Trends Identified
A new malaria vaccine finally offers real hope - High hopes for a malaria vaccine
One unsung success of the 21st century has been the fight against malaria. In 2000 the disease killed 47 people per 100,000 of those at risk. In 2015, the most recent year for which figures are available, that had dropped to 19—a fall of 60%. Even so, malaria kills 430,000 people each year. Some 70% of those who succumb are children under five.
2018
The world in 2018
The Economist
A new age of discovery for biology - An age of discovery is in prospect for biology, predicts Feng Zhang, neuroscience professor at MIT and co-inventor of CRISPR
In the era of modern science, hardly a week goes by without a big advance in biology. Although such progress will continue in 2018, it will not bring a cure for cancer, a remedy for Alzheimer’s or a pill to slow ageing. That is because biology, as a field, is largely still about exploring and not yet about engineering. Some of the greatest scientific successes of the past century have come by marrying science and engineering, from the Apollo mission to the Large Hadron Collider. Similarly, the Human Genome Project required both basic research and technology development. The disciplines at the heart of these successes—mathematics, engineering, and material and computer sciences—have propelled the technology economy, giving rise to nearly all of the most dominant companies in the world today.
2018
The world in 2018
The Economist
Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are likely to revolutionize the industrial landscape
Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are likely to revolutionize the industrial landscape. This unfolding transformation is already leading to faster earnings growth potential at some of the large companies that have invested in developing these new technologies. This likely leads to new opportunities among start-up or smaller firms as these technologies mature.
2018
Eight long-term trends for growth investors
Morgan Stanley
Leisure time is expanding, allowing people to spend more time on recreational activities.
Leisure time is expanding, allowing people to spend more time on recreational activities. One reason for the growth: People are multitasking leisure activities like social media, gaming and watching TV. This creates potential for earnings gains in sectors like entertainment, travel and media.
2018
Eight long-term trends for growth investors
Morgan Stanley
Demographics and low cost labor, long a driver of economic growth in emerging markets, may play a smaller role in an automated world.
Demographics and low cost labor, long a driver of economic growth in emerging markets, may play a smaller role in an automated world. Countries that have high population growth in an industrial landscape dominated by technologies like AI and robotics could be at a disadvantage. Consider emphasizing countries making investments in the future competiveness of their workforces.
2018
Eight long-term trends for growth investors
Morgan Stanley
Transportation could be very different in the future than it is today.
Transportation could be very different in the future than it is today. Autonomous vehicles, electric cars, high-speed trains, drones and even space travel have the potential to revolutionize the movement of people and products. Understanding these shifts is critical to choosing investments tied to the transportation sector.
2018
Eight long-term trends for growth investors
Morgan Stanley
Genetic research and related medical advances could change health care as we know it.
Genetic research and related medical advances could change health care as we know it. The combination of biotechnology, nanotechnology and data analytics could usher in a new era of preventative and personalized medicine. Quality of life could improve and help drive economic growth.
2018
Eight long-term trends for growth investors
Morgan Stanley
Learning to live and invest in an insecure world is difficult.
Learning to live and invest in an insecure world is difficult. Technology and globalization can drive economic growth, but can also have a destabilizing impact on society. Geopolitical risks are proliferating quickly. Investments in technology, people and support systems that can maintain security will be important.
2018
Eight long-term trends for growth investors
Morgan Stanley
Improvements to energy, communications and transportation infrastructure are long overdue.
Improvements to energy, communications and transportation infrastructure are long overdue. New roads, rails, pipelines and networks are needed as millions of people around the world move from rural to urban areas. Strong global growth and low interest rates can help power the investments needed for the cities of tomorrow.
2018
Eight long-term trends for growth investors
Morgan Stanley
Few companies can maintain pricing power these days.
Few companies can maintain pricing power these days. Technology has allowed for easy comparison shopping, increasingly efficient production and shifts in certain business models that can erode pricing power. However, companies that can maintain pricing power through technological barriers, unique products and brand recognition should be able to maintain an advantage.
2018
Eight long-term trends for growth investors
Morgan Stanley