(Kim Ho-young)

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Experts at the 2024 Seoul Money Show Plus (+), which began Thursday at the aT Center in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, emphasized the importance of preparing for economic shifts ahead of Donald Trump’s second term as U.S. president. Over the three-day event, financial analysts advised focusing on safe-haven assets such as bonds, gold, and the dollar while remaining alert to investment opportunities in stocks as markets evolve.

Experts recommended increasing allocations to these safe-haven assets as a 2025 asset strategy, and also advised diversifying with moderately risky assets such as REITs and U.S. equities during market dips. Maintaining a strong allocation to high-performing U.S. stocks was highlighted as a key strategy. Analysts additionally expressed optimism about Bitcoin, which has been hitting record highs in recent days.

“While South Korean households are cash-strapped, U.S. consumer spending remains robust, and corporate profit margins are significantly higher,” Yoon Ji-ho, head of the retail business division at LS Securities, said.

In contrast to Korean stocks, domestic bonds were identified as an attractive buying opportunity. Hong Chun-wook, CEO of Prism Investment Advisory, explained, “Global commodity prices - the primary driver of inflation- have stabilized, making Korean bonds more appealing than U.S. Treasuries, which face higher fiscal deficit risks.”

Gold and the dollar were also named essential assets for next year’s portfolio. “When U.S. interest rates rise, the dollar strengthens; when rates fall, gold prices increase as these two assets hedge against each other’s risks,” Kim Joong-won, senior managing director of Hyundai Motor Securities’ investment strategy team, said.

Bitcoin, widely regarded as a major beneficiary of the upcoming Trump government, set another record on Thursday, briefly surpassing $97,000 per unit during intraday trading. Cryptocurrency experts at the event predicted that institutional investors, buoyed by Trump’s favorable policies, would funnel additional funds into Bitcoin via ETFs.