8 investment ideas to achieve affluence in the year of prosperity

Financial experts said active portfolio management is crucial amidst economic uncertainties.

Feng shui experts predict that 2023 will be a year of hope and prosperity, however, financial experts warned that familiar foes like inflation and geopolitics like the rivalry between the G2 powers of China and the US will continue to haunt investors during the year.

Stefanie Holtze-Jen, APAC chief Investment Officer of Deutsche Bank International Private Bank, shared eight investment ideas that can help investors to navigate systemic risks.

Liquid and investment-grade bonds from the US and Europe According to Holtze-Jen, yields and quality are now no longer mutually exclusive.

"European bank bonds, for example, would seem to be worth greater consideration because underlying capital adequacy and credit risk data have improved substantially in recent years," she said. Standard Chartered reported that the 10-year US government bond yield is expected to rise towards 3.75% to 4.0% in the first quarter of 2023 given that the Federal Reserve is maintaining "tight financial conditions for now."

Citibank, in a separate report, had a similar take saying that they see "potential for pursuing portfolio income" with short-and intermediate-term US dollar-denominated bonds.

Speaking of bonds, Holtze-Jen said active bond portfolio management will remain the watchword in 2023. She said adding floaters, or bonds with variable returns, to the portfolio might be helpful to investors.

In relation to this, DBS Chief Investment Officer Hou Wey Fook said it is also time to pursue a 60/40 portfolio strategy, consisting of 60% equities and 40% bonds.

"With bond yields at above 5% today and equity valuations having mean reverted, we believe the window is now open to be engaged for the long term, in a multi-asset portfolio of equities and bonds," said Hou in a report.