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What is the difference between risk-on and risk-off sentiment?
Risk-on and risk-off sentiment are two contrasting market conditions reflecting investors' appetite for risk, often influenced by global economic factors, news events, and geopolitical developments.

In a risk-on environment, investors are more willing to take on risk, typically driven by positive economic indicators, stable geopolitical conditions, or bullish market trends. During risk-on periods, investors tend to seek higher returns by investing in more volatile, high-yield assets such as stocks, emerging market currencies, and commodities. This optimistic sentiment drives demand for assets perceived as higher risk, often pushing up their prices.

Conversely, risk-off sentiment occurs when investors become cautious, often due to economic uncertainties, negative news, or market volatility. In these conditions, investors seek safety over returns, favouring assets perceived as more secure, known as safe-haven assets. Examples include the U.S. dollar, Japanese yen, Swiss franc, and gold. Risk-off sentiment leads to a shift away from stocks and riskier currencies, reducing their prices as funds flow into safer alternatives.

Understanding these shifts between risk-on and risk-off can help traders anticipate market movements, identify potential trading opportunities, and manage risk. Successful trading strategies often involve recognizing and adapting to changes in investor sentiment to align with prevailing market conditions.
Risk-on and risk-off sentiments reflect investors’ attitudes toward risk in response to economic conditions, affecting their trading decisions. In a risk-on environment, investors are willing to take on more risk, generally due to positive economic indicators, low interest rates, or strong market confidence. They tend to favour higher-risk assets like stocks, commodities, and emerging-market currencies, seeking higher returns.

In contrast, a risk-off sentiment emerges when investors are cautious, often due to economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, or global crises. During these periods, they prefer safer assets like government bonds, gold, and the U.S. dollar, prioritizing capital preservation over growth.

This sentiment shift influences asset prices, volatility, and market liquidity, and understanding it helps investors better navigate various market cycles and manage risk.

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