M&G Investments

In this outlook, M&G Investments’ Fabiana Fedeli, Jim Leaviss, Richard Woolnough, Emmanuel Deblanc and others explore the potential implications of the evolving interest-rate backdrop for financial markets.

As we enter 2024, financial markets are at a major crossroads. With inflation coming down and central banks’ rate hikes on hold, the big question for investors is: what happens next? With views ranging from a ‘soft landing’ to recession, and from ‘higher for longer’ interest rates to rate cuts, the path ahead is uncertain.

Moving into the second half of 2023, the impact of higher interest rates and the uncertain economic backdrop are likely to remain key concerns for investors. M&G Investments assesses the main factors driving the equities, fixed income, and private markets, and highlights the potential opportunities for selective, diversified investors.

While far from immune to global economic weakness and risks, the APAC region has more resilient growth projections in the medium term, buoyed by its growing middle class, says Richard van den Berg, fund manager for M&G Asia Property Strategy.

Property markets may be facing a turning point, but long-term structural trends continue to underpin real estate in Asia Pacific, making the sector potentially attractive for overseas capital, says Jing Dong Lai, CIO and CEO, M&G Real Estate Asia