2023 Outlooks from 31 local and global investment firms all in the one spot

Here at Livewire, we are incredibly fortunate to receive a lot of information from our partners and contributors. That includes annual outlook statements.

Say what you will about outlook statements, there is an immense amount of work that goes into preparing them and they provide a valuable roadmap, and plan, for what could happen in the year ahead. They also outline how investors might engage with markets in various scenarios. And that’s the value of these outlook pieces. The planning and preparation. Not the base case predictions that anyone can pick apart 12 months down the line.

Of course, it also pays to consider a range of opinions and do your own research… but you already know that if you’re a Livewire reader.

As we move into 2023, many investors are feeling concerned about how to approach the year ahead. To help you gain some perspective, we have collated the outlook statements of some of the biggest names in the industry. Some of these you may have already seen on the platform, but we’ve pulled them together in one handy location.

Before we get to the list, however, we’ve identified a couple of common themes in numerous of the outlook statements below. 

Common themes

#1 - Recession 

Most of the outlook statements talk about 2023 being a year of slowing growth. More specifically, they expect to see developed economies, namely the US, Europe, and the UK, dip into recession at some point throughout the year. Blackrock predicts further downfalls for equity markets because the market has not fully priced in the possibility of a recession. In their own words,

“We find that earnings expectations don’t yet price in even a mild recession.” - Blackrock

#2 - China a swing factor

Toward the end of 2022, China announced a loosening of its zero-COVID policy. Many research houses have discussed this being a swing factor for the global economy in 2023. A reopening, although likely to be bumpy, potentially means the easing of supply chain issues, a reduction in inflation pressures, and stronger Chinese (and therefore global) growth. Ultimately, China remains a powerhouse that can significantly influence the global economy. 

Outlooks list