The Jupiter Merlin team discusses rising bond yields driven by fiscal pressures and mounting geopolitical tensions.

Technology stocks largely led the market before the coronavirus pandemic took hold and while the virus has turned much of the world on its head, technology stocks continue to power on. With many workers at home for the foreseeable future and friends and family socialising from a distance, will the technology sector continue to dominate? Jupiter’s investment team discuss this question and explore the regions, sub-sectors, and stocks to watch.

The Jupiter Merlin team analyses the arguments shaping the 2029 election, the least predictable in years.

The Covid-19 virus continues to whistle its way through developing markets at lightning speed, as well as more than thirty of the mainly southern and south-western states in the US seeing an upsurge (daily new cases in the US have reached 63,000; in context that is 13,000 more per day than a week ago). When Coronavirus first broke out, there was a widely held belief that, like the flu virus, Covid-19 might be naturally suppressed by heat and sunlight (a contributing factor to flu outbreaks being rare in summertime). The fact that Covid-19 is now going through hot regions, both temperate and arid, like a dose of salts, either debunks the thesis, or at least demonstrates that other more powerful epidemiological forces are at work.

The Jupiter Merlin team analyse the implications of war in Ukraine and the Trump-Putin negotiations taking place on the anniversary of Japan’s surrender in 1945.

The Jupiter Merlin team examines the challenges confronting central bankers as they gather in Wyoming.

In this edition of Active Minds, James Clunie discusses the two themes that seem to be driving markets today: companies well positioned to endure lockdowns, and those with most to gain from lockdowns easing. Interestingly, both kinds of stock are outperforming. Meanwhile, Matthew Pigott looks at Brazil’s experience with Covid-19, and why its market could go from euphoria to hysteria and back again. Lastly, Mitesh Patel talks about the Japanese market and how investors’ narrow focus is creating valuation opportunities elsewhere.

Video: Four global risks investors should watch

Alex Savvides, Stephanie Geary and Siddharth Sukumar provide extended commentary about the market and their UK Dynamic Equity strategy during the quarter.

This week has been one of targeted fiscal heavy lifting, particularly in the European Union. One of the ironies of the current impasse between the EU and the UK in concluding a free trade agreement is the EU’s insistence that its strict rules on state aid provision must be adhered to by the UK so as not to give British companies a competitive advantage (or, more accurately, not to put EU companies at a disadvantage). Announced a while ago, Italy’s flag-carrying airline Alitalia has already been bailed out, as has KLM-Air France by both the Dutch and French governments.

Ned Naylor-Leyland discusses his market views on gold and its "higher beta cousins’’ - silver and the shares of gold and silver mining companies.

Harry Richards, Fund Manager, explains why investment grade offers abundant opportunities in a credit picker’s market.

The Jupiter Merlin team examines what’s in store as major equity markets remain exuberant, while the bonds markets stay cautious amid mounting global risks.

In this edition of Active Minds, Matthew Morgan looks at the tug of war between aggressive policy action and optimistic sentiment, and the prevailing uncertain risks of the pandemic’s continued economic and societal impact. Elsewhere, Alastair Gunn looks at the factors underpinning equity markets and whether M&A can make a comeback, Avinash Vazirani looks at India’s experience navigating the Covid-19 crisis so far, while George Fox looks at Japan’s role as a source of income in these tough markets.