Share prices rose in April, and despite rising inflation, central banks are holding interest rates steady as they assess the impact of the Middle East war. Given ongoing risks in stocks and bonds across Europe and the US, we continue to expand diversifying strategies, first introduced in early 2026.
Investors don’t need a perfect transition plan, but they do need an honest one - on Wednesday 15 April 2026, the Local Authority Pension Funds Forum and CCLA joint hosted a seminar focussed on how climate transition plans can provide a mechanism to test corporate ambition against real-world action.
Global share prices fell in March, but the month saw a strengthening of the US dollar against the pound. Not surprisingly, oil prices rose with fears that inflation may spike as a result. We also consider further economic ramifications of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Is artificial intelligence really a threat to traditional industries, or merely misunderstood? Discover how a balanced perspective based on fundamental analysis can reveal opportunities and resilience amid the hype and fear.
Two weeks on since our last commentary, our cash team share an update on the economic impact of the Middle East war following recent escalations. With the Bank of England poised to react and markets navigating unprecedented volatility, find out what this means for inflation, energy prices, and government borrowing.
Councils expect to spend £14.8 billion on Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in 2025–26, creating significant budget deficits. To help, central government has proposed an extra £4 billion of support over the next three years. With around two-thirds of special needs schools at or over capacity, access to SEND support has, effectively, become a postcode lottery. The private sector has stepped in, building safe SEND environments in as little as 12 to 15 months. Historic Braywick House, which CCLA Investment Management sold in October 2025, is one example.
February saw global stock markets climb - though notably, US shares prices fell. Concern over the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and the sizeable investments by major tech companies into AI infrastructure, weighed heavily on US stocks. We also consider possible economic ramifications of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.