This author isn’t a regular visitor to Burger King. I’m not sure I’ve been into one in this millennium, but I’m hoping to go soon!  The reason? Burger King has announced the roll out of its new “Impossible Whopper”.

An improving outlook for global growth and corporate earnings, along with improving business and corporate sentiment has pushed shares higher in 2017.

Last year, 2016, will be remembered for its political upsets – Brexit, the rise of populism in Europe, and the election of Donald Trump – but also the year that we stopped talking about deflation, yields on government bonds rose and investor spirits were reignited. Because of this, there is a new equation for investors; one where better growth plus a bit more inflation adds up to a change in approach to fixed income and the share market.

Brexit triggered volatility in markets, including a sharp depreciation of the British pound and dramatic falls in the share prices of British and European banks. However, we believe the probability of a major global systemic risk event due to Brexit is low in the short term. 

After a prolonged period of market volatility, the news from emerging markets has taken on a more positive tone since the start of 2016. 

A credit-fuelled property bubble enabled China to maintain its incredible run of growth through the global financial crisis (GFC). However, now China has to deal with a massive excess supply of property that is causing construction activity to contract along with a range of other linked sectors in the Chinese economy, as millions of homes lie vacant.

While the US ceased quantitative easing (QE) in October 2014, Europe commenced QE and in Japan it continues. China is seeking to stabilise growth, as seen in the recent cut in interest rates, while on 3 February 2015, Australian cash rates were lowered from 2.5 per cent to a record low of 2.25 per cent.