Exploring investments
If you want to learn a bit more about investing and keep up to date with the latest investment trends, we’re here to help with useful information and thoughts from our experts.
What’s going on in the stock market
What could the US election results mean for your pension savings?
Our Investment Expert, Andrew November, considers how political changes can affect pension savings, and why it’s important to take a long-term approach when planning for your retirement.
Latest market update
Most pensions and other investments are invested in financial markets like stock markets. So how these markets perform will affect how your investments perform. Keep up to date with what’s happening in world economies and the impact on markets with our review of how shares, bonds and property have fared over the last three months.
Our latest thoughts
Why engaging with companies we invest in can make a difference
We look at how engaging with companies works in practice and why it’s important for businesses and employees, for people and planet, but also how it can affect company performance and, ultimately, retirement outcomes.
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Q2 Market Update 2024 (PDF, 2MB)
Q1 Market update 2024 (PDF, 2MB)
Q4 Market update 2023 (PDF, 2MB)
Q3 Market update 2023 (PDF, 3MB)
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What could a change in Government mean for your pension savings?
Our Head of Portfolio Management, Andrew November, looks ahead to the second half of 2024 and what changes in the political and economic landscape could mean for your pensions savings. Watch our short film to find out more.
What high inflation means for investing (PDF, 535KB)
After a couple of years of severe price inflation, we examine why there are no signs of it falling back to lower levels and what that means for investments.
What could market conditions in 2024 mean for your pension investments
Our Investments Director, Iain McGowan, considers 2024’s political and economic landscape, and explores what this could mean for your pension savings. Watch our short film to find out more.
What's in the basket? How inflation is measured (PDF, 500KB)
We've been hearing lots about inflation and how it's leading to higher prices. You may also have heard about the official inflation basket. But what is the basket, what's in it, and how is it used to measure inflation?
A weak pound: what causes currencies to fall in value? (PDF, 100KB)
The UK pound has not had a sterling time of it recently. We look at what can cause changes in a currency’s value and what has led to the pound’s weakness in particular.
Central banks’ influence on investments (PDF, 500KB)
Central banks lend to a country’s government and other banks. We look at the important role they play and how their actions can impact investments.
So, what is net zero and what does it mean for investments? (PDF, 2MB)
There’s lots of talk about net zero so we look at what it actually means and how it can affect investments.
Is ‘just zero’ the new net zero? (PDF, 670KB)
The ‘just’ transition is trying to ensure communities, businesses and workers are supported as countries move to a greener economy.
What is stewardship and how can it make a real difference? (PDF, 2MB)
Stewardship is about managing investments to create a range of long-term sustainable benefits. We consider how stewardship can make a difference, for example, by challenging companies to behave more sustainably and responsibly.
Investment markets and conditions can change rapidly, and the performance of your investments will depend on the specific investments held. These views shouldn’t be relied on when making investment decisions.