In brief… The lite Monthly Market Summary – July 2018

Despite a brewing trade war between China and the U.S. and an increasingly uncertain post-Brexit future, on the whole, July was a buoyant month for global stock markets.

In the U.K., World Cup fever and hot weather propelled the retail and hospitality sectors to a successful month. In fact, the Centre for Retail Research estimated that every England goal was worth £165.3 million to the nation’s retailers.

Overall, the FTSE-100 index of leading shares was up slightly in the month. Having closed June at 7,637, it ended the month at 7,749 for a rise of just 1%.

On the continent, July was an unusually quiet month. Mainland Europe’s two major stock markets grew confidently during the month; both the French and German markets rose by 4% during July.

Whilst Europe saw a subdued July, Trump’s America had a chaotic month – something most of us have come to expect.

After imposing a 25% tariff on $34bn of Chinese goods in July, which provoked retaliatory measures by China, Trump is now proposing a colossal tariff that will affect $200bn of Chinese imports.

In typically brash American fashion, however, Wall Street has shrugged off the wide uncertainty these “Trump Tariffs” have caused , with the Dow Jones rising 5% in July.

Elsewhere, the Asian markets had a mixed bag. Shanghai and Tokyo closed up by 1%, whilst Hong Kong and Seoul fell by 1%.

This general upward trend could continue. However, the simmering U.S.-China trade war plus an, as of yet, directionless Brexit could bring some turbulence into global stock markets over the coming month.

On the subject of turbulence, if you’re flying somewhere abroad this month, we wish you a pleasant holiday.