Conning ConnText Podcast: Resilient Markets Face Greater Volatility Amid Uncertain Fiscal and Monetary Policy as Well as Approaching U.S. Elections
July 30, 2024
Commercial Real Estate: Office Sector a Challenge, But Other Opportunities Exist
HARTFORD, CT – July 29, 2024 —Leading global investment management firm Conning has posted its latest Conning ConnText quarterly podcast, which warns of increasing market volatility as 2024 progresses but also highlights opportunities in commercial real estate beyond the office sector.
Rich Sega, Conning’s Global Chief Investment Strategist and host of the podcast, said that “risk markets have performed well despite the very high perceived level of geopolitical strife.” However, with uncertain fiscal and monetary policy, and this fall’s U.S. elections (and the change in one major party’s presumptive presidential nominee), “much turmoil and volatility is in the cards.” Sega said. “Markets will no doubt be buffeted by these events.”
The office sector of the commercial real estate market has already been buffeted by market conditions, especially in many premier cities. It may simply be a case that “we just need a lot less of it,” especially in those cities, said Sega’s guest Stephen Quazzo, CEO of Conning affiliate Pearlmark Real Estate L.L.C.
However, suburbs offer opportunities as do apartments and industrial, he said. “We have become a nation of renters,” Quazzo noted, and thinks demand for rental properties will continue. He sees investment opportunities for insurers in both debt and equity. And should inflation remain higher for longer, “the underlying value of the real estate will increase,” Quazzo said. “We think owning hard assets in an inflationary environment is a great investment.”
To access the podcast and subscribe to the Conning ConnText podcast, click here.
ABOUT CONNING
Conning is a leading investment management firm with over $117 billion in global assets under management as of June 30, 2024.* With a long history of serving the insurance industry, Conning supports institutional investors, including insurers and pension plans, with investment solutions, risk modeling software, and industry research. Founded in 1912, Conning has investment centers in Asia, Europe and North America. Conning is part of the Generali Investments platform, which has approximately $740 billion in assets under management.**
* As of June 30, 2024, includes Conning, Inc., Conning Asset Management Limited, Conning Asia Pacific Limited, Conning Investment Products, Inc., Goodwin Capital Advisers, Inc. and assets sub-advised by Conning subsidiary, Octagon Credit Investors, LLC (collectively, “Conning”)
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Media Contacts
Myra Lee
Conning
+1 860-299-2278 (direct)
myra.lee@Conning.com