Indonesia, 03 Mar 2026 -

The Year of the Fire Horse echoes the current global economic dynamics, marked by inflation movements, exchange rate fluctuations, and geopolitical uncertainty. These conditions demand that investors adopt a measured approach to opportunities and risks. Responding to the need for credible market perspectives, especially for DBS Treasures and Treasures Private Client priority customers, Bank DBS Indonesia presented Spring Festival 2026 with the theme “Wealth, Crafted with Purpose”. The event offered in-depth expert insights on economic prospects and relevant asset management strategies to help investors feel more confident in making investment decisions.
Director of Consumer Banking Group PT Bank DBS Indonesia Melfrida Gultom said, “DBS Spring Festival is our signature event designed as a platform to provide in-depth insights for private and priority customers. It is not only a celebration of Chinese New Year but also offers reliable and credible insights to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse. Amid the many choices and opportunities, Bank DBS Indonesia is ready to assist customers in making the right financial decisions. As a trusted partner for global wealth, Bank DBS Indonesia is committed to providing sharp and relevant perspectives so that customers can optimise opportunities amid the ever-changing economic dynamics.”

On the occasion, Bank DBS Indonesia shared several investment recommendations for the beginning of the year, including:
- Real assets to maintain portfolio stability amid inflationary pressures
Amid the possibility of inflation rising again on the back of global liquidity easing, real assets such as infrastructure, property, commodities, and precious metals can serve as portfolio anchors. Historically, these assets tend to be better able to maintain their value when price pressures rise because they are directly linked to real economic activity.
In addition to helping maintain purchasing power, exposure to real assets can also provide diversification when financial markets experience volatility, making them an important component in building a more resilient portfolio in the long term. The saying “don't put all your eggs in one basket” is relevant to investing. By utilising a variety of instruments, customers can diversify their portfolios, reduce the risk of loss, and continue to capture profit opportunities when market conditions change.
- Relying on gold as a safe-haven asset amid rising fiscal and geopolitical risks
Concerns about the sustainability of global government debt and geopolitical uncertainty keep gold as one of the assets that are considered capable of maintaining value stability. Although gold prices have corrected, the factors that drove gold to new highs, such as fiscal concerns and the sustainability of US debt, geopolitical uncertainty, and the risk of dollar depreciation, are expected to persist.
Support from central bank demand, the possibility of dollar weakening, and investment flows through financial market instruments can also continue to underpin gold's outlook going forward. In a portfolio context, gold not only serves as a hedge during market turbulence but also as a diversification tool that helps mitigate the impact of unpredictable external risks.
- Capturing opportunities from AI transformation
The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has initiated a new investment cycle that has the potential to reshape the industrial landscape and increase global productivity. This sector will continue to attract investment, but investors need to be aware of risks associated with high valuations and circular financing.
The focus should be on companies that adopt AI and genuinely leverage the technology to improve operational efficiency and profitability on a sustainable basis while avoiding the risk of large capital expenditures that are not commensurate with revenues. Large-cap companies are usually better prepared to scale and capture productivity gains, allowing growth opportunities to be exploited more safely.
- Going for investment-grade credit for portfolio resilience
Investment-grade bonds offer a more balanced risk profile than high-yield credit. The risk-reward ratio for high-yield bonds continues to show less attractive potential while spread-based products can still perform well despite high valuations. Spreads at historically tight levels tend to be stable, and significant widening is not expected in 2026 as corporate balance sheets remain healthy and recession risks are low.
Overall, focusing on A/BBB-rated credit with 5 to 7 year tenors can help investors earn more stable income while maintaining portfolio resilience amid changing market dynamics.
- Diversify into Asian stock markets excluding Japan for growth potential
Asian stock markets excluding Japan remain attractive as they trade at a discount of around 32.4% compared to developed markets. The region offers stronger earnings growth prospects and more solid economic momentum than other developed markets, creating attractive opportunities for investors seeking to capture medium- to long-term potential.
Such trends as a weakening USD and increased global capital flows could boost market performance in the region, including through lower USD debt costs and higher commodity prices. Taking these factors into account, diversifying into Asian equities is an effective strategy for capitalising on growth opportunities, expanding geographic exposure of portfolios, and maintaining a balanced risk profile against global market volatility.
DBS Spring Festival 2026 also featured
Angelina Fang, a feng shui expert from Feng Shui Consulting Indonesia. According to her, this year is special because it presents a rare combination of the Horse and Fire zodiac signs, where the Fire element is present twice in a very strong condition. The Year of the Fire Horse is believed to bring dynamic energy, courage, and the drive for major change.
“The transition from the Year of the Wood Snake to the Year of the Fire Horse brings new energy that is full of enthusiasm and optimism. The Year of the Wood Snake called for a lot of energy for growth and careful management of resources, while the Year of the Fire Horse, the trend of fast movement and excessive enthusiasm, will require patience and calm thinking. This energy affects the way we see opportunities, including in investment, because the drive for major change can open up significant growth potential, but it still needs to be accompanied by a practical, realistic attitude and measured risk,” said
Angelina Fang.
In addition to featuring financial and feng shui experts, Springfest 2026 also collaborated with
Sebastian Gunawan, a renowned Indonesian fashion designer, who presented his ‘Jie’ collection, cheongsams with a new twist, to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Fire Horse. In Mandarin, ‘Jie’ means ‘bond’, which can be interpreted as a symbol of the continuity of tradition, heritage, and modernity. Through this collection, Sebastian presented decorative details that emphasise the philosophy that the future is built on a strong foundation of the past. Strong structural elements are combined with elegant silhouettes, reflecting a balance between heritage values and modern perspectives.
For more information about DBS Treasures and Treasures Private Client, please visit
dbs.id/id/treasures-id/.
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About DBS DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world.
Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “
World’s Best Bank” by Global Finance, “
World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney and “
Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “
World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney and the world’s “
Most Innovative in Digital Banking” by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “
Safest Bank in Asia” award by Global Finance for 17 consecutive years from 2009 to 2025.
DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets.
Established in 1989 as part of the Singapore-based DBS Group, PT Bank DBS Indonesia (Bank DBS Indonesia) is one of the banks with the longest history in Asia. Currently operating 1 Head Office, 13 Branch Offices, 16 Assistant Offices, 1 Functional Office and 3,011 active employees in 15 Major Cities in Indonesia, Bank DBS Indonesia provides comprehensive banking services that focus on the customer experience to 'Live more, Bank less'. We also see a purpose beyond banking and are committed to supporting our customers, employees, and the community towards a sustainable future.
PT Bank DBS Indonesia is licensed and supervised by The Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK), and an insured member of Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS).
DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, as it banks the Asian way. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged, and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact.
With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit
www.dbs.com.