Experts discuss the importance of timely information in navigating market volatility and geopolitical shocks, citing the Iran war and other major disruptions as examples.
Managers of investment funds Hazman Hilmi of KWAP, Duraini Baharuddin of MNRB Holdings, and Udhay Furtado of Open Space Capital airing their views, as Azeem Bakar of FMT Media moderates the session.
KUALA LUMPUR: In a world of uncertainty and rapidly shifting markets, information has become the new currency, according to experts. Fund managers told a recent market outlook conference that access to timely information can make the difference between collapsing in a catastrophe and sailing through the storm. They cited closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the middle of the ongoing Iran war and the resulting geopolitical shocks as situations when knowledge becomes key to getting through a difficult time.
The Iran war is the latest in a series of major disruptions that have rattled markets over the past decade even as the world continues to deal with the impact of the US reciprocal tariffs and the Covid-19 pandemic. Hazman Hilmi. Retirement Fund chief investment officer Hazman Hilmi said constant communication and dynamic intelligence gathering especially have become essentials in navigating the uncertainty triggered by geopolitical shocks and rapidly shifting markets.
Uncertainty is among the biggest challenges that investors face today, Hazman told the Affin Market Outlook Conference 2026. Citing the case of KWAP, which is one of Malaysia’s largest institutional investors, he said the statutory body has insulated itself from uncertainty in the short term by comunicating with its external fund managers.
“While we can’t escape reactionary sentiment, we can stay disciplined,” he said. Azeem Abu Bakar. The subject of access to information was given further emphasis by FMT Media managing director Azeem Abu Bakar, who pointed out that it has become one of the most important assets in managing market volatility.
Azeem, who was moderating the session on “Navigating Volatility: Malaysia in a Fragmented Global Economy”, said there is a need to know as much as possible so that shocks can be pre-empted. Duraini Baharuddin. MNRB Holdings Bhd chief investment officer Duraini Baharuddin said information and stress testing now play a central role in portfolio management, requiring investors to continuously model different scenarios instead of reacting only during crises.
“Stress testing is something that you do all the time when you are making portfolio decisions,” she said, adding that the process now extends beyond portfolio decisions into reading central bank signals, as monetary policy itself has become harder to predict. Duraini also warned that investors who rely on market signals as a measure of economic health risk being misled, pointing to the structural weight of passive investment flows as a distorting factor.
“The market is not the arbiter of truth. It’s the arbiter of economic development. That’s why the S&P 500 keeps on rallying even whilst the whole world is in shambles. ” She also pointed out that market disruptions are now part of the investment landscape itself, adding that “volatility is here to stay” and that it is part of portfolio construction.
Udhay Furtado. Open Space Capital chief investment officer Udhay Furtado said investors are now forced to navigate increasingly rapid change across geopolitics, trade, and policy shifts. He said long-term information gathering and trend analysis have helped investors identify relatively stable regions amid global volatility, noting that Malaysia benefits from broader geopolitical shifts. Furtado also pointed out that capital from the Gulf has been flowing into the Asean region, while investment linked to China has been building up for some time.
However, he said, investors remain concerned about changes in domestic politics and policymaking, which contribute to market volatility across the region.
“But Malaysia is currently in a leading position, and that is something we need to be careful to maintain over the next few months,” he added.
Investment Funds Market Outlook Geopolitical Shocks Iran War Access To Information Market Volatility Communication Dynamic Intelligence Gathering Insulation From Uncertainty Staying Disciplined
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Germany looks to deepen investment in Johor-Singapore SEZ amid global supply chain realignmentISKANDAR PUTERI, May 14 — Johor is increasingly being viewed as a strategic gateway into Asean as Germany seeks to diversify global supply chains and expand investment...
Read more »
PMB Investment declares four sen income distribution for PMB-An-Nur Waqf Income FundHSINCHU, Taiwan, May 14 (Reuters) - TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, expects the global semiconductor market to exceed $1.5 trillion by 2030, topping its previous forecast of $1 trillion, according to its presentation materials ahead of a tech symposium on Thursday.
Read more »
Accountant cheated of over RM150,000 in non-existence investment schemeKULAI: An accountant claimed to have lost RM155,182.97 after being hoodwinked by a syndicate offering multi-profits within 24 hours in a non-existence investment scheme.
Read more »
JPMorgan's bet on early-stage companies pays off in leading global tech investment banking'It appears audiences are no longer eager to see even good superhero films today as they were pre-pandemic,' an analyst says.
Read more »