Blain’s Morning Porridge 8th Jan 2025 – Beware rising complacency [...]

It’s clear 2025 will be a challenging year – there are plenty of issues to cause markets headaches, but opportunities in abundance. The primary problems may come from the ongoing politics of disruption and the likelihood electorates are going to remain profoundly disappointed.

Sequels oft disappoint. Just how will the world change after Jan 20th 2025? Maybe not the way we expect. Meanwhile, the global Alternatives markets are becoming increasingly frothy as the big firms bid up for market expertise and scale. Does that suggest they might be missing something?

Markets are watching Commercial Real Estate, nervous the sector may implode and create a repeat of the 2008 repeat financial crisis. Smarter investors see weak property markets as opportunity – and are looking for the right assets.

Next week I will be either stuck in the queues at Heathrow, or sailing round Greece. Time to unwind and think about the state of the World. Or… maybe not ruin my break by scaring myself! Some thoughts on Global Macro.

The amount of “dry powder” earmarked for the Alternatives Market is said to exceed $4 trillion. While the sector continues to attract new money, the competition for deals should be rising – in fact finding good deals is more difficult as economic conditions remain tight and impose funding discipline.

The US economy looks strong, robust and resilient. Investors are pouring billions into stock trackers believing it’s all rosy upside ahead. Under the surface there is enormous stress as consumers, corporates, banks and the government struggle with debt and its consequences. If something snaps….

The Bank of England is concerned about financial institutional risk associated with the rapid growth of private capital markets. A PE or Private Credit market crash would trigger a liquidity event which spawns crisis, but also massive opportunity. It will be yet another consequence of regulation and mispriced money in the wake of the 2008 GFC!