20/20 Vision: Keeping an Eye Out

The Daily Cast by SHUAA Securities - Egypt

This year, 2020, was kicked off to a rather eventful start that has taken the MENA region as well as the world by surprise. Geopolitical tensions, and more recently the coronavirus, will likely play a major role in shaping the investment scene in terms of asset allocation (i.e. which asset classes to buy/sell) and the ultimate chore of security selection (i.e. what to buy/sell in each asset class). Granted, risk will continue to drive investment performance across the board, so it is up to investors to first understand their investment profiles, set their goals accordingly, and target risk-adjusted rates of return. In our annual strategy note, we try to provide our clients with a vision that is as clear as possible to navigate the Egyptian financial markets. Thus, we are making a pun on the year 2020, trying to convey 20/20 vision as much as possible. But keep in mind that while 20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity at a certain distance, it does not necessarily mean perfect vision1. Hence, in this note, we try to keep an eye out for our clients without being too hyperopic (farsighted) or too myopic (shortsighted). We update our calls on the different sectors and present our stock ideas for this year, both long and short ideas.