(MENAFN- Mid-East Info) MENA traders are optimistic about US equities soaring past local market sentiment

Dubai, UAE, 4 th November 2025: Over 80% of respondents surveyed in the MENA region are shaping their strategies around US political policies and artificial intelligence, signalling a heightened awareness of global developments. The top two leading factors shaping investment decisions this quarter are President Trump's policies, cited by 83% of respondents, followed closely by AI at 79%.

These findings emerge from Saxo Bank's Q4 2025 Investor Forecast, which surveyed over 1,800 clients across 11 markets. The report highlights how MENA traders are at the forefront of global trends, embracing new technology and monitoring geopolitical shifts to guide their decisions.

AI Adoption and Trader Behavior

The region continues to lead on the digital front, with 55% of MENA respondents actively using AI tools in their investment process, outpacing the global average of 52%. Adoption is particularly pronounced among 46–60 year-olds, with 64% leveraging AI (compared to 53% globally for this age group), demonstrating the region's readiness to use next-generation technology for better decision-making.

Across all ages, AI chatbot applications are most popular for news analysis at 36%, followed by investment advice at 30% and market forecasting at 23%, highlighting traders' dynamic approach to integrating innovation into investment workflows in the MENA region.

Cautious Diversification and Global Optimism

When it comes to portfolio strategy, 58% of MENA respondents surveyed are staying the course, investing in familiar regions and sectors, while 24% are looking to diversify more in the coming quarter, closely mirroring global appetites for risk management and innovation.

Investor sentiment reveals a clear pattern of growing optimism as markets move farther from home. 64% of MENA respondents foresee an increase or a big increase in the US equity market, compared to just 38% for their local markets, underscoring stronger confidence in overseas opportunities. With more than 60% expecting both global and US market performance to improve, this highlights a prevailing belief in international growth potential.

Reflecting this outlook, North America remains the most preferred region for MENA traders, with 46% expressing optimism, while sentiment toward Europe turns notably cautious, as an equal 46% of respondents expect underperformance.

“Seeing how our clients view the world of investing is so interesting, and their belief in global markets relative to local ones is really something to take note of, especially from two points of view. On one hand, we also discuss the idea of home bias – investors' tendency to prefer their home markets – which this straight up contradicts. On the other hand, there's so much turmoil in the world, but at least according to our investors, there's still room for the global economy to outperform,” says Jacob Falkencrone, Global Head of Investment Strategy.

Damian Hitchen, CEO at Saxo Bank MENA, highlighted the region's proactive approach to investing:“MENA traders are shaping the conversation around global markets. They're using AI as a practical tool to guide their decisions, staying alert to global trends, and placing international markets at the heart of their strategies,” said Hitchen.“The focus now is on purposeful use of technology and well-balanced diversification. Investors understand that developments abroad often translate into opportunities at home. This mindset reflects growing confidence, flexibility, and a steady belief that global growth is the foundation for lasting resilience.”

The Investor Forecast highlights some fascinating differences across countries, giving us a glimpse into what's on traders' minds in Saxo's key markets. It's a snapshot of how clients are approaching the final stretch of 2025, balancing optimism with caution, thinking more about diversification, and steadily finding real use cases for AI.

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