themes, relating to China, fiscal concerns and bank regulation...full document
The Himalayan Fund - Market Commentary
January 29th 2010The stupidity from last week spilled over into this week when a US newspaper got hold of a story that the Chinese central bank had instructed banks to stop lending out of fear of the economy overheating and stoking an asset bubble...full document
Ashburton's Perspective
January 2010 EditionKeeping an eye on Asia...full document
Ashburton's Perspective
October 2009 EditionObama’s crucial gamble...full document
Collins Stewart News & Views Q4 2009
Global Investment Review and Outlook, Equity Diversification, Financial Planning, Building Income Portfolios, Treasury, CS UCITS III Absolute Return Fund
full document
Obama's Freshman Year
by Jonathan Aldrich-Blake, AshburtonNovember 2009
"President Barack Obama has just passed the one year anniversary of his election. Having been given the hospital pass from George Bush, what has he achieved in his freshman year in office? Undoubtedly, his Everest to climb is the problems that face the US economy. When he won the election unemployment was rising, Lehman’s had gone bust, AIG had been bailed out, the credit markets were frozen and the housing bubble had burst....."full document
A new dawn in Japan
by Jonathan Schiessl, AshburtonAugust 2009
"Blink and you would have missed the stock market’s reaction to Japan’s momentous election result over the weekend. On the day following the result the Nikkei actually fell 0.39%....."full document
Taking some risk off the table
by Tristan Hanson, AshburtonAugust 2009
"Across our Multi Asset Funds we have decided to take some equity risk off the table (25/08/09). The equity weighting in the Asset Management Funds, for example, has been reduced from 45% (close to the maximum permitted) to 30%....."full document
Bridport Investor Services
August 2009"After our muted rejoicing last week that the world is undergoing its needed rebalancing, the time has come to look at what is still, for the West at least, the most important single economy: the USA....."full document
Hot Topic - China
By Jonathan Schiessl, AshburtonAugust 2009
"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs..." After a strong start to the year for most Asian markets, Chinese and China related equity markets have been falling since the start of August. So what is spooking markets in supposedly rapidly recovering China? ....full document
Barclays Capital - Global Speculation
Looking up, By Tim Bond
Existing data confirms that a sharp improvement in the US labour market is due over the
next three months...full document
SG Hambros Summer 09 Investment Bulletin
What we would like to be able to say, a few years from now, is that the financial crisis of 2008 started in a manner similar to the Great Depression of 1929 but the final outcome and the impact on the economy differed greatly due to a very different policy response. The recent rally in equities suggests that investors are beginning to think that indeed this may be the case....full document
Challenging consensus
By Tristan Hanson, AshburtonJuly 2009
Markets are at their most fascinating – and most challenging – when price action diverges from what an objective assessment of the relevant news might suggest. full document
Ashburton's Perspective
July 2009 EditionIs the glass half full? Or still half empty? – Just as investors appeared to be regaining faith in the global economy, equity markets retreated in June in the first meaningful correction since the rally began.... full document
Stenham Q2 09 Review of Hadge Fund Strategies
The second quarter saw a continuation of the sharp rally that began in early March. All the major indices moved into positive territory for 2009 albeit temporarily. From their March lows, equity markets have risen approximately 35%...full document
makaseb - Monthly Commentary June 09
A spurious correlation is defined as a false causal relationship between two variables, both of whom are linked to a third, “lurking” variable...full document
Ashburton's Perspective
April 2009 EditionWill you join the dance? Now might be the time for investors to put on their dancing shoes. full document
Stenham Market view
January 2009The following summarises Stenham’s view of global markets and potential future developments: full document
Julius Baer Investment Policy January 2009
The newsflow from the US housing market, labour markets around the world, consumers and companies is discouraging and continues to deteriorate.....full document
"A Long Hard Slog" - Barclays Wealth Annual Outlook 2009
In last year's 'Annual Outlook' version of Signpost, we described the global economy as skating on thin ice - potentially able to avoid the recession if only policymakers could steer their way through a hazadous environment....full document
SG Hambros Winter 08-09 Investment Bulletin
Faced with a financial crisis unprecedented since the Great Depression in the latter part of the year, governments and central banks of the major industrial countries undertook massive actions to reflate their economies and prevent a deep and prolonged recession. On a cumulative basis the measures represent a heavy arsenal, which when fully activated should be sufficient to avert a deep depression and a long-lasting credit crunch. However..........full document
Global Investment Review and Outlook 2009
by Collins Stewart Wealth ManagementJanuary 2009
In our last market review we suggested that whilst equity market conditions would remain volatile for the foreseeable future, we felt that the unprecedented governmental support that has been given to the global economies combined with attractive valuations would eventually win the day and that an equity market rally of some significance was likely. Our view remains unchanged.....full document
