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Can the global economy defy the gloom?
Can financial markets sustain their upbeat mood in the face of geopolitical flashpoints, slower-than-expected rate cuts and US elections?
02 February 2024
Welcome to our February edition of “Market Perspectives”, the monthly investment strategy update from Barclays Private Bank.
In our regular chapters below, we highlight how the pace of rate cuts might shape financial market prospects this year. After a strong rally in equity markets of late, we examine why pricing power is a characteristic that may be increasingly relevant to determine tomorrow’s outperformers.
Turning to bonds, we look at how quickly the US Federal Reserve will trim rates, and what the neutral rate tells us about whether the central bank can hit its 2% target. We ask if the time for locking in rates is narrowing.
The main risks facing investors this year include extreme weather, the growing threat of cyber-attacks and more polarised societies. Beyond our usual analysis, our latest sustainability chapter finds out how ESG factors could help investors to spot the risks and navigate a path through them.
As always, we hope you enjoy the articles, and we thank you for entrusting us with your investments.
Jean-Damien Marie,
Head of Investments, Private Bank
Can financial markets sustain their upbeat mood in the face of geopolitical flashpoints, slower-than-expected rate cuts and US elections?
Find out the latest on ship crossing trends, the US yield curve, inflation expectations, the American labour market and growth prospects.
As inflation moderates, which equity sectors could be well-placed to protect revenues and margins?
Could yields trend lower, and leave the window for locking-in rates open for longer? Michel Vernier and Lukas Gehrig offer their insights.
Could cryptocurrencies soon be held in traditional, well-diversified portfolios? Our Investment Strategy team considers the pros and cons.
With geopolitical tensions flashing red and climate-change risks to the fore, find out how understanding ESG issues can help when making investment calls.
Get to the bottom of how much financial-market sentiment can drive returns and expose portfolios to added risk.
As tensions in the Middle East and the timing of US and European rate cuts grip markets, can “quality” stocks, bonds and gold still prosper?
Can India’s pre-election interim budget deliver the goods and sustain the strong run in domestic financial markets seen last year?