A recent survey* suggests investors are becoming more confident despite ongoing challenges on the economic front. While this is certainly encouraging, maintaining a long-term outlook and retaining a strong sense of discipline in investment positioning remains a prerequisite for any successful investor.
An air of optimism
It’s fair to say 2022 was a turbulent year for global markets with the war in Ukraine, soaring inflation and rising interest rates weighing heavily on a difficult 12-month period. Towards the end of the year, however, markets did stage a cautious recovery despite ongoing fears of a looming recession.
Inflation expected to fall
The final quarter of last year also witnessed a rebound in investor sentiment, with the same survey reporting a seven percentage point rise in confidence in the global economy, although this was before the recent woes in the banking sector. This optimism was driven by hopes that inflation has now peaked and is set to continue falling in the months ahead; a view reflected in
the International Monetary Fund’s latest economic musings** which predict global inflation will drop from 8.8% in 2022 to 6.6% this year and 4.3% in 2024.
Young guns
Data from the survey also revealed a majority of investors were either positive or ambivalent about last year’s market volatility and its impact on their investing mindset. This was particularly true for younger investors with three-quarters of 18 to 34-year-olds either positive or indifferent compared to six in ten over-55s. This variation will partly reflect differing retirement time horizons, with younger investors more able to adopt a longer-term view.
Investor discipline is key
This is clearly encouraging as maintaining a long-term philosophy based on prudent risk management principles and avoiding panicked decisions has always been a key element for successful investing, maintaining discipline in investment positioning. In practice, this means achieving an appropriate level of diversification and understanding how to blend investments – that’s what we do.
*1eToro, 2023, **2IMF, 2023
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