Events and insights for charities

The potential $2tn listing of AI startup Anthropic has set us thinking about who might win out in the AI wars. That’s an important question for investors.

Sheffield Wednesday's difficult season and the Japanese yen's recent weakness share a striking parallel — both have hit historic lows, before showing tentative signs of recovery with a little outside assistance. While short-term volatility remains inevitable for both, underlying fundamentals suggest that, over the long run, better days lie ahead.

AI enthusiasm is giving way to AI accountability, as investors ask whether the huge spending boom can turn promise into durable profits.

Markets are still waiting to be called, with bonds offering more cushion than before and investors rotating away from tech rather than heading for the exits.

Markets are no longer relying on the usual AI goal scorers, with investors rotating across the pitch rather than heading for the exits.

Markets trusted earnings to do the heavy lifting, as AI profits powered equities despite fears of froth, tail risks, and recession.

Markets drew lessons from lived experience and old scars that split investors into believers in the AI boom in one camp, and believers in the other.

Join Fiona Gillespie, Head of Charities Scotland for the next Rathbones Charity Expert Webinar Series: The Future of Giving and Philanthropy on Tuesday 13 October 2026.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz kept inflation high in the first half of this year, but corporate earnings growth flowed freely.

Markets stayed steady despite heavy political and policy news, with investors weighing UK upheaval, a historic US IPO and a firmer Fed tone.

The backdrop remains unsettled, from Middle East tensions to changing rate expectations. We still see reasons to stay constructive; investors are rarely rewarded for waiting on perfect conditions.

Markets turned unsettled after a red‑hot run, sparking talk of a top. We still see no case to cut equities, periods like this can bring new opportunities.

A strong responsible investment framework for charities balances mission, risk and return. It goes beyond simple exclusions, using Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) integration, stewardship and clear prioritisation to align investments with purpose. The most effective approaches are evidence-based, proportionate and transparent, helping trustees demonstrate progress while maintaining long-term financial outcomes.

Prepare for the new Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) with 7 practical steps to strengthen transparency, Envrionmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting and how investments support your mission.

As speculation rises that a left-winger could replace Keir Starmer, UK gilt yields have risen to levels last seen before the financial crisis, bringing renewed focus to inflation, public finances and borrowing costs. Equity markets continue to be supported by earnings growth and AI investment, even as higher yields play a more visible role.

Markets remain resilient despite geopolitical and political uncertainty, with oil prices, strong corporate earnings, and AI optimism supporting momentum. However, investor behaviour and rising UK political instability could influence sentiment and keep risks firmly in focus.