Market Overview

2021 Market Overview

The Hamilton Lane Market Overview reviews the trends, challenges and opportunities found in today’s global financial markets. This year’s theme – a spin on Aesop’s fable of The City Mouse and the Country Mouse – explores the bifurcation of the market and investment environment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and other notable events of the past year.

We invite you to join us as we share the story of what transpired in the private markets and the broader global economy in 2020, and what is likely to happen in 2021. We spin a good yarn and, like our friend Aesop, leave you with a lot to consider.



The Big Ideas:

Growth Vs. Value

In the private markets, buyout has been historically viewed as “value” and venture as “growth.” Tilting your portfolio one way or the other was generally more of a function of your access to top-tier venture than of your view of growth versus value. That dynamic has changed.

The "Real" Risk

Let’s cut to the chase: The real risk in the private markets is related to liquidity and upside capture. It is not related to risk of loss, particularly in buyout, infrastructure and credit. Understanding and assessing the risks you are taking is crucial to investing well in the private markets.

Western Europe is the New Venture

Investors tend to think about Western Europe as similar to the U.S., just a little smaller. But that characterization overlooks some important attributes that distinguish the markets – and liken it to venture. This might require a re-think of how you invest in Europe.

2020 was a story of two different realities, and surely many public market investors know that story all too well. Consider how a portfolio overweighted to video communications and online shopping compared to one overweighted to the travel industry? Depending on which side of that equation you were on, the past year (solely looked at from an investment returns perspective) was either positive – or dramatically less so.

Recent Content

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Hamilton Lane Q2 Private Wealth Webinar: Beyond Tariffs

Hamilton Lane experts analyse private wealth investing amidst evolving macro conditions, exploring current market dynamics and investment implications.

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Insights

Weekly Research Briefing: A Return to Persia

The summer weekend began with a major geopolitical event on Saturday. As of now, we do not know if this event will add or subtract a risk factor to the financial markets. While we are hopeful that the weekend strikes will be a one-time event that will cause an increase in peace for the Middle East, it is up to Iran to decide its next move.

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Video | 8 Min Watch

How to Construct Portfolios with an ELTIF

Discover how the newly revised ELTIF regulation is democratizing private market investing in the European Union, making it accessible to a wide range of investors. This video explores the benefits of ELTIFs and evergreen fund structures, and how they provide opportunities for diversification and enhanced returns in diversified portfolios.

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