Traditional thinking about markets can be limiting - understanding the broader context, rather than relying solely on predefined structures, is crucial for effective decision-making. Part of the Markets short course, Thinking Differently About Markets, this lecture looks at the concept of "markets" both theoretically and practically.

The US (and soon rest of world) hasn't seen this much demand for power since World War 2. While this introduces investment possibilities for many segments, listed infrastructure is disproportionately well-placed to fill this gap.

At current valuations, high quality core bonds offer attractive yields relative to cash, as well as the prospect of higher and less volatile returns than equities over the next five years.

Against a heightened VUCA macro backdrop, it is crucial we reduce the unavoidable dissonance between our own perceptions and market realities, to enable us to better understand what lies ahead for economies and investment markets and reorient portfolios accordingly. Mind the gap(s)! Markets Summit 2025 (Wed 19 Feb) will help you better understand the key drivers of and outlook for the markets and help you build better quality investor portfolios.

Established in 2002, Strategies Summit is THE portfolio construction strategies conference of the year. Presented each August, the program features 50+ carefully selected leading investment thinkers who will challenge and refresh your portfolio construction thinking by debating contemporary and emerging portfolio construction strategies, for you to consider applying in practice to build better quality portfolios.

Our Markets Summit program kicks off with a video retrospective of the key events of the prior year...

Against a heightened VUCA macro backdrop, it is crucial we reduce the unavoidable dissonance between our own perceptions and market realities, to enable us to better understand what lies ahead for economies and investment markets and reorient portfolios accordingly. Mind the gap(s)! Markets Summit 2025 (Wed 19 Feb) will help you better understand the key drivers of and outlook for the markets and help you build better quality investor portfolios.

Near- and medium-term gaps in current market narratives and perceptions lead to a simple conclusion. It is time for caution. As an "unconstrained" investor with no one to answer to but myself, my experience suggests three courses of action.

Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) is the peak, international technical portfolio construction certification program designed for investment management analysts - that is, those involved in any aspect of constructing multi-asset, multi-manager portfolios.

With monetary policy easing set to provide an additional tailwind for smaller companies, now is the time for practitioners to consider increasing global small caps exposure in portfolios.

Trump 2.0 is starting where Trump 1.0 ended – with distortions, convoluted logic, and the related risk of major policy blunders.

The economic damage Trump could cause will be moderate, according to Woody Brock. His bigger concern is what could go wrong with foreign policy under Trump because, in Woody's view, the probability of a global war is higher than it has been in decades.

While investors considering supply chain themes face another complex year in 2025, but it would be a mistake to assume there are only risks. There are plenty of opportunities to build sustainable, competitive advantage.

What impact will the next US administration have on economic growth and inflation? The answer is not yet clear, because while some of President-elect Donald Trump's proposed policies would boost growth and reduce inflation over time, others will have the opposite effect.

In a world where Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity are ever-present and ever-changing, the act of investing is about assessing probabilities and payoffs, not trying to predict what will happen.

Highlight our upcoming live CE programs, and all of the complimentary on-demand CE-accredited resources published over recent months.

Looking ahead, eight risks to global GDP growth stand out. Investors will need to rethink their investment and allocation strategies to navigate an era defined by uncertainty and uneven growth.

CIMA Society Asia Pacific is the community of practice for investment and wealth professionals in the Asia Pacific. It is governed according by an elected Board. The day-to-day operation of CIMA Society is managed by the Secretariat, headed by the Executive Officer.

Supporters often say that a businessman like Trump or Musk will know how to put America's fiscal house in order. But the smart money says they have no idea what they are doing.