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EXPERT INSIGHTS

Stock market monitor: Equity outlook

Several major stock markets have hit record highs this year. Yet there have been shifts beneath the surface amid central bank rate cuts. What are some of the investment implications?

Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are not guaranteed. Investors may not get back the amount originally invested.

FUNDS AT BLACKROCK

Funds that match up with investing goals and preferences

Each investor has a different story, and we are steadfast partners to our clients in the UK because we listen to every one of them. Our full range of funds is one way we’re helping more investors build solid financial futures.

Equities
Buying shares for the long term

When you invest in an equity, you buy a share in a company and become a shareholder. Equities are typically best for long-term investing – for those who are able to ride out the highs and lows of the market in search of higher rewards. 

Fixed income
Seeking stable, lower risk returns

Fixed income securities, or bonds, are issued by companies and governments as a way of raising money. They’re basically an ‘I.O.U’ – designed to provide a regular stream of income (which is normally a fixed amount) over a specified period of time.

Alternatives
Driven by diverse sources of returns

While traditional assets like stocks and bonds are traded on the public markets, alternative investment strategies such as real estate, infrastructure, and private credit are less sensitive to the movements of global markets. 

Cash
Bank accounts aren’t the only option

If you're looking for better rates of return on deposits than you’d get in an ordinary bank account, cash funds may be a great option. They often invest in very short-term bonds known as ‘money market instruments’, which are essentially banks lending money to each other. 

Indexing
Investing that works for everyone

Fifty years of indexing have proven investing doesn’t need to be expensive, or complex. There’s quite literally an index fund for every market exposure and investment strategy you could possibly need, which means more opportunities for more investors. 

Multi-asset
Diversifying your portfolio

A multi-asset strategy combines different types of assets – stocks, bonds, real estate, or cash for example – to create a more nimble and broadly diversified portfolio. Fund managers will balance asset classes to achieve particular investment objectives.

I believe in capitalism, that in the long run it's the best economic model in the world. But what disturbed me as I wrote this letter, we never talk about retirement. It is not a conversation we're having, and that is why it's becoming a bigger and bigger problem. If individuals had better information on how to navigate it over their 30- or 40-year journey of work, they then can build the adequacy.

This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sources deemed by BlackRock to be reliable and are not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness. This material may contain ’forward looking’ information that is not purely historical in nature. There is no guarantee that any forecasts made will come to pass. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the reader. Past performance is not indicative of current or future results. This information provided is neither tax nor legal advice and investors should consult with their own advisors before making investment decisions. Investment involves risk including possible loss of principal.

In the U.S., this material is intended for public distribution.

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Larry Fink on rethinking retirement

Larry Fink considers the challenge of retirement, why it has become an increasingly difficult proposition for too many, and what opportunities exist and will be developed to help people achieve their financial freedom.