Strong Impact of Global Volatility: 8 out of 10 Investors Strengthen Defensive Positions

Volatility has ceased to be a transient phenomenon and has become a structural condition of financial markets. In a context marked by geopolitical risks, macroeconomic uncertainty, and potential disruptions in energy markets, investors have begun to redefine how they build their portfolios, with a greater focus on diversification, capital preservation, and active management.

This is shown by the Global Investor Insights 2026 Survey by Schroders, conducted by CoreData Research among more than 1,000 institutional investors and wealth management executives across 24 markets, collectively managing assets of about $72 trillion.

According to the survey, 85% of global investors anticipate an increase in volatility over the next twelve months. In light of this scenario, diversification (84%) and capital protection (83%) have displaced growth as the primary objectives when designing an investment strategy.

In Argentina, the diagnosis is similar, although with an even more defensive profile. 81% of local investors expect an increase in volatility in the coming year, and the response points to greater flexibility in asset allocation.

More than half (56%) plan to increase their exposure to defensive or short-term assets and take advantage of opportunities that may arise during episodes of higher volatility. Additionally, 48% expect to expand the geographical diversification of their portfolios to reduce risks.

Among the main threats identified are an escalation of geopolitical conflicts, sharp movements in commodity and energy prices, and a potential slowdown of the global economy.

The results also show that Argentine investors place a greater emphasis on portfolio resilience than the global average. 89% consider diversification as one of the main investment objectives, compared to 84% recorded globally. The same percentage prioritizes capital protection, six points above the international average.

The report also reflects a change in the way investments are managed. Globally, 31% of respondents expect to shift part of their assets from passive strategies to active strategies, while 85% believe that active managers will be better positioned to navigate a scenario of greater uncertainty over the next 12 to 18 months.

"In an increasingly volatile world, investors are reconfiguring their portfolios to place diversification and resilience at the center of their strategies while managing geopolitical risks. It is revealing that, in this context, a strong 85% of investors have expressed confidence that active managers can help them achieve these objectives over the next 12 to 18 months," said Johanna Kyrklund, Group Chief Investment Officer of Schroders.

The executive added that geopolitical fragmentation and the reconfiguration of supply chains are generating new inflationary pressures, making the ability to select assets and adapt portfolios to a changing environment increasingly relevant.

In the same vein, Mariano Fiorito, Country Head of Schroders Argentina and Uruguay, stated that "we see more and more investors focusing on active management to navigate a more challenging context, where return dispersion and macroeconomic uncertainty make careful asset selection and the ability to quickly adapt to market changes crucial."

The study also detects a shift in portfolio construction. Instead of analyzing public and private markets separately, investors are beginning to integrate both universes within the same strategy.

Globally, 49% evaluate opportunities between public and private credit jointly. In Argentina, that percentage rises to 56%, reflecting a greater willingness to combine different asset classes to improve diversification, generate income, and increase portfolio resilience.

Meanwhile, actively managed ETFs continue to gain traction as tools to implement more flexible strategies, thanks to their liquidity, lower costs, and ability to adapt risk exposure in a context of greater volatility.

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