Here are this month’s highlights: It was a mixed month for global risk assets – Emerging market equities struggled, with geopolitical tension and dollar strength feeding into perceived vulnerabilities. US growth continued to be particularly strong, while consumers globally felt the bite of sharp oil-price increases.

Here are this month’s highlights: Global equities had a positive month, with developed markets edging out emerging market peers. Corporate earnings’ season started on a positive note, despite concerns regarding the impact of ongoing geopolitical noise and simmering trade tension. Global bond markets were mixed, a hawkish Federal Reserve Bank statement sent the dollar higher towards month-end and oil prices declined as OPEC and Russia agreed to increase output.

Here are this month’s highlights: The second quarter of 2018 ended on a bumpy note. Global trade tensions, the stalemate between Britain and the EU, and geopolitical spill-overs made headlines. Sentiment-driven emerging markets, technology stocks and cyclicals were noticeably volatile. South African equities, after an initial sharp sell-off, recovered toward month-end to close higher. Local bond and fixed income investors remained jittery, and the currency depreciated sharply against the greenback.

Here are this month’s highlights: May saw little respite from geopolitically-driven volatility. Corporate earnings were largely positive, but global investors were left uneasy by the abrupt reversals in US rhetoric on Asia. Emerging markets bore the brunt of global risk-off sentiment. Whilst some markets were boosted by ever-higher oil prices, EMs with large current account deficits were particularly vulnerable. South African assets were not spared the broad-based sell-off. SA equities, fixed income and property markets all declined, and the rand slid against the dollar.