Global growth and earnings should significantly reduce due to the coronavirus in the near term, but governments' and central banks' action should become supportive.

Valuations are expensive with yields falling in all major regions. We prefer US dollar bonds to euro and sterling bonds and investment grade corporate bonds to government bonds.

Attractive diversification characteristics compared with equities and bonds. We favour gold as global central banks ease policy as well as real assets with long-dated visible revenue streams.

Cash has defensive and opportunistic qualities in uncertain and volatile markets.

UK growth outlook downgraded amid uncertainty over the impact of the coronavirus but Bank of England rate cuts and fiscal stimulus is supportive.

Spread of coronavirus in Italy and slow response from governments leads to heightened contagion fears, whilst negative interest rates and low oil prices will impact the financials and energy sectors materially.

Delayed response to coronavirus outbreak and Democratic presidential nomination race adding to market volatility, but valuations the most attractive on a global basis when adjusted for profitability.

Cheap valuations offset by weak domestic demand due to coronavirus.

Evidence that coronavirus is beginning to be contained within China, although not in the rest of Asia. Valuations and fundamentals look attractive in emerging markets relative to developed markets in general, although oil exporting nations under stress.

US Treasuries offer relatively more attractive real yields, but less so after recent rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

Returns are likely to be driven largely by government bond markets, given their typically high correlation. We are mindful of increasing company leverage, but spreads have widened significantly after the recent market correction.

Energy issues aside, spreads are relatively more attractive after the recent correction. Preference for European over US high yield.

We prefer US TIPS to conventional treasuries after negative effect of oil price on US inflation expectations and reduced cost of currency hedging.

Emerging market bonds offer good relative value as spreads have widened and monetary and fiscal response is supportive, although oil exporting nations are under stress.

We like the diversification characteristics of market-neutral strategies.

Ongoing concern for the UK commercial property environment.

Gold is attractive as a diversifier, portfolio insurance and an inflation hedge.