CIO Corner

CIO CORNER

2026 outlook: Blowing bubbles

There is clearly a tug of war of narratives as we head into 2026

A Trump administration able to unilaterally reshape the Federal Reserve Board would potentially serve as a catalyst for volatility in not only US interest rates, but also potentially the US dollar market.
CIO CORNER

Trump 2.0: the stage of moving fast and breaking things

Investors may see the global focus of Trump 2.0 shift – this time, perhaps closer to home

The structural anchor to building robust, resilient portfolios is best achieved through a  strategic asset allocation optimised to focus on diversification.
CIO CORNER

State of play for investments in 2026

Over the next five years, structural supertrends are expected to intertwine and influence strategic decisions on how to allocate capital, manage risks and identify growth opportunities.

The US Treasury has been focusing on short-term securities, especially T-bills, in its issuance strategy to avoid locking in current high long-term interest rates.
CIO CORNER

Rising public debt and what it could mean for investors

An immediate risk is that concerns over debt sustainability and credit rating cuts could trigger periodic volatility in bond yields

Symptomatic of a "K-shaped" economy is divergent growth. On the consumer front, for example, wealthier individuals show resilience in discretionary spending, but lower-income consumers are grappling with rising fixed costs.
CIO CORNER

Navigating the ‘K-shaped’ economy: a strategic lens for investors

Active management is non-negotiable in this fragmented and complex market landscape

Dollar debasement is negative for holders of US cash and fixed-income assets, as the market has little control over the policies that underpin or undermine trust in the US dollar.
CIO CORNER

Real assets get their day in the sun

Their attractiveness is being boosted by the confluence of policy and macroeconomic forces in today’s global markets

When looking at expected returns, it is important to acknowledge that no one has a crystal ball, and the shorter the time horizon the greater the level of uncertainty.
CIO CORNER

Setting portfolio expectations for 2026

Expected returns are only the starting point of putting together a portfolio

A nuclear renaissance, with its superior energy return on investment, could unlock transformative productivity gains.
CIO CORNER

Investing in nuclear energy, a quiet backbone for the AI-powered economy

Governments are rediscovering that net zero needs dependable baseloads, not just intermittent generation

Having spending flexibility instead of being tied to a fixed sum will help to sustain portfolio resilience over the planning horizon.
CIO CORNER

Why the famous 4% withdrawal rule for retirement may not be the answer

The modern economy is too dynamic to be governed by a fixed number derived from one country’s unique historical bull run

China can draw lessons from the experiences of Japan and South Korea, to cushion some of the pain that economic transitions entail.
CIO CORNER

Opportunities in new paradigms ahead for China

Investors can expand their focus from government priority sectors towards efficient users of capital and corporate leaders who can consolidate growing segments of the economy