UAE Firms See India as Key Market, Upgrade Gold Outlook
Standard Chartered Bank has released its market outlook for the second half of 2026, highlighting opportunities in bonds, equities, and gold. The bank's Chief Investment Officer for Africa, Middle East, and Europe, Manpreet Gill, noted that investors can lock in yields due to 10-year real yields being near their highest levels since 2008.
Gill also emphasized the importance of diversified portfolios, particularly with rising AI adoption driving demand for computing capacity. He recommended investing in financials in the US, Europe excluding the UK and Japan, as well as improving potential in India and China.
The bank expects the USD Index to ease to 98 over three months and 96 over 12 months. Gold has also been upgraded due to emerging-market central bank buying, a weaker US dollar, and a steeper yield curve.