Asian equities and the euro weakened on Friday while oil prices jumped as investors took fright from reports of a nuclear power plant on fire amid fierce fighting between Ukraine and Russian troops.
While prices have since trimmed losses from their morning lows on reports there was no immediate change in radiation levels in the area, investors remain extremely anxious. “Markets don’t want a contagion effect and more European countries impacted by the crisis,” said Menon. “If investors are looking to buy, they need to have a strong and long-term risk appetite.”
Investors sought refuge in safe-haven US Treasuries, sending yields on benchmark 10-year yields as much as 14 basis points lower to 1.7 per cent. They later inched back up to 1.78 per cent. There was no let-up in other commodities also, with Chicago wheat futures jumping nearly 7 per cent, taking the weekly gain to more than 40 per cent on supply side worries.
Goodman said the market volatility underscored the need to have a diversified portfolio with exposure to different markets, adding that the fund’s portfolio included firms in renewables energy, digital infrastructure, housing and logistics sectors.