Global stockmarkets were supported by muted US inflation data which led to uncertainty over the pace of US monetary policy tightening.

Global stockmarkets advanced, but bonds sold-off, in a week that saw Catalonia move further towards independence from Spain.

Despite a raft of weaker-than-expected data and lower-than-expected inflation, the Federal Reserve and Bank of England indicated there would likely to raise rates before the end of the year.

At a recent event I was lucky enough to hear the results of a new survey of Financial PR’s conducted by Headlinemoney called ‘State of the Nation’. Over 70 financial service organisations were surveyed including banks, building societies, investment managers and adviser firms. 86% of respondents were in-house and there was a thorough mix of seniority and experience.

As widely expected the Federal Reserve kept interest rates on hold and confirmed it was to start unwinding its massive holdings of fixed income securities, acquired during its quantitative easing programmes. Theresa May used a speech in Florence to set out the UK's position on how to move Brexit talks forward.

Shares in global chipmakers suffered after Apple said its iPhone X would be launched later than expected.

Renewed tensions concerning North Korea and the impending arrival of Hurricane Irma on US soil prompted investors to flee to safe haven assets. Bonds and gold rallied but shares delivered mixed returns.

In a relatively quiet week, financial markets focused on the annual central bank meeting in Jackson Hole, as they awaited statement from the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank.

Global stockmarkets were unsettled by a terrorist attack in Spain and by heightened political tensions relating to the Trump presidency following his handling of white supremacist violence in Charlottesville.

Global stockmarkets retreated as investors were spooked by rising tensions between the US and North Korea. In contrast, core sovereign bonds and gold benefitted from their safe haven status, as did the yen and the Swiss franc.