In this interview, Manpreet Gill, Chief Investment Officer for Africa, Middle East and Europe (AME), discusses the bank’s outlook for global markets, the US dollar, emerging markets and what the changing landscape means for investors in Nigeria and across Africa.
Q: Looking back at the first half of 2026, what have been the biggest investment lessons for investors?
Manpreet Gill: The first half of the year reinforced one of the most important principles of investing: staying disciplined through periods of uncertainty. We often talk about diversification, resilience and remaining invested during market volatility, and this year demonstrated exactly why those principles matter.
Despite heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a sharp spike in oil prices, global markets proved remarkably resilient. Global and Asian equities both delivered gains of around 10% during the first half of the year, outperforming expectations despite an uncertain backdrop.
The biggest lesson for investors is that reacting emotionally to short-term market events rarely produces the best outcomes. Those who remained diversified, stayed invested and focused on long-term fundamentals were ultimately rewarded.
