Investor confidence rose by four points in July thanks to improved sentiment in North America, according to State Street Global Markets.
In its monthly Global Investor Confidence Index, the firm said global confidence rose four points to 100.6.
This was driven by a 9.3 point in the North America confidence index to 105.1 while Europe saw a small rise of 1.8 points to 92.8. However, Asian confidence declined 4.8 points to 87.0.
The index tracks investor confidence or risk appetite quantitatively by analysing the actual buying and selling patterns of institutional investors with a reading of 100 being neutral.
Marvin Loh, senior macro strategist at State Street Global Markets, said: “Risk appetite improved in July as the global ICI ticked higher on confidence of continued reopening tailwinds.
“US investor sentiment reversed all of last month’s weakness with longer-term inflation expectations stabilising despite higher than expected current price readings. Interest rates also fell by their widest margins in over a year, which kept financial conditions supportive of risk assets.
“In contrast, however, Asian investor confidence retreated to its lowest levels in a year, likely due to the region’s vaccination levels lagging much of the developed markets and growth concerns starting to emerge in China.”
The firm has forecast stronger global growth and higher inflation in 2026, signalling that central banks may be nearing the end of their easing cycles.
Despite ASIC’s scathing review of private credit funds, including concerns around valuation inconsistencies and mixed liquidity practices, the asset class grew 9 per cent in the last 12 months.
The fund has joined forces with Macquarie Asset Management in a USD500 million deal targeting infrastructure-linked businesses across global markets.
With ESG investing in focus as COP30 begins this week, new MSCI reports highlight how private-sector funding is driving progress, and why businesses must strengthen their resilience to climate risks in the years ahead.