Dubai: In January, Emirates NBD, one of the leading banks in the region, released its global investment outlook for 2019.

Themed, “Preparing for the Next Decade”, the 2019 outlook was revealed to media by Maurice Gravier, Chief Investment Officer, Emirates NBD Group.

Speaking at the media briefing, Gravier commented that, “2019 starts with markets overshooting fundamentals. There are late cycle forces at play, slowing economic and earnings growth, but we don’t forecast a recession in the US nor a hard-landing in China.

“The decade ahead looks set to be more challenging for investors than the previous one, highlighting the need for discipline in portfolio construction, risk allocation, as well as selectivity of securities and products. Accordingly, Emirates NBD Wealth Management has reinforced its investment process around three key pillars to safely navigate what should be a turbulent decade for investors: a robust strategic portfolio construction, a framework to dynamically allocate capital when opportunities arise, and more than ever, selecting the right securities after years of passive investment hegemony,” Gravier added.

On last year, it was highlighted how 2018 marked the transition to a new regime of lower expected returns and higher risks, with less economic growth and richer valuations. Gravier estimated that volatility will continue to be elevated, with less liquidity and ever rising political uncertainty. Record levels of global debt are a common denominator, capping growth and heightening investment risk. He further claimed that there is also good news - secular positive trends are still at play, valuation opportunities have appeared and cash is back as a yielding asset. He concluded by reiterating that definitely, the future is not what it used to be, but history has proven that turbulent markets generate the best investment opportunities”

Highlights of the Emirates NBD 2019 Investment Outlook:

Asset Allocation and Portfolio Construction

  • Gradually taking profits on developed market (DM) Government bonds to reinforce cash and equity
  • Emerging Market (EM) Debt and global equities our preferred sources of return, gold and cash the best defensive assets
  • We will tactically adjust exposure based on valuation discipline

Equity Convictions

  • DM: neutral US, slightly underweight Europe vs slightly overweight Japan
  • EM: we favour Asia, with no specific country bias, positive on KSA with MSCI EM inclusion a catalyst
  • Sectors: technology our preferred growth sector, we play materials and GCC banks for dividends, and favour Healthcare as our preferred defensive sector. 

Fixed-Income Convictions

  • Favour Corporate Credit and EM debt over DM Government bonds
  • Overweight the US within DM Government bonds, and favour Investment Grade over High Yield in credit
  • GCC bonds offer value across select Sovereigns and Credit (Utilities, Energy and Financials including hybrids)

Oil Outlook

  • Oil prices to fluctuate against weakening outlook for global economy
  • We expect Brent futures to average USD 65/b in 2019 with significant volatility 

Real Estate

  • Late cycle concerns: low property yields, slower growth and rising rates
  • Demand still robust for prime assets over the long-term, 2019 focus on defensive sectors

The annual Emirates NBD CIO Outlook is an advisory blueprint covering investment opportunities and key global economic indicators and in-depth financial market insights, based on which Emirates NBD’s team of advisors, traders and analysts make recommendations on financial transactions and investments to the bank’s qualified clients.

-ends-

About Emirates NBD

Emirates NBD is a leading banking Group in the region. As at 31st December 2018, total assets were AED 500.3 Billion, (equivalent to approx. USD 136 Billion). The Group has a significant retail banking franchise in the UAE and is a key participant in the global digital banking industry, with over 90 per cent of all financial transactions and requests conducted outside of its branches. The bank was declared the Most Innovative Financial Services Organization of the Year at the 2017 BAI Global Innovation Awards.

The bank currently has 230 branches and 1069 ATMs and SDMs in the UAE and overseas and a large social media following, being the only bank in the Middle East ranked among the top 20 in the ‘Power 100 Social Media Rankings’, compiled by The Financial Brand. It is a major player in the UAE corporate and retail banking arena and has strong Islamic Banking, Global Markets & Treasury, Investment Banking, Private Banking, Asset Management and Brokerage operations.

The Group has operations in the UAE, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and representative offices in China and Indonesia.

The Group is an active participant and supporter of the UAE’s main development and community initiatives, in close alignment with the UAE government’s strategies, including financial literacy and advocacy for inclusion of People with Disabilities under its #TogetherLimitless platform. Emirates NBD Group is an Official Premier Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai. For more information, please visit: www.emiratesnbd.com

For further information on Emirates NBD, please contact:

Ibrahim Sowaidan
Senior Vice President

Head - Group Corporate Affairs
Emirates NBD
Telephone: +971 4 609 4113 / +971 50 6538937
e-mail: ibrahims@emiratesnbd.com

Tricia Kaul
asda’a bcw; Dubai, UAE

Tel: 971-4-4507600; Fax: 971-4-4358040
Email: Tricia.Kaul@bcw-global.com

© Press Release 2019

Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.

The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.