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Greater Expectations
An increasing number of people are demanding more from their healthcare services in almost every way. The revenue of online doctor consultations is projected to increase from around 21 billion U.S. dollars in 2022 up to nearly 36 billion dollars by 2028.1 In our view this is partly due to the millennial appetite for better customer experiences, but also the rise of new start-up providers, retail pharmacies and tech centred around the needs of the individual, allowing more to be done from the comfort of home.
There is no guarantee that any forecasts made will come to pass.
This is one of many stories of companies having an impact from the BlackRock Sustainable American Income Trust.
We’re Going on a Mineral Hunt
Owing to demand, it’s becoming increasingly tricky and expensive to find new exploration targets for the world’s minerals. However, more and more mining companies are turning to the powers of ‘big data’ to perfect the process. Clues on where to look next are buried in piles of historic data – data that powerful computers are now able to excavate. Big data can be used to identify ‘co-occurrence’, where clusters of minerals have typically occurred together, and this can be used to get even better at finding specific varieties.
This is one of many stories of companies having an impact from the BlackRock World Mining Trust plc
Better together
The pandemic has brought new attention to the way drugs are tested and monitored. Even in well-constructed clinical trials, it’s sometimes tricky to spot rare reactions and interactions with other drugs and even foods. This is where ‘pharmacovigilance’ comes in – a branch of science devoted to monitoring drugs as they are rolled out, checking ongoing efficacy and safety.
This is one of many stories of companies having an impact from the BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust
Lord of the Buys
In Brazil, the growth of ecommerce is defying wider economic trends, with online retail sales predicted to grow to $66billion USD in 20282. About half of mobile shoppers surveyed in Brazil in August 2023 ordered clothes using a mobile website or app. How long will it be before smartphones become the preferred way to buy for the 37 million Brazilians per quarter who shop online?3
There is no guarantee that any forecasts made will come to pass.
This is one of many stories of companies having an impact from the BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc
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Oh, The Places You’ll Go!
n the UK, standalone 5G is at an early stage, delivering faster connectivity in select parts of the country’s major cities. But other countries are easily outpacing their developed rivals.4 In countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Saudia Arabia it is expected that 73% of all mobile subscriptions will be on a 5G network by 2026.5
This is one of many stories of companies having an impact from the BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust plc
A Workplace Odyssey
The pandemic has ushered in a new age of agile working that’s here to stay. According to 66% of employees from the Netherlands, UK, Nordics, France, and Germany, working from home should be a legal right.6 Maintaining a cohesive work culture will depend on good video and audio conferencing, desktop sharing and data access. Businesses that can get this right will reap the benefits. No commute or overpriced coffees necessary.
This is one of many stories of companies from the BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc.
Sources:
1 Statista, 7 May 2024
2 Owl Labs, 3 August 2024
3 Statista, January 2024
4 Ericsson, May 2024
5 Ericsson, September 2024
6 Statista, 30 April 2024
