Investments

IPF expands European investment with €64.5m equity commitment into Pan-European light industrial property platform

More than protection – structured products deliver excellent returns

Fairtree Asset Management launches global fixed income fund on Prescient Fund Services Ireland UCITS platform

Local can be lekker too

A third of 2019 is basically over and returns have been good for local investors so far this year. This is largely because of strong gains in global equities. With the rand flat against the dollar year-to-date, local investors have enjoyed the full benefit of global returns. The local equity market has also improved this year and April has been a very good month for the JSE, despite a local economy that continues to be buffeted by bad news and uncertainty ahead of next week’s general elections. The global backdrop remains broadly supportive for equity markets. China’s economy appears to be stabilising as stimulus measures take effect. The US economy is still very healthy, growing by 3.2% in the first quarter, according to data released on Friday. There are still question marks over Europe, but at least things don’t seem to be getting worse there. Meanwhile, major central banks, notably the US Federal Reserve, have shifted their policy stance from hiking to keeping rates unchanged (a few are even adding stimulus).