Global SWF reveals that sovereign wealth fund assets are growing by 9% since the beginning of the year, to $9.9 trillion. This development was favoured by the good performance of the stock exchanges.

State investment funds continue their momentum thanks to the good performance of stock exchanges. Global sovereign wealth fund assets have grown 9% this year to $9.9 trillion, according to data from Global SWF. State-owned investment funds have benefited in particular from the good performance of global stock markets. Some have taken the opportunity to sell securities and recover liquidity, which is demanded of them by their State to restart growth hard hit by the pandemic. Some funds (Russia, Malaysia, Kuwait, Qatar, Nigeria...) have also invested in their own countries to support their activity or certain sectors such as airlines. Egypt's sovereign wealth fund will inject funds into seawater desalination plants for its population. His nigerian counterpart will build hospitals in his capital.

The Norwegian fund, the largest in the world with 1.170 billion euros, gained nearly 9.4% in the first half thanks to its stock market portfolio (+13.7%) and while its bond investments lost 2%. In 2020, nearly three-quarters of sovereign wealth funds' direct investments were made in equities, taking advantage of falling prices, according to data from the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF). In previous years, between 50% and 60% of their investments were made on the stock markets and the rest on real estate and unlisted.