After the market trauma of 2011 and the continuing uncertainty, investor expectations heading into 2012 are still sinking, but yet, despite the dread, one must put one’s money somewhere. Thus, for investment recommendations going into the new year, Executive sought the advice of four financial experts: Youssef Nizam, head of equity research at Audi Saradar Investment Bank, Mahdi Mattar, chief economist at CAPM Investments, Georges Khoury, head of private banking at Banque Libano-Française and Mohieddine Kronfol, chief investment officer of fixed income and sukuk at Franklin Templeton Investments (ME). Mahdi Mattar Bullish or bearish? Mattar remains cautious but he still thinks 2012 will improve on 2011. He recommends buying long-term investments “with the stomach to handle volatility,” as he envisions high turbulence amidst ongoing uncertainty in Europe and the deadlock in the United States fiscal debate. The markets are being driven not by fundamentals but by reactions to policymakers’ decisions,
