Our latest article looks at how higher inflation and rising interest rates driven by events in the Middle East could impact treasury management.

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.

As part of a national programme supporting care leavers, CCLA hosted ‘Beyond the System’ conference in January. Participants noted that while national policy frameworks are often good, implementation on the ground is not always consistent. A year into the programme, we look at the lessons learned and what needs to happen now to help close this gap. 
 

Stock markets have set record highs several years in a row. At the end of 2025 a minority of companies in AI, banking and defence made up 37% of the MSCI World Index. But, share prices have struggled to hang on to these highs over the past few months, and the best and worst-performing sectors have traded places or ‘rotated’. So, how do we separate the wheat from the chaff?

Stock markets reached new highs in January, but US shares continued to lag Europe and Asia. Sentiment remained optimistic, the pound strengthened, and bond markets held steady. Prices for gold and silver reached new peaks as international tensions rose. 

We are pleased to announce today that CCLA becomes part of the Jupiter Group, a UK-based active investment management company. Becoming a part of Jupiter secures our ability to serve the sectors we were established to support and to extend the reach of CCLA’s stewardship approach. Please find a summary of the announcement, a message from CCLA and Jupiter CEOs, Peter Hugh Smith and Matt Beesley, and latest FAQs.  

Our first global benchmark on modern slavery reveals that the 100 largest global listed companies (UK companies excluded) underperform the 100 largest UK companies benchmarked at the end of 2025. 

In this update we reflect on 2025, outlining what’s worked and what hasn’t, what needs to change and what doesn’t. We set out the conclusions we have reached and our confident outlook for 2026. 

A monthly market update from our investment team. 

A monthly market update from our investment team.