2015 Global Financial Markets Forum concludes

(Abu Dhabi) – The seventh Global Financial Markets Forum (GFMF), the annual conference organised by the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), concluded in Abu Dhabi.
Prominent speakers from UAE and global decision makers, thought leaders, investors, and financiers participated in the 2015 GFMF which attracted nearly 1500 delegates over two days.
The first panel discussed the world’s challenges from Sovereign Wealth Funds’ (SWF) perspectives. The main questions panelists focused on was how to generate returns in spite of low interest rates, sliding oil prices and a strong dollar.
Panelists agreed that the environment will be very difficult this year. However, SWFs are designed for the long term and that they can stomach the liquidity squeeze.
Panelists also addressed the question of opportunities in Europe with distressed portfolios in European banks coming to the markets. They agreed that SWFs will be beneficial of the assets that the banks will offload.
They also discussed the impact of oil prices on investments and low interest rates. “The low interest rate environment will force us to put more money in equity markets and this year we are allocating more on emerging markets,” said Uche Orji, MD and CEO of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority.
(Courtesy WAM)