Investing

The stock market is going through turbulent times, especially within the large technology stocks segment. Nevertheless, a soft landing seems to be in the offing. Investors are already anticipating a possible rebound, especially among US cyclical stocks and smallcaps.

In a world where AI dominates and geopolitics shift rapidly, Allianz’s CIO Virginie Maisonneuve embraces ‘Digital Darwinism’, steering investment strategies through innovation, China’s rise, and Europe’s struggle to regain its competitive edge.

Trackers and index funds are the logical choice for investing in US government bonds. Indeed, within long-term dollar bonds, the scope for active management is limited.

European investors are eyeing the rapid price shifts in the US bond market, driven by expectations of interest rate cuts. While the rise in US government bond prices has been enticing, seasoned investors are now questioning how long this rally can last.

As geopolitical tensions escalate and global defence spending increases, a growing number of investors are turning to defence-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These funds not only provide a hedge against uncertainty but also present opportunities for capital growth.

The equity allocation of US households has risen to 60 percent. The last time stocks had this much weight in the average retail portfolio was during the ‘Dotcom’ bubble. This can leave one to conclude that a stock market crisis is imminent.

US growth stocks had an excellent year in 2023. Although the Magnificent Seven pulled the cart, they were certainly not the only stocks to record a strong performance. And yet, despite the magnificent returns, investors seem wary and are now withdrawing money from funds investing in this market segment.

Partners Group, the Swiss-based private markets investment firm that is also a major player in Luxembourg, has reported a significant decline in performance fees for the first half of 2024 because investment exits are being postponed and becoming more difficult.

Index rules and procedures can create a significant divergence between overall market performance and the returns that investors in index funds actually receive.

Technological dominance is the new geopolitical battleground. Companies and countries alike must embrace artificial intelligence if they don’t want to be left behind. This is part six in Investment Officer’s seven-part special series on geopolitics and investing.