In January, Emirates NBD, one of the leading banking groups in the region, released its investment outlook for 2018.

Tariq Bin Hendi, PH.D., Executive Vice President, Head of Products & Advisory and Performing Chief Financial Investment Officer, Emirates NBD Group, resolved media in the UAE on the bank's global investment overview for 2018. The general theme for the year is "Eyes Wide Open."

Talking at the media briefing, Tariq commented that "2018 will be an interesting year for capitalists; a year for unwavering emphasis, diversification and constant considered analysis.

" We start 2018 with a healthy dose of optimism: cautious optimism. The 2018 investor should be discerning, focused, nimble and versatile. The year of rallying returns off the back of complacent investing is behind us. That said, gave the best conditions are met, we do expect specific markets to have durable years in advance," added Bin Hendi.

On last year, it was highlighted exactly how 2017 began with several of one of the most significant, substantial and transformational disruptions seen in over 50 years.

Traditional industries were put in defense mode.

> Financing had to compete with the onslaught of innovative technology

> Technology Living is currently the new normal.

The rise of nationalism in Europe and the rise of populism in the United States saw the best disruption to the status quo in decades

> Nowhere was this modification a lot more apparent in the GCC than in Saudi Arabia,

> Critically, it was this young people group - the millennials internationally - which drove frustrating modification in 2017

2017 witnessed EM, particularly India, rise as important and significant global economic contributors

The commonly expected unfavorable effect of a Trump presidency did not appear

Global financial obligation, however, remains to rise and is currently at record levels-- greater than 325% of global GDP

Emphasizes of the Emirates NBD 2018 Financial Investment Outlook:

Anita Gupta, Head of Equity Strategy continues to remain overweight equities for the first half of 2018 and maintains a focus on the technology sector:

- India and Saudi Arabia remain our preferred markets from a multi-asset-rally viewpoint Both countries are driving adjustments that will have substantial global impact. Indian equities ought to remain to outshine DM and EM, despite the significant rally in company valuations over the past twelve months. For Saudi Arabia, we would certainly anticipate positive efficiency in both bonds and equities alongside the awaited MSCI upgrade and proceeded concentrate on social and economic reform
- United States equities have experienced amazing returns over the past years and are now on course for the longest positive touch ever before tape-recorded. We did, nevertheless, appropriately prepare for a rise in volatility as the effect of multiple fed price increases (albeit from historically record lows) take hold, and the inevitable rise in returns strikes as the benefits of tax reform and healthy and balanced economic information begin to wane.

For the bond market, Yahya Sultan, Head of Fixed Income Strategy feels it is a tale of two halves:

> We expect DM bonds to deliver negative to flat returns; EM bonds to deliver alpha

> US Government bonds remain appealing and we believe that they may sustain a range of 2.5% to 2.75%

> EM debt is appealing and our focus is on the UAE, India, China, Indonesia, Russia, Mexico, Turkey and the KSA.

Tariq likewise raised the topical issues around Blockchain innovation and cryptocurrencies which have the investment community separated. Blockchain incorporates the really significance of turbulent modern technology; while it has actually definitely altered the way that certain industries operate, as it associates with cryptocurrencies, its potential to displace fiat currencies continues to be the creed of the crypto followers. The lack of policy and resultant failure to "cash-out" on any type of meaningful scale right into fiat money limitations cryptocurrency utilisation to the "pump-and-dump" cost arbitraging rides in a digital world. For now, it remains to be seen whether cryptocurrencies could in fact penetrate genuine economies and in doing so, force federal governments and regulatory authorities to adapt.

With widespread uncertainty on the strength and stability of markets throughout 2018, holding a position in gold is most likely to preserve general portfolio returns and assist alleviate against volatility and potential shocks.

The annual Emirates NBD CIO Overview is an advisory blueprint covering financial investment chances and key global financial indications and in-depth financial market insights, based on which Emirates NBD's team of consultants, investors and experts make suggestions on financial transactions and investments to the bank's qualified clients.