Continuing to gather global expertise on influential industry topics, National Bank of Oman (NBO) recently hosted an online conference with State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) entitled Global Markets – Outlook for 2020 and beyond. Led by Altaf Amirali Kassam, SSGA’s Head of Investment Strategy & Research for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), the event discussed the current market scenario, trends and forecasts from around the world, part of a series the bank is delivering to support knowledge sharing and financial empowerment.

Yaseen Hassan Al Lawati, Head of Investment Banking Division at NBO, said, “We are delighted to be spearheading these online events, which show that, even with restrictions in travel and in-person meetings, we will continue to gather the industry’s most influential minds and provide valuable information while looking to the future of banking. This is part of our commitment to promoting the development of the industry and empowering our clients on their financial decisions, no matter the circumstances.”

The conference discussed several key topics including earnings expectations, valuations, macro-economic scenario and forecasts, coverage on relative attractiveness of different asset classes, and ESG focused investments. A Chartered Financial Analyst and published researcher, Mr Kassam is responsible for developing thought leadership and executing custom projects for clients across EMEA in the fields of asset allocation and portfolio construction, as well as working with global portfolio managers and strategists to develop multi-asset investment solutions. He holds an MSc. in Finance from London Business School, and a first-class joint honours degree in Engineering and Computing Science from St. John’s College, Oxford.

NBO has organised a line-up of similar events on a wide range of topics from post-COVID-19 economies to bond markets and real estate, aiming to support its clients’ financial lives. Through such initiatives, the bank aims to promote knowledge dissemination throughout the industry and contribute to the continued development of the Sultanate’s economy.