68% of investors are optimistic about the region’s markets and are targeting more yield, UBS survey finds
Nearly 87 per cent of investors in the UAE are considering adjusting their portfolios in the lead up to the US election on November 3, according to a new study by global wealth manager UBS.
The global Investor Sentiment study, released on Wednesday, found that 78 per cent will make further changes based on the result.
This compares with 72 per cent of investors globally who plan to shift their holdings before Americans go to the polls, and 62 per cent who will make changes after the election, the survey said.
The study polled more than 4,000 investors and business owners across 14 global markets, including the US, Europe, Asia and the UAE.
“The US elections are a global event with repercussions across the globe, including in the Middle East,” Ali Janoudi, head of Middle East and Africa at UBS Global Wealth Management, said.
“UAE investors are watching closely.”
Opinion polls in the US are forecasting that former vice president Joe Biden is the favourite to win the US elections. However, Steen Jacobson, chief investment officer at Saxo Bank, said that President Donald Trump also had a chance and predicted three possible scenarios during a webinar last week.
These include a 40 per cent chance that Mr Trump will not concede defeat, a 40 per cent probability that Mr Biden will win and a 20 per cent chance that Mr Trump will win a second term.
The UBS study also found that 68 per cent of UAE investors are optimistic about the region’s stocks and would consider investing in 5G networks, hedge funds and a green recovery over the next six months.
A total of 61 per cent of UAE respondents said they are aiming for more yield and 30 per cent are looking to reduce the level of risk in their portfolios, it added.
Overall, 83 per cent of local investors said the UAE was an attractive country for investment opportunities, followed by the US (68 per cent) and Europe (68 per cent).
“Amid uncertainty over the US election and Covid-19, investors appear to be more positive on their own region than on the world at large,” Iqbal Khan, co-president of UBS Global Wealth Management, said.
“In the period surrounding the election, we believe they should diversify globally and avoid falling prey to their own home bias.”
