Swings & Roundabouts

Friday, 19th January 2018

WHIreland is a long-established financial services firm and has been part of the Manchester DNA for over 100 years and can trace its roots to the founding members of the Manchester Stock Exchange in the mid-1800s.  We have a long history of working with and managing the wealth of a diverse range of private clients, charities, corporate and large institutional clients. Our firm belief is to build long-term relationships based upon trust whilst placing our clients’ needs at the centre of everything we do.

On 11 January 2018, WHIreland were delighted to invite members of pro manchester to their prestigious new offices in the New Bailey development in Spinningfields where the forum discussed our Outlook to investing in 2018 and the likely ‘Swings & Roundabouts’. John Goodall, Head of Private Client Research at WHIreland and based in the Manchester office and Mike Ingram, Chief Market Strategist at WHIreland, outlined their views on the markets for the coming year. Highlights from the discussion included;

  • 2017 was a great year for risk assets as the ‘Secular Stagnation’ theory was replaced by a ‘Goldilocks Scenario’, where the economy is neither too hot nor too cold; it is “just right”
  • Our expectations are that things are likely to become a bit tougher during 2018 as interest rates edge upwards and Quantitative Easing programmes are scaled back.
  • The USA looks to be very late in the economic cycle and the outlook for GDP growth is unlikely to be helped by the Trump tax cuts.
  • China has been responsible for much of the growth in debt however even there, the impact on growth has been subject to diminishing returns.
  • We see opportunities in Europe, Emerging Markets, UK Commercial Property and Alternatives, specifically infrastructure.
  • UK, US Equities and Fixed Income look fully valued and are susceptible to a correction.

To find out more about how we can help you, or to learn more about WHIreland, please contact Robert Race, Head of Wealth Management, Manchester on 0161 832 2174 or email Robert at [email protected]