More than One 'New Normal'

We might not be at the end of the pandemic tunnel yet, but the world definitely can see the light again. But the prevailing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the inflation at the gates are hindering this light ahead. The climate is uncertain to say the least. After being under intense pressure for so long, investors can be forgiven for thinking they could simply return to the successful portfolio strategies of the past as soon as the predicament deescalates. But does returning to `normal' mean returning to the old ways? Not at all.

The pandemic-ridden past couple of years alone have hosted a paradigm shift in the behavioral patterns of many markets and trends. For instance, look at the supply chain; businesses across the world were bracing for supply chain localization amid the U.S.-China trade tensions before the pandemic. Today, supply imbalances and inventory shortages driven by inflation and the probability of another pandemic like situation fuel the trend toward domestic sourcing. It's quite clear that the investors can't go back to their good old `global' perspective of supply chain investments.

For each investor, it's important to define what the new normal will be for THEM. The portfolios should be envisioned and revised from that perspective. Also, the focus should be on the technology adopters organizations that are likely to be on a more aggressive path of tech adoption not just the technology developers. In this issue, we have churned out a bunch of stories from the investment ecosystem. Do let us know your thoughts.