- Our assessment of fund manager outlooks show enthusiasm has waned for most assets
- One big crowded trade hoves into view
Whether it be 2023's botched China reopening trade or the decade-long belief that US markets are in a bubble set to imminently burst, market narratives can be dangerous things. These are reminders that predicting the future isn't possible, meaning investors are best off sticking to the tried and tested principles of diversification, putting cash to work consistently and resisting the urge to attempt any form of market timing.
Having said that, assessing the latest market narratives and how they are influencing investors can still be useful. At the very least, it can point to where some of the crowded trades and contrarian bets might be. Sentiment can and does shift over time, and that is worth monitoring when we run the rule over our own portfolios.