Market & Portfolio Update - April 2021
Global share markets continued their march higher during April, rising 4% in local currency terms. Economic data has brushed off the horrid Covid situation in India and continues to surprise to the upside. Labour markets are rebounding quickly compared to other cycles and business confidence surveys sit comfortably in expansionary mode.
One theme that continues to be front of mind for investors is rising inflation around the world. Covid-19 has disrupted the global supply chain, initially causing things to grind to a halt before quickly needing to ramp back up to levels higher than pre-covid. This “whip” type effect, along with the large-scale stimulus, has resulted in inflation rates rising. We began adjusting our investments for this in the second half of 2020, by adding inflation-linked bonds in both the NZ fixed interest and global fixed interest sectors.
Market & Portfolio Update: April 2026
Global share markets rebounded strongly in April, despite continued geopolitical uncertainty. US share markets recovered sharply from earlier losses, with the S&P 500 recording one of its strongest monthly gains in several years. The rebound came as investors reassessed the likelihood of more severe outcomes from the Middle East conflict and refocused on company earnings and longer‑term growth prospects.
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