Insights

Bill Emmott, former editor-in-chief of The Economist, considers the global outlook, in a year dominated by the US presidential elections, trade tensions, Brexit and the coronavirus.

Raising debt may seem like a logical response to an environment where interest rates are at record lows. Investment Director Charlie Macquaker assesses the risks within that all-too-common assumption.

Corporate debt is at record levels, fuelled by years of low borrowing costs and liquid markets. But there are fears that the market may be heading for a fall.

Investment Managers Alan Lander and Des Armstrong travelled to Vietnam and Bangladesh to revisit apparel and footwear factories in South-East Asia.

Few issues energise environmental campaigners more than fracking. Investment Manager Des Armstrong recently visited Texas to see how one producer is working to improve its operations environmentally.

The urgent need to address climate change tends to inspire fear, even panic. Dr Gabrielle Walker, a recognised expert on the topic, argues that a more positive approach is required.

Walter Scott’s Non-Executive Director Alex Hammond-Chambers has worked in the investment industry since the 1960s. He shares some of the insights he has acquired during more than half a century of asset management in both the UK and the US.

The banking sector might be a vital cog in the functioning of an economy but we prefer to look elsewhere for sustainable long-term returns.

Market cycles have been a feature of economic life for centuries; why so many practitioners think it could be different this time.

Lean manufacturing traces its roots back to the early 20th century. But its principles, developed and honed in Japan, remain as relevant today.