The BIG Picture

Despite summer typically being quiet, the headline-filled nature of 2025 has yet to show signs of slowing.

For the Labour Party, restoring sustainable growth was always going to be challenging. A year on and the UK economy remains fragile, yet some investors may find the UK still offers some rich pickings.

While the stock market narrative may sound familiar—U.S. equities navigating waves of volatility on the way to new highs—the environment certainly was not. We examine four catalysts that held sway over performance and what lies ahead for investors.

It has been an eventful few weeks. A significant escalation of conflict between Israel, Iran, and the U.S. culminated in a recent ceasefire. Not surprisingly, oil prices have been volatile through this period, though global equity markets have remain

The longstanding inverse relationship between gold and real interest rates seems to have broken down, suggesting new forces—central bank buying, geopolitical uncertainty, and portfolio diversification—have a larger role in driving demand for bullion.

Inflation remains calm in 2025, but tariff-related price hike concerns have kept the Fed sidelined. We look at the Fed’s commentary, the impact of market forces and political pressure on yields, and the probability of rate cuts before year’s end.

The U.S. government’s fiscal outlook can no longer be ignored.