Will Paris Terrorist Attacks Have Major Impact on World Markets?

In light of the recent terrorist attacks in Beirut and Paris, Ling Capital's Richard North gives his opinion on whether these atrocious actions will have any serious lasting effects on world markets.

Asian shares hit six-week lows at the bell on Monday as investors bought safe-haven assets, including gold, the Japanese yen and low-risk government debt. Gold rose from last week's six-year low as the attacks in Beirut and Paris, which left 172 people dead and hundreds wounded, prompted an initial bout of global risk aversion.

Trepidation, however, was short-lived. Stocks on Wall Street climbed more than 1 percent and European shares rebounded from early losses on Monday.

investors need not worry a great deal about their portfolios as the markets, much like Beirut and Paris, will not be beaten by terrorists

Richard North, Senior Portfolio Manager

“I expect there to be modest potential economic impact on the markets in the short term. Travel related stocks will take a hit for sure, Air France is down 5.7%, and French hotelier Accor dropped 4.7%.” said Richard North, a Senior Portfolio Manager at Ling Capital.

“I would also advise investors to avoid French luxury brands such as LVMH and Hermes, as the majority of their retail sales are tourist related. Also, with Christmas being the busiest time of year for retailers, these stocks may take a while longer to bounce back, although I’m certain they will eventually.”

However, Richard’s overall opinion is that investors need not worry a great deal about their portfolios as the markets, much like Beirut and Paris, will not be beaten by terrorists.

 

**disclaimer**

The views and opinions expressed in this press release are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Ling Capital. The content of this release should not be solely used to make any financial decision.