Insights

Fading inflation, a recovery in asset prices and renewed economic growth ensured 2023 was a much better year for most investors than 2022. We examine the trends and stories that most affected investors last year, and give our outlook for the coming 12 months.

At the start of a new year it’s natural to think about our hopes and ambitions, but very few goals will be achievable without help and support from others. In this Quarterly Letter we discuss how and why we seek to build strong relationships.

Amid a mixed economic outlook, female founders share the biggest challenges and opportunities facing their businesses in the coming year.

Are you looking to pass on wealth to your children while retaining some control? Family investment companies (FICs) can be a useful way to achieve this goal. In this article we consider the pros and cons of using FICs, and the tax benefits of doing so.

How is the economy faring? How can we experience both falling inflation and improved growth? And are we at the end of the interest rate cycle?

After spending a lifetime successfully building your wealth, inheritance tax (IHT) can cause a significant amount to be taken by the taxman. In this article we examine how IHT works, the tax rates charged and what steps families can take to reduce its impact.

Global equities rebounded by 9.2% in November (USD terms), as did global government bonds by 3.0% (USD, hedged terms).

Taking out a mortgage on the high street may be difficult if you have complex income, here’s how our specialist lenders can help you.

Entrepreneurs innovating in climate technology face a major challenge when scaling their business. Larger companies are natural partners for these innovators. We believe there’s a multi-decade opportunity to invest in companies enabling the path to a ‘net zero’ economy.

Sustainability has always been a fundamental investment issue. Here we outline the Rothschild & Co approach to sustainability in the investment process and the factors that can affect a company's intrinsic value and thus returns.

The last few months have seen global consumer confidence dip back to still-depressed levels, while business confidence has weakened in most countries. Still, investors remain somewhat optimistic as they foresee the resilience of the global economy amid the end of the monetary tightening.

Global equities declined by 3% in October (USD terms), alongside global government bonds which fell by 0.6% (USD, hedged terms).

Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR), formerly Entrepreneurs’ Relief, is a tax break that can give owners of private companies a tax saving worth up to £100,000. To claim the relief you must meet strict ownership criteria and prepare your finances in advance.

In this Strategy blog, we take a look at the concept of 'secular stagnation' and its impact on economic growth and living standards.

As a complement to public equity, private markets have evolved significantly in recent decades and their popularity continues to grow.

All of us demonstrate bias, even if it’s often detrimental to our lives. This is especially the case with investing, where it can be too easy to make poor decisions because of bias. This piece looks at the most common types of bias and how to minimise the negative impact.

Insights into the key drivers behind the outlook for China's economy as well as an update on the Q2 earnings results so far.

Global equities declined further in September, by 4.1% (USD terms), and global government bonds also fell by 1.6% (USD, hedged terms).

Humans are irrational beings, yet economic theory often assumes we are perfect decision makers. In this Quarterly Letter we examine some of the common mistakes people make, and explain how acknowledging these flaws can strengthen, rather than weaken, our investment decisions.

Lombard loans, also known as portfolio loans, allow you to borrow money against your assets such as stocks and bonds without selling your investment portfolio. This guide explains how you can use such loans to maximise your wealth.

Interest rates are still rising, turning government bonds into an attractive option for investors looking to preserve their wealth. In this Market Perspective we assess how bonds now compare to stocks, and examine falling global inflation.

Psychiatrist and explorer Dr. Bertrand Piccard made aviation history with his successive non-stop around the globe flights in a balloon and a solar airplane. In our interview, we trace back his aeronautic firsts, discuss the importance of perseverance and make the case for Switzerland's investment opportunities, as a country rife with high-tech innovation.

Over the past months, narratives dominated by central bank tightening producing an inevitable recession have faded from the scene. However, the economic outlook remains particularly uncertain amid further deterioration in business confidence.

Global equities fell by 2.8% in August (USD terms), alongside global government bonds which edged lower by 0.1% (USD, hedged terms).

Global equities rose by a further 3.7% in July (USD terms), while global government bonds edged lower again by 0.3% (USD, hedged terms).

After some resilience in early 2023, the economic outlook remains particularly uncertain amid further deterioration in business confidence. Yet, investors continue to foresee a soft landing.

Insights into the key drivers behind the outlook for China's economy as well as an update on the Q2 earnings results so far.

Global equities rebounded by 5.8% in June (USD terms), while global government bonds edged lower by 0.1% (USD, hedged terms).

Business surveys suggest that growth will slow further in the second half of 2023, while stubbornly-sticky core inflation is keeping central banks on their toes, and policy rates have yet to peak. In the latest episode of Perspectives from Wealth Management Switzerland, Laura Künlen and Global Investment Strategists Kevin Gardiner and Victor Balfour discuss why a more dramatic economic setback still feels neither necessary nor likely and why we should question artificial intelligence pessimists. Subscribe to Perspectives on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Italian merchant Marco Polo spent 25 years travelling across Asia at the end of the 13th century, seeking insight into new communities and cultures. In this Quarterly Letter we explore how there is still long-term value in looking beyond borders today.

Headline inflation rates have turned lower, spending power is getting some relief, and transatlantic business surveys have softened. But there are still geopolitical, environmental, and social concerns impacting the long-term outlook. We provide an update on the macroeconomic environment.

Recent surveys have hinted at a slowdown in economic growth, but underlying inflation is proving more persistent, pressuring central banks to hike rates further. Yet, how tightening credit conditions interact with already restrictive monetary policy stances is a key uncertainty.