Balanced News: Geopolitical instability and a packed election calendar have strategists wary of 2024

Geopolitical instability and a packed election calendar in 2024 are causing concern among strategists. Large-scale wars and pivotal elections across major global powers are expected to contribute to an increasingly fraught geopolitical backdrop and greater divergence across key regions, leading to uncertainty and market volatility. Geopolitical tensions were cited as the top business concern, with worries over China-Taiwan and Russia-NATO relations being widespread. The International Monetary Fund predicts global growth to slow to 2.9% in 2024, with stronger growth projected in the US and large emerging markets, while China and the euro area are expected to struggle.