Shanghaied! My review of 2020 so far. | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The first quarter of 2020 was characterized by different narratives each month, including Greta Thunberg's influence in January, the coronavirus outbreak overshadowing Corona beer in February, and fear, uncertainty, and doubt taking over financial markets in March.

Key Insights

• 😨 Each month of the first quarter of 2020 had a distinct narrative, including climate change, the coronavirus outbreak, and fear in financial markets.
• 😶‍🌫️ The digitalization of the mortgage sector and cloud services are expected to see increased growth in the FinTech industry.
• 🚗 Cybersecurity will become more important, particularly in the IoT and mobile personal devices.

Transcript

[Applause] I'm your host fep Larry no and I want to do a little review of the first quarter of 2020 which was supposed to be an awesome start for this new decade but it turned out to be really a very odd quarter and if we look month by month it's just stunning how each month had a totally different distinct narrative we started in January and the d... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What were the distinct narratives of each month in the first quarter of 2020?

In January, the dominating theme was Greta Thunberg and climate change. February was overshadowed by the coronavirus outbreak, which also ironically damaged the brand name of Corona beer. In March, fear, uncertainty, and doubt took over all asset classes and financial markets.

Q: What sub-sectors are expected to see more growth in the FinTech industry?

The digitalization of the mortgage sector and all related asset-backed securities is likely to see accelerated growth. This can be seen as an acceleration of structured products. Furthermore, cloud services will experience increased demand, with incumbent banks leaping into the cloud to digitize their business and overcome cultural resistance.

Q: Why is cybersecurity becoming even more important in the first quarter of 2020?

Cybersecurity is expected to rise as a sector, especially in the Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile personal devices. These areas have previously lacked considerable attention to cybersecurity, making them vulnerable to cyber threats.

Q: How should individuals and investors navigate through these uncertain times?

It is essential to remain open to all possibilities and adapt to the changing narratives. Additionally, individuals should keep cool and calm in the current conditions, both personally and with their investment portfolios.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• January was dominated by Greta Thunberg and the viral video, creating a strong narrative around climate change.

• February saw the rise of the coronavirus, damaging the brand name of Corona beer and becoming the dominating news.

• In March, fear, uncertainty, and doubt permeated all asset classes and financial markets.