Last week the Bank of England (“BoE”) cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.75%, with Governor Andrew Bailey signalling optimism for hitting the inflation target by late spring and suggesting openness to further easing. This dovish shift, which also noted artificial intelligence-driven job displacement risks, contrasts with other policymakers' hawkish concern over "hot" wage growth. Analysts believe further cuts beyond 3.5% will require stronger evidence of cooling pay pressures. UK retail sales unexpectedly fell by 0.1% in November, driven by drops in food and online sales. However, the GfK Consumer Confidence index surprisingly rose to -17 in December on increased major purchase intentions, indicating moderating caution despite a subdued economic outlook...

Stocks featured:

Bunzl, Endeavour Mining and Fresnillo

To find out more about the investment management services offered by Walker Crips, please visit our website:

https://www.walkercrips.co.uk/

This podcast is intended to be Walker Crips Investment Management’s own commentary on markets. It is not investment research and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or trade in any of the investments, sectors or asset classes mentioned. The value of any investment and the income arising from it is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise, so that you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Movements in exchange rates can have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of any non-sterling denominated investment. Nothing in this podcast constitutes advice to undertake a transaction, and if you require professional advice you should contact your financial adviser or your usual contact at Walker Crips. Walker Crips Investment Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 226344) and is a member of the London Stock Exchange.

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The past week revealed unexpected weakness in the UK economy, with Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) contracting by 0.1% in October against expectations for modest expansion. The decline was driven by falls in both services and construction, alongside a steep 17.7% drop in motor vehicle production, as pre-Budget fiscal anxiety weighed heavily on output. Despite this immediate slowdown, the Confederation of British Industry (“CBI”) upgraded its growth outlook, raising its 2026 GDP forecast to 1.3% and 2025 to 1.4%, citing a temporary boost from government spending while warning that deep-rooted structural problems remain. Meanwhile, the latest Bank of England (“BoE”) & Ipsos survey signalled a gradual easing in public inflation expectations for the year ahead to 3.5%, though hawkish policymakers continue to warn of persistent upward risks...

Stocks featured:

Informa, Unilever and WPP

To find out more about the investment management services offered by Walker Crips, please visit our website:

https://www.walkercrips.co.uk/

This podcast is intended to be Walker Crips Investment Management’s own commentary on markets. It is not investment research and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or trade in any of the investments, sectors or asset classes mentioned. The value of any investment and the income arising from it is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise, so that you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Movements in exchange rates can have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of any non-sterling denominated investment. Nothing in this podcast constitutes advice to undertake a transaction, and if you require professional advice you should contact your financial adviser or your usual contact at Walker Crips. Walker Crips Investment Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 226344) and is a member of the London Stock Exchange.

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The past week saw increased regulatory focus and a cooling labour market. The Bank of England (“BoE”) launched a "system-wide exploratory exercise" to stress-test private equity and credit markets, which hold 15% of UK corporate debt. The exercise will be run over two rounds, allowing officials to examine the impact of a crisis on the private capital market as well as on the wider financial system. Regulators around the world are concerned about the build-up of risks in the rapidly expanding private credit market after the collapse of the US car parts supplier First Brands and subprime auto lender Tricolor. UK Employment data showed a slowdown, with the BDO Employment Index hitting a 14-year low, and KPMG reporting continued declines in permanent placements and vacancies due to high costs and budget uncertainty. Despite this, persistent wage pressure for skilled labour pushed permanent salary inflation to a five-month-high, offering a slight sign of stabilisation...

Stocks featured:

Antofagasta, Diageo and JD Sports

To find out more about the investment management services offered by Walker Crips, please visit our website:

https://www.walkercrips.co.uk/

This podcast is intended to be Walker Crips Investment Management’s own commentary on markets. It is not investment research and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or trade in any of the investments, sectors or asset classes mentioned. The value of any investment and the income arising from it is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise, so that you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Movements in exchange rates can have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of any non-sterling denominated investment. Nothing in this podcast constitutes advice to undertake a transaction, and if you require professional advice you should contact your financial adviser or your usual contact at Walker Crips. Walker Crips Investment Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 226344) and is a member of the London Stock Exchange.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.