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EIGHT TRILLION REASONS UBS WANTS YOU TO BET ON LONGEVITY

The UBS Chief Investment Office has flagged longevity as one of three transformational innovation opportunities (TRIOs) set to drive global equity markets, projecting that the annual market opportunity could reach $8 trillion by 2030.

UBS notes that healthcare is positioned as the primary beneficiary, given its critical role in addressing age-related needs. As lifespans increase and the elderly population expands, demand across healthcare, consumer, financial, and real estate sectors is undergoing a significant transformation.

"The combination of ever-increasing lifespans and a demographic shift toward an older population creates a range of investment opportunities across various sectors," the brokerage said.

UBS increased portfolio weights for Merck & Co. MRK.N, L'Oréal OREP.PA, and Life Time Group LTH.N by 0.50 percentage points each, citing their exposure to longevity trends, while reducing Boston Scientific BSX.N and AstraZeneca AZN.L. The brokerage sees reduced visibility for Boston Scientific's cardiology business in the near term, which has been its main growth driver over the past two years.

The longevity theme, dominated by the healthcare sector, is expected to reshape demand across pharma, medtech, consumer, financial services, and real estate, according to analysts at UBS.

UBS analysts noted risks including policy changes, clinical trial outcomes, and consumer behavior shifts. The brokerage emphasized the importance of sector diversification as longevity's impact expands beyond healthcare.

(Akriti Shah)

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