Global Investment Outlook Spring 2025

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Economy

The heightened activity and lack of clarity around U.S. policy threatens to temporarily slow economic growth as businesses and households opt to delay key decisions.

Fixed income

The key threat to fixed income investors would be an upside surprise to inflation caused by unfavourable trade policies, but that upward pressure could be offset by weaker growth conditions.

Equity markets

Our return estimates range from mid- to high-single digit returns over the year ahead depending on the region, but large error bands exist around our central forecasts.

Executive summary

Uncertainty abounds as the trade war threatens economic growth, complicates the outlook on inflation, and stokes financial-market volatility, causing investors to weigh a wide range of possible outcomes. In this environment, stocks are under pressure as investors shun expensive U.S. large-cap growth stocks in favour of those with more reasonable valuations.

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Canada

Canada’s economy showed some improvement into the end of 2024, helped by rising consumer spending and better housing investment thanks to lower interest rates.
United States

Consensus is for 10% profit growth for the S&P 500 in 2025. This bar is high but achievable without serious policy error.
Europe

The eurozone faces headwinds, with the currency bloc’s economic performance continuing to trail the U.S. amid trade uncertainty and slack business confidence.
Asia

We expect Asian equity volatility in 2025 as President Trump enacts his trade policies.
Emerging markets

Earnings growth should become a key driver of emerging market equities returns in 2025.

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