Our head of multi-asset investments, David Coombs, would rather be riding round in a DB7 than reviewing COBS 6.1ZA.8. But he shunned living the spy’s life years ago in favour of investments, so here we are. He outlines our new benchmarks for DFM business and explains why he thinks they will complete the mission.

Head of equity research, Sanjiv Tumkur, considers how a new generation of consumers are leading long-established brands - the bedrock of portfolios around the world - to adapt a more sustainable approach and help shape a ‘brand’ new world.

With vaccines in the offing, many investors argue that inflation is just around the corner. Fill your boots with airlines, they say. Yet our head of multi-asset investments David Coombs has had his head in the 1970s lately, and it’s helped him spot a flaw in the plan.

With a clutch of vaccines on the way soon, equity markets were in a buoyant mood in November. But there are still a lot of things we don’t know – and even some things we don’t know that we don’t know…

In June 2020, rating agency Morningstar reported that global investments in environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds had reached a record high of $1.06 trillion, with capital inflows into sustainable funds up 72% in the second quarter alone.

The shock of the pandemic has made many businesses question how and why they do things. You shouldn’t underestimate how valuable these re-evaluations are, argues head of multi-asset investments David Coombs. Or underestimate the changes they could have on the future.

Equities fell in October as investors came to terms with tighter lockdown restrictions, but hopes for a new round of US stimulus under President-elect Joe Biden have buoyed markets, and chief investment officer Julian Chillingworth reckons we should take heart.

The US election is coming down to the wire, with President Donald Trump prematurely claiming victory as votes are still being counted feverishly all over the country. Of all the years, head of multi-asset investments David Coombs laments, this one could have done with an early, decisive result.

There’s a creaking and a groaning in the night in Swindon. Head of multi-asset investments David Coombs is living with a ghost of retail past that not even store credit can bury.

Rather than being a reason to press pause on the transformation of economies and societies, Rathbone Ethical Bond Fund manager Noelle Cazalis makes the case that COVID-19 could well be a catalyst for growth in sustainable solutions and the bonds that will fund them. 

A growing number of people are questioning how their pensions and other savings are invested. Rathbones’ stewardship director Matt Crossman explains why he firmly believes we can make the world a better place through our investments, and how best to do it.

With summer fading into memory, a long uncertain winter of social distancing lies ahead. It’s easy to feel gloomy, but as chief investment officer Julian Chillingworth argues, we should try not to buy into the doom.