As geopolitical tensions rise and the global economic landscape shifts, investors are reevaluating long-held strategies. While global equity indexes have historically offered stability, increasing fragmentation and ongoing conflicts are prompting questions about the future of international investments. Headlinez.news spoke with five leading financial experts to assess the outlook for 2026, examining whether a diversified, globally-focused approach remains viable amidst current uncertainties and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.
For decades, global equity indexes have been considered a safe bet for long-term investors. However, as the world fragments into competing blocs – a trend accelerated by policies enacted during the Trump administration – investors are questioning their strategies. Should they exit U.S. investments, shift focus to Europe, or simply hold cash amid the uncertainty?
Despite the shifting geopolitical landscape, five investment experts agree that a core strategy of investing in global indexes, such as the MSCI World or S&P 500, remains sound, even looking ahead to 2026. These indexes are designed to automatically shed underperforming companies and replace them with winners.
“Historically, world stock markets have weathered everything, and capitalism will find a way,” says Tomáš Vranka, an analyst at XTB. He points to consistently rising corporate profits as the primary driver of growth.
Even with increasing conflicts and heightened tensions between the U.S. and China, markets operate according to their own logic. “Trump’s policies actually benefit large American corporations. Support for their businesses is precisely what stocks will ultimately react to,” explains Tomáš Vlk of Patria Finance. This suggests that policies aimed at bolstering domestic businesses could translate into positive market performance.
Gold, U.S. Treasury bonds, and Bitcoin all have a place in a diversified portfolio, but serve different purposes. Gold offers protection against extreme market events, bonds provide a defensive position, and Bitcoin remains a speculative asset. “There’s no single magic insurance policy in a crisis. A combination works best,” explains Dominik Hapl of Across.
So, what should investors do? Michal Nalevanko, an investment strategist, advises sticking to their long-term strategy, rather than reacting to headlines.
Many investors, however, are considering increasing their cash reserves or allocating more to short-term bonds. Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffett, is currently holding a record amount – over 30% of its assets – in cash, signaling a wait-and-see approach to capitalize on future opportunities.
“For comparison, I personally maintain a liquid reserve of around 10%, reflecting my risk tolerance and long-term investment horizon,” adds Marek Nemky, an equity analyst at ProRate.
The following insights come from a survey of five investment professionals, offering their perspectives on navigating investment strategies in 2026, an era marked by geopolitical tension and the ongoing boom in artificial intelligence.
We asked:
1. Is it still safe to invest in global indexes in 2026, given geopolitical tensions and sanctions that are fragmenting the world? How should a reasonable geographical diversification look today?
2. In the past, investors turned to assets like gold during geopolitical crises. What is advisable now? Gold, government bonds, or perhaps Bitcoin?
3. Which companies are true beneficiaries, capable of radically cutting costs thanks to AI, and who are merely overhyped “AI tourists” that investors should avoid?
4. Is it better to increase cash reserves today?
They answered:
- Tomáš Vranka, equity analyst at XTB;
- Tomáš Vlk, chief analyst at Patria Finance;
- Michal Nalevanko, investment strategist;
- Dominik Hapl, portfolio manager, Across Private Investments;
- Marek Nemky, analyst at ProRate.
Here are their responses:
