Singapore

THE external environment has become more uncertain in 2019. There is a lack of clarity whether trade tensions between the US and China will eventually reach a standstill, and how Brexit will pan out. The escalation of oil prices due to the latest attacks has added further downward pressure on the global economy.

Amid these uncertainties, investors have naturally gravitated towards safer assets - bonds and real estate in established cities. Yet, the risks from these external events have cut across assets and countries. Accordingly, some investors have turned to sacrificing potential yields for assets, in hopes of reducing their portfolio risks.