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The 2026 Budget brought limited headline change but potentially significant long-term implications, particularly for business owners, property investors and savers, through higher tax rates, new Founders Relief and company reforms.

How much AI infrastructure does the world need - and how is it going to be funded? Rothschild & Co Redburn's Global Head of Technology Alex Haissl joins Chief Strategist George Karamanos to explore the scale of the data centre buildout, the financing structures underpinning it and the prospects for sustainable returns. They discuss the balance between training and inference, the importance of enterprise adoption, and what credit markets and open-source competition could signal for the next phase of AI investment.

The Budget delivers modest fiscal changes with limited portfolio impact, while reinforcing the UK’s manageable debt outlook, although its collection of smaller measures appears driven more by politics than economics.

The built environment must balance decarbonisation, climate resilience and affordability, with collaboration across housebuilders, policymakers, investors and suppliers essential to creating sustainable, resilient homes that deliver long-term value for communities.

AI-related fragility has returned, driven by financing concerns and leveraged neocloud companies. Yet strong hyperscaler balance sheets and recurring market rotations suggest it remains premature to call an inflection point.

This is the October 2026 Growth Equity Update from Patrick Wellington, Vice-Chairman of Equity Advisory.

With Budget speculation intensifying ahead of 28 October, investors should avoid reacting to rumours alone, while reviewing potential tax planning opportunities around CGT, IHT, pensions, property and investment structures.

Fiscal debates focus on debt and deficits, but government size may matter more. While debt shows little link to bond yields, higher taxes and spending can affect competitiveness, growth and economic efficiency.

France’s political uncertainty and fiscal pressures have unsettled markets, widening bond spreads and weakening the euro. While risks remain elevated ahead of 2027 elections, France’s challenges stop short of a sovereign debt crisis.

This Quarterly Letter explores how emotions and behavioural biases can undermine investment decisions. It highlights the importance of discipline, perspective and a clear long-term purpose in preserving and growing wealth through market uncertainty.

Rothschild & Co Wealth Management UK recently hosted an intimate networking dinner to encourage the conversations and connections that rarely happen in the day-to-day demands of building a business.

In the September 2026 Redburn Review, Rothschild & Co Redburn analysts take a closer look at some of the assumptions shaping today's markets.

The geostrategic context will continue to reshape the business environment, and the pace and complexity of events will only accelerate; for business leaders, that is now the norm.

Markets are navigating geopolitical uncertainty, shifting interest-rate expectations and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. Resilient economic activity, healthy corporate profitability and continued technology investment remain supportive, although higher oil prices, rising bond yields and political risks highlight the value of a measured, long-term investment approach.

Rothschild & Co has been recognised across five categories at the Global Banking & Markets Awards in the Middle East

In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken centre stage, fuelled by spectacular promises and applications that are now very much a reality. We have already noted on several occasions that this revolution is underpinned by less visible building blocks, such as strategic metals, data centres and electricity grids. Recent developments invite us to broaden that perspective even further.

Many business owners accumulate cash without a clear strategy. By separating operational, reserve and surplus capital, businesses can improve resilience, reduce concentration risk, manage tax considerations more effectively, and ensure excess cash supports longer-term business and personal objectives.

Rothschild & Co appoints Brent Surber to lead its Private Capital Markets capabilities in North America

Japan’s yen has weakened sharply, reviving concerns over carry-trade unwinding and global market volatility. Yet Japan’s stronger growth, rising wages, higher inflation, corporate reforms, and improving shareholder focus suggest a structural economic revival, though sustained profitability remains the key test.

Investments linked to artificial intelligence continue to support global growth, but they are also contributing to a sustained rise in long-term interest rates. At the same time, geopolitical tensions and uncertainty surrounding the Federal Reserve’s communication are maintaining a more fragile economic environment.

Populism is reshaping politics across the US and Europe, drawing parties away from the traditional centre. Rather than left versus right, voters increasingly divide along establishment versus anti-establishment lines, creating opportunities for populist movements and challenging conventional political assumptions.

Rothschild & Co’s UK Wealth Management business continues to strengthen its regional presence with appointment of Samantha Beach in Manchester.

Rothschild & Co has been recognised with five prestigious awards at Euromoney's Awards for Excellence 2026

The second quarter of 2026 marked an important turning point for European equities. Following the correction at the end of March, driven by concerns over a prolonged energy shock, markets gradually regained visibility as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East eased and energy prices declined.

The latest Growth Equity Update from Patrick Wellington, Vice-Chairman of Equity Advisory.

Interest rate expectations have shifted markedly in 2026, with markets now anticipating higher rates amid persistent inflation, economic resilience and more hawkish central banks. Despite this, strong AI-driven earnings have supported equities.

As we head into the summer, the second half of 2026 looks set to be defined less by any single crisis than by continuing geopolitical shifts across multiple arenas. The simmering conflict in the Gulf continues. US politics is entering an important phase as we approach the midterms. Across Europe, populist sentiment is increasingly setting the national agenda, as the EU continues to double down on Made in Europe. Running through all of this is a steady erosion of trust between traditional partners that is pushing countries to hedge, diversify and act in their own self-interest.

Global equities rose despite geopolitical tensions, as markets looked through near-term risks. AI infrastructure spending drove returns and earnings growth, valuations sent mixed signals, and corporate activity remained subdued but showed signs of recovery.

Rothschild & Co Redburn analysts unpack the forces reshaping markets and society: from the future of stablecoins to AI’s quiet revolution in construction and the multi-decade grid supercycle transforming energy infrastructure.

Following Keir Starmer’s resignation, Andy Burnham has emerged as Labour’s likely successor. Despite political uncertainty, markets remain calm, with economic and geopolitical trends outweighing domestic politics. Significant policy change appears unlikely.

Markets are preparing for a wave of megacap IPOs led by SpaceX, amid strong AI-driven optimism. While liquidity should absorb issuance comfortably, questions remain around valuations, passive investing, concentration risk and index influence.