Today, Investment Director Tom Stevenson joins our host Pamela Ritchie to dive deep into global market trends and what top issues are facing the global economy.  Tom highlights rising inflation and interest rates, and how central banks in the US and UK are grappling with these challenges. He says it’s still an ongoing debate between classifying the current trend as a mild economic slowdown, or an indicator of deeper recession, emphasizing continuous uncertainty surrounding these potential outcomes. He points out Germany’s economic struggles, particularly in its manufacturing sector, where some automobile companies face declining demand from China, as well as a loss of access to cheap energy. This downturn reflects broader global pressures and impacts electric vehicle tariffs.  Tom also discusses his optimism about the UK and European commercial real estate market, suggesting there are opportunities to be had in its current pricing.    Recorded on September 23rd , 2024.   At Fidelity, our mission is to build a better future for Canadian investors and help them stay ahead. We offer investors and institutions a range of innovative and trusted investment portfolios to help them reach their financial and life goals. Fidelity mutual funds and ETFs are available by working with a financial advisor or through an online brokerage account. Visit fidelity.ca/howtobuy for more information. For a fourth year in a row, FidelityConnects by Fidelity Investments Canada was ranked #1 podcast by Canadian financial advisors in the 2024 Environics’ Advisor Digital Experience Study.