Monthly Investment Report - May 2026
Summary by AI BETAClose X
RUFFER INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED
(a closed-ended investment company incorporated in Guernsey with registration number 41966)
(the "Company")
Attached is a link to the Monthly Investment Report for May 2026:
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8180H_1-2026-6-10.pdf
May continued where April left off. Attention remained focused on the conflict in the Middle
East and the ongoing melt-up in the AI trade. Despite the volatile news flow, the oil price
tumbled by nearly 20% as investors ended May more hopeful for a sustainable resolution to the
conflict. It was another healthy month for global equities, with the S&P 500 posting its ninth
consecutive weekly gain at the end of the period. Markets were led yet again by the beneficiaries
of vast AI-related investment, best illustrated by the performance of semiconductor and memory
stocks. The portfolio's equities contributed positively over the month, led by its Japanese
exposure, but faced a headwind from its holdings of Chinese tech companies, which fell over
the month. Given the broadly favourable environment for risk assets during May, the largest
detractor from performance came from the protective derivative positions.
It was a volatile month for global bond markets, as inflation concerns - stemming from the
conflict in the Middle East - intensified before easing as the oil price later retreated. We added
modestly to our existing exposure to long-dated Japanese government bonds after the 30-year
yield breached 4%. The gilt market endured acute worries of its own, as the embattled prime
minister faces mounting pressure from his own party after dismal local election results. Despite
the press fervour, a change of leadership is far from certain, and it is a risk we are monitoring.
Should Starmer be forced out, a plausible scenario is a shift further to the left on economic
policy, which could weigh on the fiscal outlook and, in turn, on gilts. The additions we have
made to bonds this year have been opportunistic, where we felt sufficient value has emerged. We
remain convinced that the bedrock role bonds served in investor portfolios over prior decades
is now over, and we continue to search for additional, more reliable sources of diversification
and protection.
Elsewhere, we added 5% to the fund's US dollar exposure and increased our positions across
a selection of agricultural commodities, seeking to reinforce the portfolio's resilience should the
oil price rise. These changes complement our existing exposure to energy and to derivatives.
With both Iran and the US reluctant to be seen backing down, the stand-off is likely to persist.
Oil inventories have so far been drawn down more slowly than analysts had expected, but they
continue to diminish. We see a meaningful risk that energy prices move higher from here. Any
sustained rise would, in time, bring its own demand destruction and pain for financial markets.
The portfolio is positioned to protect should that risk come to pass.
Enquiries:
Aztec Financial Services (Guernsey) Limited
Company Secretary
Lewis Germain
DDI: +44 (0) 1481 749700
Email: ruffer@aztecgroup.co.uk
RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
Latest directors dealings
- 11 hours ago ASOS
- 11 hours ago MJ Gleeson
- 12 hours ago Rolls-Royce Holdings
- 12 hours ago Crest Nicholson Holdings
- 13 hours ago Naked Wines