Coronavirus will change everything, from the way we live and carry on business to the way we invest, according to a leading financial expert.
The deadly pandemic sweeping across the world will trigger a recession that will send new technologies like artificial intelligence and mobile supercomputing into overdrive, says Nigel Green, CEO and founder of leading global wealth manager deVere Group.
“The coronavirus outbreak can be expected to speed up the so-called fourth revolution, which is fuelled by new technologies, “ he said.
“New industries will emerge with winners and losers. This will mean job losses in some sectors and huge, possibly unprecedented, job and investment opportunities in others.
“Enforced social distancing will highlight how families, friends and colleagues can interact, remain connected and work, how businesses can still efficiently operate, and how investors can manage assets via advancing digital infrastructures.
Coronavirus-triggered recession will change how we live, do business and invest: deVere https://t.co/tKEJhiKZbF
— Nigel Green (@nigeljgreen) March 16, 2020
Short sharp recession on the way
“The disruption and shifts will underscore that we live in a time of great capabilities and great promise.
“But to build and protect their wealth as the world adapts to a new era, investors should be revising their portfolios to mitigate risk and take advantage of the opportunities.”
Green feels a global recession is on the way, but is likely to be a ‘short, sharp shock’ rather than a prolonged depression.
“Whichever way you look at it, it’s now almost certain that there will be a coronavirus-triggered recession as both global supply and demand are impacted.
“We can expect this recession to be deep but short. The slowdown will be temporary because it’s not caused by deep-rooted problems and imbalances in the economy, rather by a wholly unexpected shock that’s gripped the world.”
Negative interest rates
“Every recession produces a new world order. This one will too.
“A coronavirus-induced recession is likely to fundamentally shift how we live, do business and invest.
“We’re moving towards an era of negative interest rates. The second cut of rates, now at zero, by the Federal Reserve – the world’s de facto central bank – suggests that the US could soon join peers in Europe and Japan by adopting negative interest rates.
“Zero or negative rates will help boost financial asset prices and savvy investors will be seeking to top-up their portfolios by drip-feeding new money into the market at this time. They will give more investors more reason to increase their exposure to equities as the money won’t be working for them as cash deposits.”
