This website uses cookies. Find out more.

  • Contact
  • Client Login
Chase de Vere
Trustpilot
  • Services
    • Advice for you
    • Advice for your business
    • Partner With Us
    • Advice on Personal Injury Awards
    • Advice for Medical Professionals
    • Advice for Dental Professionals
  • About
  • Careers
  • Insights
  • Contact
0345 609 2002 Book Appointment

Advice for you

Advice for your business

Partner With Us


Advice on Personal Injury Awards

(Off-site link)

READ MORE
Advice for Medical Professionals

(Off-site link)

READ MORE
Advice for Dental Professionals

(Off-site link)

READ MORE
Back to Insights
News

2018 proves volatile after the smooth sailing of 2017

14 August 2018
  • Share

The first six months of 2018 were unpredictable times for investors as global stock markets suffered a sudden bout of volatility.

Source: LSE

The unpredictability came as a major surprise after the general stability of 2017.  Once the dust had settled there was a mixture of good and bad news.

The UK markets were inevitably led by Brexit, with negotiations mainly at the intra- rather than inter-government level. The other perennial British topic, the weather, produced the Beast from the East, depressing economic activity in the first quarter.

US short term interest rates continued to rise under the new chairperson of the Federal Reserve, with more increases promised for the second half of the year. Meanwhile, the tension between America and North Korea turned into a denuclearisation agreement and the Trump tax cuts were followed by the start of Trump trade wars, hitting long-term allies as well as the supposed target of China.

For all that, an investor who opened their first newspaper of the year on 1 July 2018 would have thought nothing much had happened. The FTSE 100 index fell by less than 1% in the first six months of 2018. Across the Atlantic, the S&P 500 rose in the same period, but only by 1.7%.

The small overall changes are a reminder that daily market movements often turn out to be self-cancelling noise, best ignored by the long-term investor.

The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Investing in shares should be regarded as a long-term investment and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.

Content correct at time of writing and is intended for general information only and should not be construed as advice.

  • Share

Related Insights

09 October 2018

Financial Advice can more than pay for itself

Not paying for financial advice for…

News
View Article
21 December 2018

Index-linked savings certificates

The popular National Savings & Investments…

News
View Article
31 January 2019

KEY LESSONS TO REMEMBER AS STOCK MARKETS BECOME…

When the stock markets get choppy,…

News
View Article

TO FIND OUT HOW CHASE DE VERE CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS, ARRANGE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION.

ARRANGE APPOINTMENT

Related Services

Advice for you

We offer our clients attentive, focused, financial guidance from highly qualified independent advisers located throughout the UK. Whether you’re saving for the future, enjoying your retirement or fu...

Learn more
JOIN OUR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE TO RECEIVE:

EDUCATIONAL NEWS UPDATES & UPCOMING EVENTS

By signing up to our email subscription service we will send you regular emails with the latest insights from Chase de Vere. By signing up you are agreeing to our term and conditions that can be found here.

Chase de Vere
  • 0345 609 2002
  • client.services@chasedevere.co.uk
  • Home
  • About
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies
  • Gender Pay Gap Report
  • How to make a complaint
  • Insights
  • Modern Slavery Statement
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Linkedin

Disclaimer:

Investments can go up and down in value, so you could get back less than you put in.
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate cash flow planning, tax or estate planning.

© Copyright Chase de Vere / 2025