While global equities delivered robust gains in February, bond markets retreated as investors pared back expectations for interest-rate cuts in the face of stronger than expected inflation and economic data. Buoyed by the same resilient economic data, strong US company earnings numbers and a sharp bounce in Chinese equities following the latest raft of policy initiatives, global equities delivered 5%. China was the top-performing regional equity market. Its return of 9.1% boosted Asian and emerging markets. Meanwhile, bond prices fell with US Treasuries and UK gilts among the worst casualties.
Past performance is not a guide to future performance and may not be repeated.
Investment involves risk. The value of investments may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the amount originally invested.