I'm sure many of you can recall seeing maps on the wall at school, showing Great Britain as the centre of the world… and the Commonwealth coloured in pink !!!

As we move into the second decade of the 21st Century, the following map reflects far more accurately how emphasis is shifting, with US and European dominance of the international stage becoming less and less significant.

Argyle have been looking carefully at where we should be investing your money, during a time when western governments are being forced to tackle the massive debt mountains which have resulted from recent financial disasters.

Our research tells us that growth will come in developing countries such as India, Brazil and China. Their populations are now demanding more and more consumer goods and they are increasingly trading with each other, as a viable alternative to concentrating purely on the western hemisphere.

Within the UK, firms which make up the FTSE 100 index will continue to thrive as they predominantly trade outside the UK. However, the wider outlook is still very challenging.

Government Gilts continue to provide stability within your portfolio, but we are actively looking further afield to take advantage of the opportunities in the developing world.

Ultimately though, we feel it is prudent to wait until after the general election before making our recommendations.

Meanwhile, on the left hand side of this page we have included a link to a recent commentary by Michael Konstantinov, which can be found on the Argyle website. Michael manages the highly regarded Alllianz BRIC Stars Fund and his views make for interesting reading.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss any financial matter.

Please use 0845 604 6285 to contact us with any queries or, alternatively you can send an email to: advice@argylefinancialgroup.co.uk