Based on factor investment, this innovative approach capitalises on the attractive performances thus far of smart beta strategies. It is based on the combination, within the same portfolio, of four complementary factors that are loosely correlated with one another: Quality, Valuation, Momentum and Low Volatility.

In our view, the recent sharp market rotation that we have seen – from “low volatility growth” to “high volatility value” – is a continuation and acceleration of the trend change that has been underway since the third quarter of this year. The turning point for “quality growth” and other hideouts was marked by the Brexit vote.

?It has been and remains a tough time to be a European equity fund manager. That generally should be considered an immediate warning to look out for lame excuses as to why a fund is underperforming. Or it might actually be an interesting way of thinking about how political uncertainty, combined with an arguably overvalued bond market, is having repercussions for equities.

Global bond markets, especially emerging markets, took it on the chin over the past five trading days as investors reacted to the U.S. election results and soaring expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike in December.

Here we go again. As we saw post the UK's EU Referendum result, financial markets sold off following Trump's election win, with risk assets being the main casualty; however, by the end of Wednesday US equities were back in the black and investors took solace in Trump's statesmanlike acceptance speech.