Global Financial Fragilities Mount Despite Rate Cuts and Buoyant Markets

October 22, 2024-- Increased investor risk-taking could fuel vulnerabilities
When it comes to financial stability, the world is facing a split screen of short-term and medium-term factors. The good news is that near-term financial stability risks remain contained.
Why? Because the likelihood of a soft landing for the global economy has significantly increased.

As inflation continues to decline, major central banks have started cutting interest rates. This is boosting already buoyant asset prices and keeping financial market volatility subdued.

At the same time, our latest Global Financial Stability Report calls on policymakers to remain vigilant about the medium-term prospects. We want to highlight two areas of concern.

WEF-2024 Global Retail Investor Outlook

March 25, 2025--Key insights
Global capital markets have undergone a sustained fundamental shift, increasingly integrating individual investors into the financial ecosystem. This transformation has revolutionized how markets operate, establishing more accessible pathways for individuals to participate in spaces traditionally reserved for institutional and professional investors.

More Record-Breaking Growth Expected as Investors Lean on ETFs to Manage Global Uncertainty: BBH 2025 Global ETF Investor Survey

March 24, 2025--The ever-increasing demand for ETFs is fueled by investor appetite for liquidity, risk management, and diverse strategies.
Brown Brothers Harriman's 12th annual Global ETF Investor Survey of institutional investors, fund managers and financial advisors identifies a paradigm shift across the ETF landscape. The report reveals that a remarkable 95% of investors intend to increase their ETF allocations over the next 12 months, an increase from 82% in last year's survey.

Infographic-Charted: Global Economic Policy Uncertainty (1997-2025)

March 17, 2025---Key Takeaways
-In January, the Economic Policy Uncertainty Index surged to 428.9, hovering near COVID-19 highs.
This index has tracked global economies since 1997, leveraging a variety of metrics ranging from media coverage of trade to differences in economic forecasts by the Federal Reserve.
New trade wars are driving up uncertainty, as range of consumer goods-from groceries to automotives-could rise in price.