As traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been virtually closed for 80 days, investors continue looking for signals of easing tension.

After a stronger 2025, biotechnology entered 2026 on firm footing. Innovation remains robust, valuations are still supportive and investor interest is improving. In a selective market, Candriam focuses on differentiated assets, commercial potential and disciplined portfolio construction.

Discover our “Navigating Private Markets Today: Investor Perspectives” webinar series, developed in collaboration with the CAIA Association.

Late-cycle credit markets rarely announce themselves clearly. Spreads remain tight, income is still available, and risky assets may continue to perform. Yet beneath this apparent stability, the balance is shifting: compensation is thinner, risks are more idiosyncratic, and the margin for error is narrowing.

Recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have triggered renewed energy and supply shocks in Europe, exposing the continent's reliance on external dependencies.

Exiting this super week of earnings release, market reaction is expected to be more driven by the evolution around the Strait of Hormuz rather than strong fundamentals, with a handful of software and cybersecurity companies reporting.

Join Candriam CIO Nicolas Forest on April 21 for Candriam’s Market Briefing, as specialists across asset classes join Nicolas to recap what they’ve seen in the markets over the first quarter of the year.

The week ahead is crucial, with many events unfolding simultaneously. Obviously, a first area of focus will continue to be the evolution of the Iran war and any signs of progress at that front.