Ask Your Advisor: What themes should global equity investors watch today?

Global markets continue to evolve alongside shifting economic conditions, technological innovations, policy developments, and geopolitical events. 

These factors affect corporate earnings, consumer behavior, and investment opportunities, which, in effect, causes leadership to rotate from one region to another, from one sector to another, and so on. 

When market challengers become market leaders, narratives change, and so do portfolio returns. When investing in global equities, it is important to be strategically positioned to seize opportunities.

Across recent global investment outlooks, several recurring themes stand out as key drivers of global equity markets today.

AI-led innovation takes center stage
 

Artificial intelligence (AI) remains a powerful catalyst for innovation, but the opportunity extends well beyond technology companies. As AI adoption accelerates, businesses across industries are investing in digital capabilities to boost productivity, streamline operations, and enhance customer experiences.  

Currently, the education, finance, real estate, and health care sectors are leading in the use of AI across their business functions. The combination of innovation and earnings is a key characteristic to watch when identifying potential market leaders. 
 

Powering the infrastructure of growth
 

The rapid expansion of AI and digital technologies is increasing demand for the infrastructure that powers them. Data centers require reliable electricity, and grid modernization and energy investments are becoming increasingly important to support future economic growth.  

As governments and businesses continue to invest in these areas, utilities and global energy companies stand to benefit. Financial institutions also play an important role by providing the capital needed to finance infrastructure development and the transition to a more digital and electrified economy. 
 

Resilience through diversification
 

With evolving geopolitical developments, shifting trade dynamics, and varying economic conditions across regions, diversification remains an important investment principle.  

Broad global exposure, together with selective opportunities in emerging markets and defensive assets, can help investors navigate uncertainty while remaining positioned for long-term growth. 

While no single investment theme is guaranteed to outperform, understanding the structural forces shaping global markets can help investors navigate shifting conditions with greater confidence. A diversified portfolio that balances innovation, infrastructure, and resilience may be better positioned to capture opportunities across market cycles.  

One way to gain exposure to the latest themes is through the Metro Multi-Theme Equity Fund-of-Funds. This is a Philippine peso-denominated Unit Investment Trust Fund (UITF), a professionally managed fund, with the fund manager actively monitoring market developments and allocating across a diversified portfolio of US dollar-denominated collective investment schemes.  

The fund aims to achieve long-term capital appreciation by capturing opportunities across multiple global investment themes.  

Learn more about UITFs and how they work here.

MARIEL LOPEZ is an Investment Counselor at Metrobank, with experience in Trust Banking. She holds an AB Political Economy degree from the University of Asia & the Pacific (UA&P), an MBA from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, and has completed the Registered Financial Planner (RFP) course. Outside of finance, she enjoys reading, teaches barre, and competes in Hyrox.