Investments

Hidden GEMs: An emerging market debt investor’s navigation guide for 2026

Some key uncertainties from last year will continue to drive markets in 2026

Despite plenty of volatility, 2025 delivered strong returns to investors. With the benefit of hindsight, few things dominated headlines to the same extent as US President Donald Trump and artificial intelligence (AI) mania.

The Venezuela incursion’s implications for financial markets

Recent US military action in Venezuela signals a more assertive, interest-driven foreign policy stance, with implications that reach beyond Latin America. While Venezuela’s direct role in global markets is limited, the move adds to growing geopolitical uncertainty that investors are closely watching. The more meaningful impact may be how this uncertainty reshapes investment behaviour. Heightened geopolitical risk tends to support assets such as gold and encourages diversification away from traditional US assets, creating potential upside for non-US and emerging markets including South Africa.

Macroscope | Goldilocks prevails: Investing in 2026