Standard Chartered Pakistan hosted its latest Market Outlook session in Lahore, bringing together the Bank’s Affluent clients and leading investment experts to discuss the evolving global and domestic economic landscape and its implications for investors.
The session explored Pakistan’s progress towards macroeconomic stabilisation alongside developments shaping global markets, including geopolitical uncertainty, energy prices and the direction of US interest rates. The discussion also examined how investors can navigate changing market conditions through disciplined asset allocation, diversification and a longer-term approach to wealth creation.
Saadya Riaz, Head of Wealth & Retail Banking, Standard Chartered Pakistan, stated, “As Pakistan’s economic landscape evolves and global markets remain complex, investors need to look beyond short-term market movements and focus on building resilient, diversified portfolios. At Standard Chartered, our role is to combine our global perspective, local expertise and investment advisory capabilities to help clients make informed decisions aligned with their goals, time horizons and risk appetite.”
Addressing clients through a recorded message, Manpreet Gill, Chief Investment Officer for Africa, Middle East and Europe (AMEE), Standard Chartered, shared his perspective on the global investment environment, including the impact of geopolitical developments, energy prices and the US interest-rate cycle on currencies and emerging-market assets. He also discussed the role of gold within diversified investment portfolios.
The panel comprised Asif Ali Qureshi, CEO, UBL Funds; Iffat Mankani, Chief Executive Officer, JS Investments; and Saadya Riaz, Head of Wealth & Retail Banking, Standard Chartered Pakistan. The session was moderated by Murtaza Hasan, Head of Investment Advisory, Standard Chartered Pakistan.
The discussion covered Pakistan’s macroeconomic outlook and the sustainability of the stabilisation underway, opportunities across equities, fixed income and money-market instruments, the outlook for the rupee, gold and real estate as components of investor portfolios, and the importance of moving away from short-term market timing towards goal-based, well-diversified investment strategies.
Through its Market Outlook series, Standard Chartered continues to bring together its global investment perspectives, local market expertise and product partners to help clients better understand changing market dynamics and make informed wealth decisions.
