Job Curtis, Portfolio Manager of The City of London Investment Trust – one of the world’s oldest – talks about the impact of rising inflation, soaring energy prices, and the war on Ukraine on the UK market. Job also touches on the role oil and mining companies will play in decarbonizing the planet and the energy transition.

Key takeaways:

• The City of London Investment Trust has performed well to begin the year as investors hunt for bargains in the UK market. Oil and mining companies have benefitted from higher commodity prices, whilst the strength in financials reflects rising interest rate expectations.
• UK businesses have been transforming themselves to deal with the changing consumer and structural growth trends that are driving growth. Companies have invested in e-commerce and digitalisation to enhance their online offering as consumers spend more time online.
• Decarbonising the planet will be neither straightforward nor quick. Both must be conducted responsibly and in a way that doesn’t leave economies vulnerable to energy shocks – as the war in Ukraine has highlighted.