The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has wreaked destruction on the second largest country in Europe, causing appalling suffering and loss of life.
2021 ended with the S&P 500 reaching a record high, the FTSE 100 18% up on the year and European equities resurging with large cap equities up over 23%.
December ended a strong year for equity markets, as the opening of economies, following successful vaccination programmes and fuelled by loose government policy, helped to propel corporate earnings above expectation.
With the announcement of a new COVID-19 variant known as "Omicron" by the World Health Organisation (WHO), markets have a sense of déjà vu.
As positive global economic activity continues following the depths of the pandemic, hopefully we are getting closer to the point where monetary authorities are confident enough to begin to reduce their asset purchase programmes and to start to increase interest rates.
As central banks contemplate the future health of the World economy there is one word on investors' minds in recent weeks and that is ‘tapering’.
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