The US Federal Reserve started to cut interest rates this year, a reflection of the success achieved in moderating US inflation and also in recognition of the potential emerging risks of its restrictive policy to the US labour market. While US interest rates are still expected to decline into 2025, it is notable that the […]
Coldplay kicked off the sold-out Dublin leg of its ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour in Croke Park last night. Many of you will no doubt be attending the show over the weekend. However, what many aren’t aware of is the band’s impressive sustainability commitments. When the tour was initially announced back in 2021, Coldplay pledged […]
This past week has been tumultuous for pension/investment markets. However, it is important to not lose sight of long-term pension/investment objectives. Market timing is extremely difficult. Time in the market and not timing the market is what matters. It is imperative to stay invested. Volatility is part of the journey to achieving long term retirement […]
The Olympics is in full flow and the investment industry loves sport analogies, so here we are right on cue. Running events of different distances are impacted by extreme heat: in a nutshell, the longer the distance the more the heat is not your friend. A common refrain is that “investing is a marathon, not […]
March was another strong month for global equities with the MSCI World index rising by 3.4% in euro terms, bringing its total return for Q1/2024 to 11.3%. Meanwhile, the ECB confirmed that it needs to see further disinflationary data before cutting interest rates. Again, it noted the importance of the wage inflation data that is […]
Over the past several weeks, there has been a notable convergence between the markets expectations for interest rate cuts in 2024 and the Fed’s guidance. At the beginning of the year the market was pricing in roughly six 0.25% interest rate cuts in 2024, while the US Fed implied just three 0.25% interest rate cuts. […]
Despite concerns of slowing economic growth, Q1/2023 earnings season began with the major US banks posting better than anticipated results. Several of the major technology and consumer discretionary names, including Microsoft and Alphabet, also reported better than expected results, leading their respective share prices to rise. On the economic data front, US and European headline […]
The market has begun to interpret the reducing inflation levels to mean central banks can begin to cut interest rates. In the US, there is an expectation that interest rates will peak at around 4.9%. In the eurozone, the equivalent number is about 3.5%. The opening days of February saw the US Fed increase interest […]
The Finance Act of 2022 introduced a number of taxation changes to pension contributions, as detailed below: Employer contributions to a PRSA on behalf of an employee are no longer considered a benefit in kind for the employee. There is no limit to the level of contributions that an employer can make to a PRSA […]
The annual Deloitte Football Money League report was published yesterday. Total revenue for the top 20 highest revenue generating soccer clubs in 2021/22 stood at €9.2bn, +13% y/y and only marginally below pre-pandemic levels. Manchester City retained its position at the top of the Money League and for the second time the club generated the […]