The Month in a Minute
April was a standout month for global equities, driven by optimism surrounding a resolution in the Middle East conflict. Amid this rally, Wealthify Plans performed well against global shares, as Ethical Plans outperformed Original. With US-Iranian relations still fragile and broader timelines still unclear, however, a patient, long-term mindset is still needed.
A blockbuster month for global equities
After a difficult March, April reminded us how quickly sentiment changes — and how markets can bounce back when it does.
Following news of progress in the US-Iran conflict, investor optimism led to a standout month for global equities. This rally saw US, Asia, and Emerging Markets post double-digit returns, pushing into all-time highs as a result.
Strong earnings reports from technology companies boosted investor confidence further, as AI-related stocks found their way back into rotation, despite a sell-off earlier in 2026. This resurgence was no more evident than with the gains from Taiwan and South Korea — two areas key to the AI semiconductor supply chain.
Although they lagged behind the broader rally (due to their more defensive makeup and smaller exposure to AI), European and UK markets still provided positive returns.
It wasn't all plain sailing, however, as ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, yo-yoing oil prices, and uncertain conflict timelines all caused significant volatility.
Conflict-driven uncertainty was also reflected in the US, UK, European, and Japanese central banks’ decision to hold their interest rates. Policy makers are clearly waiting to see how the Middle East situation – and potentially rising energy prices – affect inflation, before making any rate changes.
While May has started against a backdrop of renewed tension between the US and Iran, April’s performance should not distract from a simple truth that, in the current climate, caution and patience remain the most valuable assets.
If March and April showed us anything, it is that markets can shift direction very quickly.
As a Wealthify customer, however, what’s important is knowing you have a team of investment experts behind you with a plan for both scenarios.
With investing, your capital is at risk. Please remember the value of your investments can go down as well as up, and you could get back less than invested.
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