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Global equities fell as a sharp AI-led sell-off hit technology stocks, while surging oil prices and hotter US inflation reignited rate-hike debate ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) meeting. Treasuries acted as a haven and the USD held firm, with the EUR weighed down by French spreads widening.

The seventh edition of Building Bridges, Switzerland’s largest sustainable finance conference, brought together 2,600 participants in Geneva from 6–8 October – an increase of 25% compared with last year – with thousands more joining online. A sponsor since the conference’s inaugural edition in 2019, UBP continues to support its mission of fostering constructive dialogue on sustainable finance and strengthening collaboration between the financial sector and the wider economy.

Since the US Federal Reserve’s 25 basis points September rate hike, gold has traded modestly lower to levels of around USD 4,150 per oz.

For nearly two years, the AI trade has been the single most powerful engine behind global equity returns. It has lifted indices, concentrated their leadership in a handful of mega-cap names, and left much of the rest of the market trading in its shadow.

The US economy remains resilient, but rising prices and political pressure are keeping investors cautious.

Emerging market debt is not a single investment; it includes government and corporate bonds issued in major currencies, such as the US dollar, as well as local-currency bonds, currencies, and frontier markets. These areas respond differently to global growth, inflation, volatility, and geopolitical developments.