• | 12:30 pm

Saxo’s 2025 outlook: Surprising predictions for global financial markets

As analysts' worldwide close books for 2024, bold speculations and predictions for a new financial year are beginning to ensue.

Saxo’s 2025 outlook: Surprising predictions for global financial markets
[Source photo: Krishna Prasad/Fast Company Middle East ]

As 2024 comes to a close, financial markets and investors are beginning to speculate what the first financial quarter of 2025 has in store for economies and commodities worldwide. Saxo, an online trading and investment platform, is spearheading 2025 financial forecasts with its “Outrageous Predictions” for the new year.

The Saxo report considers several hypotheticals that may play out in the 2025 financial calendar based on existing data and market trends. Though not official forecasts, these predictions serve as a ready reckoner for trending scenarios that could materialize in some capacity.

John Hardy, Chief Macro Strategist at Saxo, confirms that while “we [Saxo] don’t know which stories will drive the global economy in the coming year, our 2025 predictions, from Nvidia trouncing its Mag 7 peers to the fall of OPEC, from a bold bet on reflation in China to a great leap forward in biotech, are just as promised: outrageous.”

Trump to butt heads with the US dollar

As the US economy gears up for Trump 2.0 in 2025, analysts are speculating about the potential impact of his tariff-heavy foreign policies on the US dollar. According to Hardy, “The implications for the US dollar are dire for trade around the world, as it cuts off the needed supply of dollars to keep the wheels of the global USD system turning, ironically risking a powerful spike higher in the US dollar.”

In his efforts to address the US economy’s growing deficit, Trump plans to create a Musk-run Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As the US navigates these systemic changes, the crypto market is expected to “quadruple to more than $10 trillion.” Furthermore, Hardy suggests that “the US dollar could fall by 20% against major currencies and 30% versus gold” as these shifts unfold.

Nvidia will dominate the global AI race

In 2024, Nvidia has solidified its dominance in the global AI chip market. With the mass availability of its groundbreaking 208-billion transistor Blackwell chip, which delivers up to a 25-fold increase in AI processing performance per unit of energy consumed, Nvidia has overtaken Apple for the top spot in global rankings.

As electricity costs for AI data centers continue to rise, analysts predict that the demand for Blackwell chips—powerful yet more energy-efficient—will propel Nvidia to become the most profitable company of all time by 2025. However, such immense growth may draw the attention of regulators, as Nvidia’s soaring profits face potential scrutiny amid concerns about market dominance and economic impact.

China’s almost $7 trillion injection to reflate economy

For the 2025 financial year, China will opt for reflationary measures and policies to resuscitate its economy. The government is expected to roll out a slew of fiscal initiatives that add up to promises of an estimated $7 trillion in 2025 and the following years. To supplement these fiscal stimuli, China will also focus on “heavy doses of social engineering” to incentivize companies to prioritize quality of life for its personnel.

First bio-printed human heart to champion the longevity sector in 2025

2025 will be the year of unprecedented scientific breakthroughs, with researchers making significant strides in bio-printing the world’s first fully functional human heart.

The report reveals that “starting with high-resolution CT scans, scientists create an intricate digital model capturing every minute detail of the heart’s complex structure. This model serves as the blueprint for a state-of-the-art 3D bioprinter, which meticulously layers human stem cells and biodegradable scaffold materials to construct the organ with remarkable precision.”

With an increase in the number of startups in this burgeoning biotechnology space, a rush of IPOs is likely to hit financial markets over the next year.

Electrification to steal OPEC’s waning thunder

Data suggests that nearly two-thirds of oil is used as gasoline or diesel in cars and trucks. With OPEC’s dwindling market relevance and redundant multi-million barrel per day production limits, electrification is emerging as the fuel of the future.

Hardy states that “the majority of members quickly realizing the jig is up. Amidst the bickering and in-fighting, key members will leave. This consigns OPEC to the ash heap of history.” This daunting premonition for crude oil will cause prices to slump further, presenting a boon for airlines, chemical, paint, tire manufacturers, and freight and logistics companies. In light of these predictions, Japanese automobile manufacturers are likely to encounter a slowdown compared to their North American EV counterparts.

US gears to impose AI data center tax amid power price frenzy

In 2025, power prices in the US are expected to soar to all-time highs as tech titans scramble to lock in baseload electricity supplies for their AI data centers. This price surge is expected to inspire increased investment in the US energy sector to combat power outages across the country.

Companies like Fluor plan to sign massive new construction deals to meet the infrastructural necessity. Additionally, Tesla’s accelerating Megapack initiative will gain more traction and popular support in 2025. Long-term US natural gas prices may more than double, significantly contributing to a more inflationary outlook on the horizon.

Natural disasters to swindle insurance companies out of millions in 2025

Experts predict that the frequency of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, will reach new highs in 2025, posing severe threats to the health of insurance companies in the US. Storms and rainfall events are expected to cause damage far surpassing the $40 billion in claims linked to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

With insufficient reserves to cover mounting claims, many insurance companies are expected to file for bankruptcy and rely on government bailouts as a last resort. The report suggests that Berkshire Hathaway shares will rise, as Buffett’s company is equipped with sufficient capital to weather the panic and gain market share.

Pound to erase post-Brexit discounts versus the Euro

The report indicates that “the sterling rises through 1.27 versus the euro, mirroring the level it traded ahead of the Brexit referendum, thus erasing its entire post-Brexit vote discount.”

As fresh fiscal policy winds blow in the UK, the government aims to drive domestic investments to support its revised growth outlook.

More Top Stories:

FROM OUR PARTNERS