The report provides insights from 3,000 senior global leaders, business owners and investors in 10 markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and America on how they are responding to the current climate and how this is affecting their plans. It was carried out between March 9-16, 2026.

It highlights how global volatility is no longer seen as temporary, but as something that will continue to influence how organizations plan, invest and manage risk. In fact, 95 per cent of businesses and investors view global economic volatility as a feature of the operating environment.

Despite this volatility, sentiment remains conducive. Most decision-makers see strong opportunities for international growth . Many are moving forward by expanding into new markets, reshaping supply chains and adapting their operating models. This is supported by a more confident approach to risk. Eighty-seven per cent of businesses said they are more willing to take calculated risks in pursuit of growth than they were five years ago. At the same time, over half report that their investment horizon has lengthened compared with three years ago, reflecting a shift toward longer-term positioning.

Many businesses see this period as an opportunity to reposition their organization . Eighty-nine per cent are also increasing capital deployment in high-growth markets, the survey reveals. One of the clearest shifts is the increasing regionalization of trade and investment; 91 per cent of businesses expect cross-border activity to become more regional in pattern over the next five years.

China, AI
More businesses expect mainland China to become increasingly important to their economic relationships than any other market over the next five years, underlining its role in future growth. Continental Europe and the UK are also seen as key markets for trade, investment and market access, followed by the United Arab Emirates and the US, the report shows.

At the same time, the drivers of growth are evolving. Access to technology and infrastructure is now as important as market growth and client demand in shaping international strategy. When considering specific markets in which to increase exposure, the presence of strong artificial intelligence and data-related infrastructure and attractive energy costs was almost as important as strong growth prospects and customer demand . This is reinforced by how investors are positioning portfolios.

AI and technology are cited as the most important factors influencing portfolio positioning in the current climate , ahead of enhanced risk management and hedging and geographic diversification . Respondents also expect AI to have a wide range of potential benefits in their business models over the next three years. About half expect productivity gains, better forecasting and increased innovation to have the biggest impact, while a sizeable proportion expect it to transform their core business model by 2030.

Digital finance is advancing quickly, with 90 per cent of decision-makers expecting adoption to accelerate materially over the next five years. Over half of respondents believe digital and tokenized assets will become core market infrastructure in the same period. But this momentum is not matched by readiness. Almost half of businesses said they do not yet understand how digital finance will impact their organization, while fewer than four in 10 are actively implementing use cases.

This shift is also reflected in the way capital is being deployed. Eighty-eight per cent of organizations said they have recalibrated their capital allocation approach in response to increased volatility. Alongside this, the role of private capital is growing as it matures into a mainstream asset class of increasing importance to the global economy. Businesses and institutional investors believe that private capital will exert the greatest influence over global capital allocation in the decade ahead, ahead of public markets and a blended model . This reflects demand for longer-term and more flexible funding and signals a shift in the way capital is deployed and controlled.

“Our Global Investment Summit survey highlights a structural transformation in the global economy. Trade and investment flows are becoming more regional, Asia is growing in strategic importance, and technology is reshaping how and where capital is deployed. Business leaders and institutional investors are recalibrating where they operate, invest and allocate capital as complexity rises,” Michael Roberts CEO, Corporate and Institutional Banking, HSBC, said.