Monthly Income monthly commentary - May 2024

Global equities gained 2.4% in May. Growth stocks strongly outperformed value stocks over the period with developed markets well ahead of emerging markets. These delivered small losses, despite China making a modest gain. Although the likely timing of US interest-rate cuts was pushed back again, markets continued to anticipate rate cuts with Europe outperforming other regions thanks partly to expectations of a June rate cut. Meanwhile, US Treasuries and UK gilts delivered modest gains while corporate bonds outperformed.