Our monthly economic review is intended to provide background to recent developments in
investment markets as well as to give an indication of how some key issues could impact in the future.
It is not intended that individual investment decisions should be taken based on this information; we are
always ready to discuss your individual requirements. We hope you will find this review to be of interest.

At the end of April, several major global markets
closed the month in positive territory. On the last
trading day of the month, Europe’s largest markets
lost most of the healthy gains accrued the previous
day, as cautious statements from economists and
central banks weighed on sentiment.
• The FTSE 100 surged back above the 6,000 mark
on Wednesday 29 April, buoyed by positive results
from a trial of antiviral drug remdesivir, but after
a tumultuous day of trading on the last day of the
month, the index closed on 5,901.21, a monthly gain
of 4.04%. On 30 April, energy price stocks slid as oil
major Royal Dutch Shell cut its dividend for the first
time since the end of the Second World War. The FTSE
250 gained 8.96% in the month to close on 16,454.46
and the AIM index closed the month up 18.77%. On
European markets, the Euro Stoxx gained 5.06% in
the month and in Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 6.75%.SFFS Economic Review_Apr 20

Our monthly economic review is intended to provide background to recent developments in
investment markets as well as to give an indication of how some key issues could impact in the future.
It is not intended that individual investment decisions should be taken based on this information; we are
always ready to discuss your individual requirements. We hope you will find this review to be of interest.

March was a challenging month for global markets,
as investors assessed the economic damage from
the pandemic. Although some indices have rallied
in the last week or so, they largely remain down
over the month and the quarter. Many central banks
have taken decisive fiscal and monetary action to
shore up economies, which, to some extent, has
served to stabilise financial markets, but as the
virus spreads, large-scale uncertainty remains.
• Some indices rose on the last day of March,
following the release of stronger-than-expected
industrial data from China, which raised hopes that
the world’s second-largest economy could stage a
rapid recovery. The official survey of Chinese factories
indicates the easing of restrictions has prompted a
rebound, with the manufacturing sector’s Purchasing
Managers’ Index reading 52.0 in March, well above
forecasts of 45.0 and a significant increase from the
record-low figure of 35.7 in February.
SFFS Economic Review_Apr 20 SFFS Simply Wealth Spring Budget_Mar 20 SFFS Economic Review_Mar 20

The New Year period is a
common time for people to
take stock of their finances and
make resolutions designed to
boost their financial wellbeing.
And a new study has found
the likelihood of success in
this area is heavily linked to
receiving professional advice
and the establishment of clear
financial objectives.
Advice is key to success
The recently released research1 actually
provides a quantitative measure of the
value attributed to advice when it comes
to helping investors achieve their goals.
The US study was based on real-life data
relating to more than 100,000 advised
investors and found that eight out of
10 with a defined retirement goal had
at least an 80% greater probability of
achieving their financial objectives. In
other words, advised investors typically
hit 80% of their financial goals.SFFS Simply Wealth_Winter 20

Providing you with all the latest news for your reading pleasure.

Our monthly economic review is intended to provide background to recent developments in
investment markets as well as to give an indication of how some key issues could impact in the future.
It is not intended that individual investment decisions should be taken based on this information; we are
always ready to discuss your individual requirements. We hope you will find this review to be of interestSFFS Economic Review_Dec 19

UK set to avoid recession • At the end of October, talk of renewed trouble  in US-China trade negotiations cast doubt on the
possibility of a long-term trade deal. The news knocked sentiment recently lifted by growing optimism the Phase One deal would be concluded in November. • In the UK, at the end of the month, markets braced for a wide array of Brexit possibilities after parliament approved a December election. October 31 marked the first full day of campaigning for Boris Johnson and his rivals. The more domestically focused midcap index closed marginally up at month end, while the large cap index lost 2.16% in October. • In the US, investors continued to digest the  Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate cut and commentary, as well as a host of major corporate
quarterly results as earnings season rolled on. The NASDAQ Composite was buoyed by results from Apple and Facebook, the Dow Jones finished marginally up (0.48%). • On the foreign exchanges, sterling closed the month at $1.29 against the US dollar. The euro
closed at €1.16 against sterling and at $1.11 against the US dollar. • Gold is currently trading at around $1,512.46 a troy ounce, a gain of 2.74% on the month, as trade woes brought the precious metal back in favour. OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting
Countries) oil output bounced in October from an eight-year low as a rapid recovery in Saudi Arabian production offset losses in Ecuador and voluntary curbs under a supply pact. Brent crude is currently trading at around $60.21 a barrel, a loss of 0.94%
on the month. (Data compiled by the Outsourced Marketing Department)  SFFS Economic Review_Oct 19