The 2014 half-year review

REVIEW

So far this year, the investment market has seen ‘breathtaking' returns, stubbornly low yields, and volatility at a pre-crisis low, notes Rory McPherson, multi-asset portfolio manager at Russell Investments.

Summer is upon us and the emotional rollercoaster of the World Cup has kicked off. This is in contrast to the smooth ride we have seen in financial markets recently. Prospects are looking up since the depth of the economic doldrums in 2008, with growth in earnings, economies, and wages clearly a cause for optimism. Returns have been nothing short of breathtaking over the last few years. The US equity market is up 219% since its low in 2009, and yet risk has been low, with even the most reluctant policymakers now looking to stimulate markets. However, not all asset classes are shari...