The Jupiter Merlin team examine the state of US politics, as Trump survives an assassination attempt and Biden continues to come under pressure to withdraw.

Ariel Bezalel and Harry Richards explain why deflationary forces still hold sway in the global economy and where they’re finding opportunities in the Jupiter Strategic Bond Fund.

Jupiter Merlin Webcast: Rather than the famous ‘wall of worry’ investors have been climbing a mountain. So where are the best long-term opportunities?

With the prevalence of Covid-19 and its rapid and significant disruption to the global economy, not surprisingly the tectonic plates on which central banks sit are gradually shifting as countries deploy their own different strategies to deal with the fall-out. This week, the Bank of England and the US Federal Reserve (Fed) held their respective September meetings, and both warmed to themes aired publicly at the recent Jackson Hole policy symposium and before that.

The UK goes to the polls on 4 July to elect a new government. Could economic data boost Tory chances? The Jupiter Merlin team assess the factors at play.

The one fifth decline in UK GDP in the second quarter could, without any fear of exaggeration or hyperbole, be described literally as ‘unprecedented’. Now confirming what we have been seeing for several weeks in improving unofficial high frequency data (credit card usage, retail footfalls, traffic congestion, passenger movements, electricity consumption etc), UK GDP saw a recovery of 6.6% in July.

Jason Pidcock and Sam Konrad explain why they think their Asian Equity Income strategy is well positioned for a range of scenarios, given its diversified exposure.

Are governments and central banks trying to cure a debt problem with more debt? As policy intervention drives markets higher at the same time as economic data nosedives, Ariel Bezalel and Harry Richards discuss where they are finding opportunities and avoiding pitfalls in today’s bond markets.

As inflation rates in most major economies start to converge, will central banks release their grip on interest rates?

Technology stocks largely led the market before the coronavirus pandemic took hold and while the virus has turned much of the world on its head, technology stocks continue to power on. With many workers at home for the foreseeable future and friends and family socialising from a distance, will the technology sector continue to dominate? Jupiter’s investment team discuss this question and explore the regions, sub-sectors, and stocks to watch.

Jason Pidcock and Sam Konrad explain why they think Australia offers some of the best equity income opportunities in the Asia Pacific region, and arguably, the world.

The Covid-19 virus continues to whistle its way through developing markets at lightning speed, as well as more than thirty of the mainly southern and south-western states in the US seeing an upsurge (daily new cases in the US have reached 63,000; in context that is 13,000 more per day than a week ago). When Coronavirus first broke out, there was a widely held belief that, like the flu virus, Covid-19 might be naturally suppressed by heat and sunlight (a contributing factor to flu outbreaks being rare in summertime). The fact that Covid-19 is now going through hot regions, both temperate and arid, like a dose of salts, either debunks the thesis, or at least demonstrates that other more powerful epidemiological forces are at work.

Jason Pidcock and Sam Konrad discuss the AI theme in the Asia Pacific (ex Japan) region and highlight where they’re finding some of the most attractive tech opportunities.

The Value Equities team provide an insight into the companies they have engaged with in 2023 as part of their annual stewardship report.

In this edition of Active Minds, James Clunie discusses the two themes that seem to be driving markets today: companies well positioned to endure lockdowns, and those with most to gain from lockdowns easing. Interestingly, both kinds of stock are outperforming. Meanwhile, Matthew Pigott looks at Brazil’s experience with Covid-19, and why its market could go from euphoria to hysteria and back again. Lastly, Mitesh Patel talks about the Japanese market and how investors’ narrow focus is creating valuation opportunities elsewhere.

Jason Pidcock and Sam Konrad explain why they think Australia offers some of the best equity income opportunities in the Asia Pacific region, and arguably, the world.

The Jupiter Merlin team discuss their 2024 outlook, when central banks may battle with markets over policy. Meanwhile, an extraordinary US election approaches.