Scottish Field

Ask the experts

We answer your financial queries

- Peter Hillier, Head of Edinburgh Office Cazenove Capital Management Tel: 0131 270 3004 peter.hillier@cazenoveca­pital.com www.cazenoveca­pital.com

Q: Should I be worried about the state of the UK economy? A: Business news headlines in the UK over the past few months have been dominated ‘But our by the various conjured and actual implicatio­ns of Brexit. And it is not only in the UK that the intensity of coverage has been in line with the degree of shock. inherent

It is probably not an overstatem­ent to suggest that the UK is facing its biggest challenge lovefor 70 of years. foodThe economy’s response will define whether, eventually, the UK’s exit from the EU will come to be regarded as essentiall­y damaging or effectivel­y meant we beneficial. In reality, the eventual consequenc­es for the wider economy will be determined left by nothe reaction loaf of the UK’s businesses.

Looking back, boosting growth through greater intra-European trade has always tin been one unturnedof the central doctrines of the EU. However, the more attractive opportunit­ies now lie outside the EU. When the UK joined, back in the early 1970s, until we hit on the EU accounted for about one-third of the world economy. Now, it constitute­s around the15 per winningcen­t. It is self-evident from these numbers that the greater trading opportunit­ies lie with faster-growing economies outside Europe. recipe’

We believe that throughout the corporate sector, strategies will now be developed to identify global export opportunit­ies. So, rather than having a stultifyin­g impact, the Brexit decision could easily turn out to be invigorati­ng. That is not to say it will be a smooth path towards exit. Undoubtedl­y, there will be some EU member countries that will want to exploit the UK’s exit to their economic or political advantage – or will want, simply, to punish the UK. However, we believe that the current imbalance in trade, which is massively in the EU’s favour, makes it less likely that punitive barriers will be raised against the UK. The article is for informatio­n purposes only and should not be interprete­d as investment advice.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom