Repowering High-Energy Portfolios
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have reignited volatility in oil markets, reinforcing energy’s role as a macro‑economic driver that shapes inflation, growth and cross‑asset dynamics. While short‑term price spikes are expected, analysts argue that structural demand—fuelled by digitalisation and AI—remains robust, keeping energy prices elevated for the foreseeable future. This environment is prompting a reallocation toward real assets and infrastructure, with investors seeking inflation‑resilient cash flows and a hedge against supply‑chain risks. Consequently, portfolio construction is shifting from thematic bets to diversified exposure across the entire energy value chain.
Canada’s Energy Advantage Masks Widening Credit Divide
Canada’s status as a net energy exporter masks a growing credit split between resource producers and downstream users. While mining, oil and gas firms saw stable or slightly improved default probabilities, sectors such as auto, retail and construction posted 8‑13%...
Gen Z’s Side Hustles Can Be a Double-Edged Sword
A Harris Poll shows 57% of U.S. Gen Z respondents now run side hustles, a rate far higher than previous generations. The surge is fueled by hybrid work flexibility, social‑media marketplaces and a cultural shift that prizes choice and mental‑health awareness....
The Data Problem Holding Back Wealth Management
Artificial intelligence is touted as the next wave of wealth‑management modernization, but its impact is throttled by fragmented, inconsistently defined data across custodians and internal systems. A 2025 Swiss survey shows only 17% of institutions have deployed AI and just...
Reading Investment Signals and Controlling Emotions
HSBC Private Bank’s global CIO Willem Sels warns that daily headlines—from trade tariffs to geopolitical flashpoints—prompt costly knee‑jerk trading. He advises investors to focus on lasting signals and build resilient portfolios through diversification across quality bonds, gold, alternatives, and multi‑asset...
Trust, Technology and Tuna Fish: PWM Tea Break
During a PWM Tea Break, senior advisers discussed how they are navigating persistent inflation and volatile oil prices for their clients. They outlined a vision to become the “Central Intelligence Agency” of wealth management by aggregating every client allocation and...
Asian Families Are Moving Faster than Their Wealth Plans
Asian high‑net‑worth families are relocating and diversifying assets faster than their traditional wealth‑planning frameworks can accommodate. Data from the Henley Wealth Report shows a record 142,000 millionaires moved abroad in 2025, with the trend set to rise to 165,000 in...
Geopolitics and Markets: Could Tensions Trigger Another Black Monday?
Professor Radu Tunaru examines how the Iran‑U.S. confrontation of 1987 sparked the Black Monday crash, highlighting that external geopolitical shocks, not just program trading, can trigger market meltdowns. He draws parallels to today’s Iran conflict, noting its impact on oil,...
Power Plants, Politics and Profitability: PWM Tea Break
In PWM’s latest Tea Break, a senior executive discusses her investments in energy and water companies across Brazil and the Philippines, emphasizing confidence in developing economies. She notes that emerging markets are projected to generate the majority of global GDP...
Private Credit Turns From Rapid Growth to Increased Scrutiny
The private credit market, now exceeding $3 trillion, is entering a period of heightened scrutiny as rising interest rates, AI‑related borrower stress, and elevated leverage erode investor confidence. Lombard Odier warns that returns are likely to moderate, while major semi‑liquid funds such...
AI’s Hidden Winners: Investing Along the Value Chain
The AI boom has pushed investors toward a handful of mega‑caps, inflating valuations and exposing them to correction risk. Analysts argue that true growth lies upstream in the hardware supply chain, where firms like TSMC, Micron, Corning and Amphenol provide...