While there was no let up in eventful news headlines, August was noticeably calmer than much of 2026, with markets enjoying a brief period of respite after a year dominated by geopolitical tension, Al euphoria and volatility across bonds and equities. That calm will have been particularly welcomed by investors over the summer holiday season, with those checking markets from the beach spared the sharp swings that have become a recurring feature of recent years. As a result, investors were generally rewarded for looking through the noise, as resilient economic fundamentals continued to support risk assets.
