All change, again: policy, politics and technology are rewriting the rules of the market cycle.
In a world where policy divergence, geopolitical frictions and technological change are reshaping markets, broad-beta leadership is giving way to dispersion. The investment challenge is to be selective: finding durable leadership and building portfolios that hold up when old diversification rules are tested.

“The global economy enters 2026 in a sweet spot, with investors more optimistic on growth and less concerned about inflation. But the backdrop is shifting as trade, technology and security are increasingly negotiated in a more adversarial world. That favours themes at the nexus of these changes, from defence in Europe and Asia, to energy addition. Strategic metals and rare earths underpin all those, with demand rising faster than supply.”
Pierre Debru, Head of Research, Europe
