2024 Revealed : Ten convictions for a blinding future

As December was bringing to an end another challenging year on financial markets, our CIO Nicolas Forest and Candriam investment experts observed the tradition and took some time to reflect on the past events and future potential opportunities.

The year 2023 was positive for bonds and equities, but marked by a high degree of performance dispersion and idiosyncratic risk. While investor sentiment has returned to more positive territory, risks to economic growth and the geopolitical environment persist. Pivoting on interest rates, equity themes... which asset classes should be emphasised?

On November 5, 2024, the American presidential election will be held. It will undoubtedly be the focus of market attention next year.

Healthcare sector, though not in as good shape as the pandemic's end, exhibits resilience with promising indicators, when the economy may start coughing.

In an ever-evolving landscape marked by geopolitical tensions, the fore fronting of climate change, and a global economic reorientation, a discernible megatrend is unfolding.

Real estate markets, and real estate investing, have felt ‘frozen’ for most of 2023.

Rising rates, changing regulations, whipsawing and rapidly-reversing input costs – Investments in clean energies have both never been as high and never been as challenged as in 2023.

Faced with a succession of shocks (pandemics and soaring energy prices), governments have allowed their deficits to grow in order to limit the economic and social consequences of the shocks.

With the failure of a recession to materialise, 2023 has been a good year for equity indices.

“Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world”, said Albert Einstein.

Towards a more "normal" yield curve

Once again this year, the financial markets reveal a shifting horizon, strewn with challenges and offering investors a captivating odyssey.