Confluence of election cycles makes for stormy seas

The end of the summer period brings about a period of reflection. As we hurtle towards the final quarter of the year and analyse how markets and companies have fared in 2023, particularly after an especially tough 2022, minds begin to look to what next year brings.

While many of the world's biggest events are not foreseen as far in advance - see Russia and Ukraine in 2022 - next year contains some seismic happenings which will be well telegraphed and debated nonstop. Not since 1992 has the US presidential election and the UK general election been held in the same year. The consequences these two events can bring to two major global economies are vast. Bank of England rate setter Catherine Mann breaks ranks with gloomy inflation prediction Clearly in the UK the mood music is pointing to a change of regime, with the Labour Party odds on to take...