Global Innovators - February Commentary
Portfolio Manager, Global Team
Portfolio Manager, Global Team
This is a marketing communication. Please refer to the prospectus, supplement and KID/KIID for the Funds before making any final investment decisions. The value of this investment can fall as well as rise as a result of market and currency fluctuations. You may not get back the amount you invested.
Past performance does not predict future returns.
January brought heightened volatility driven by geopolitical tensions and shifting macroeconomic expectations. Despite the noise, global equities continued to advance to new highs, supported by resilient growth data, moderating inflation, and a weaker US dollar.
Market leadership broadened meaningfully over the month as emerging markets and commodity-linked regions outperformed, while US equities lagged as investors rotated away from mega-cap and AI-exposed stocks.
The case for software
On 12th January, Anthropic released a preview of its Claude Cowork service, which can perform tasks such as creating a spreadsheet from a screenshot or produce a draft report from an assortment of notes, highlighting the expanding capabilities of AI. The MSCI Software Index has fallen more than 20% since October as investors consider the implications of reduced barriers to the creation of bespoke workflows and software.
Source: Guinness Global Investors, MSCI, Bloomberg, as of 31/01/2026
In this commentary, we assess how markets have performed over January, concerns amid rising yields in Japan, and the large moves in the precious metals markets. We also summarise the long-term investment thesis for each of the Fund's software holdings amid market worries over the effect of AI on their prospects.
The value of this investment can fall as well as rise as a result of market and currency fluctuations. You may not get back the amount you invested.
The information provided on this page is for informational purposes only. While we believe it to be reliable, it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Any opinions stated are honestly held at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed and should therefore not be relied upon. This content should not be relied upon as financial advice or a recommendation to invest in the Funds or to buy or sell individual securities, nor does it constitute an offer for sale. Full details on Ongoing Charges Figures (OCFs) for all share classes are available here.
The Guinness Global Innovators Funds are designed to provide investors with global exposure to companies benefiting from innovations in technology, communication, globalisation or innovative management strategies. Innovation can take many forms, not just disruptive tech driven products. It is the intelligent application of ideas and is found in most industries and at different stages in company lifecycle. The Funds are actively managed and use the MSCI World Index as a comparator benchmark only.
For the avoidance of doubt, if you decide to invest, you will be buying units/shares in the Fund and will not be investing directly in the underlying assets of the Fund
Guinness Global Innovators Fund
Documentation
The documentation needed to make an investment, including the Prospectus, the Supplement, the Key Investor Information Document (KIID), the Key Information Document (KID) and the Application Form, is available from the website www.guinnessgi.com , or free of charge from:
- the Manager: Waystone Management Company (IE) Limited 2nd Floor 35 Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin DO4 A4E0; or,
- the Promoter and Investment Manager: Guinness Asset Management Ltd, 18 Smith Square, London SW1P 3HZ.
Waystone IE is a company incorporated under the laws of Ireland having its registered office at 35 Shelbourne Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin, D04 A4E0 Ireland, which is authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland, has appointed Guinness Asset Management Ltd as Investment Manager to this fund, and as Manager has the right to terminate the arrangements made for the marketing of funds in accordance with the UCITS Directive.
Investor Rights
A summary of investor rights in English, including collective redress mechanisms, is available here: https://www.waystone.com/waystone-policies/
Residency
In countries where the Fund is not registered for sale or in any other circumstances where their distribution is not authorised or is unlawful, the Funds should not be distributed to resident Retail Clients. NOTE: THIS INVESTMENT IS NOT FOR SALE TO U.S. PERSONS.
Structure & Regulation
The Fund is a sub-fund of Guinness Asset Management Funds PLC, an open-ended umbrella-type investment company, incorporated in Ireland and authorised and supervised by the Central Bank of Ireland, which operates under EU legislation. The Fund has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority for sale in the UK.
If you are in any doubt about the suitability of investing in these Funds, please consult your investment or other professional adviser.
WS Guinness Global Innovators Fund
Documentation
The documentation needed to make an investment, including the Prospectus, the Supplement, the Key Investor Information Document (KIID) and the Application Form, is available in English from https://www.waystone.com/our-funds/waystone-fund-services-uk-limited/ or free of charge from:-
Waystone Management (UK) Limited, PO Box 389, Darlington DL1 9UF.
E-Mail: wtas-investorservices@waystone.com
Waystone Management (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Residency
In countries where the Fund is not registered for sale or in any other circumstances where its distribution is not authorised or is unlawful, the Fund should not be distributed to resident Retail Clients.
Structure & regulation
The Fund is a sub-fund of WS Guinness Investment Funds, an investment company with variable capital incorporated with limited liability and registered by the Financial Conduct Authority.
This Fund is registered for distribution to the public in the UK but not in any other jurisdiction. In other countries or in circumstances where its distribution is not authorised or is unlawful, the Fund should not be distributed to resident Retail Clients.