2023 Investment Perspectives

6 min watch 12 Dec 22

As we look ahead to 2023, M&G’s Chief Investment Officers (CIOs) share their perspectives on the key themes influencing financial markets. With major central banks raising interest rates aggressively to control high inflation and worries about the global economic outlook growing, there are currently plenty of uncertainties for investors to navigate. However, are there also grounds for optimism about the future?

Read and watch insights from Fabiana Fedeli, CIO Equities, Multi Asset and Sustainability, Jim Leaviss, CIO Public Fixed Income, and Will Nicoll, CIO Private & Alternative Assets on the potential challenges that lie ahead for their asset classes in the coming year and where they see promising investment opportunities.

Learn more about our 2023 investment perspectives.

 

With concerns about inflation, a potential global economic slowdown and ongoing geopolitical tensions likely to be front of investors’ minds in the coming months, Fabiana Fedeli, CIO Equities, Multi Asset and Sustainability believes this is not a market for broad strokes investing. In her view, active investors can harvest alpha, but selectivity will be key. Fabiana thinks longer term themes such as renewables and infrastructure remain appealing, irrespective of the near-term economic situation. Despite a challenging time recently, she also believes sustainable investing is here to stay and is a key solution to the world’s biggest challenges. 


“This is not a market for ‘broad strokes investing’. There are opportunities for active investors, in our view, but selectivity is key.”

Fabiana Fedeli, CIO Equities, Multi Asset and Sustainability

Jim Leaviss, CIO Public Fixed Income, is optimistic about the outlook for bonds. In his view, inflation is likely to gradually ease in the coming months and central banks may be able to slow the pace of their interest rate hikes. Jim believes there is significant value in corporate bonds today as markets are pricing in a lot of bad news and default rates that he thinks are excessive. Jim also believes emerging market bonds offer value currently, although he cautions that a selective approach is important when selecting investments. 


“Bond markets look interesting again. After steep declines, we see attractive valuation opportunities right across the asset class.”

Jim Leaviss, CIO Public Fixed Income

Adjusting to a new regime of higher interest rates is likely to be an important theme in the coming year, observes Will Nicoll, CIO Private and Alternative Assets. While the economic conditions may be challenging, Will believes many parts of the private markets are well placed to weather the storm and there could be interesting and attractively valued ideas across the asset classes. He is also optimistic about the continued growth of the asset class, supported by tailwinds such as growing interest in sustainable and impact investing and the opening up, or “democratisation”, of the private assets to a new category of investors. 


“While a rising rate environment will present challenges, we believe there will be interesting opportunities across the diverse private market asset classes in 2023.”

Will Nicoll, CIO Private and Alternative Assets


 

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The value of investments will fluctuate, which will cause prices to fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the original amount they invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The views expressed in this document should not be taken as a recommendation, advice or forecast.