Global Markets Stage Sharp Recovery Despite Geopolitical Volatility

The MSCI All-Country World index climbed nearly 10% this quarter, marking its strongest performance since 2020. Charlie Robertson, chief economic adviser at Equity Bank, highlighted that the catastrophic downturn analysts braced for never materialized. Investor appetite remains anchored by aggressive capital inflows into artificial intelligence and a notable resurgence in South Korean equities.

Despite this momentum, the landscape remains fragile. The yen's persistent weakness, erratic gold pricing, and shifting interest rate policies in Tokyo and beyond continue to fuel volatility. As the year progresses, market participants remain on edge, weighing the potential for renewed geopolitical instability against the current economic recovery.