Investor anxiety intensifies

• High volatility and geopolitical unpredictability are factors heavily influencing investor behavior • Rayeiris Maduro Rondon: "The market often overreacts to news, and investment success depends on the ability to find undervalued companies and maintain a long-term strategy"

Heightened volatility, abrupt political changes and high expectations related to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence are strongly influencing investor behaviour. According to Rayeiris Maduro Rondon, a Popular Investor on eToro, the market often reacts excessively to news, while investment success depends on the ability to identify undervalued companies and maintain a long-term strategy. The investor is sceptical about the overly optimistic expectations regarding the full automation of businesses, arguing that artificial intelligence cannot replace empathy in customer relationships.

Rayeiris Maduro Rondon is originally from Venezuela but currently lives in Australia. She holds a double degree in Business and Law, a certification in Wealth and Investment Management, and a diploma in Human Resources Management. For her, investing has meant far more than simply accumulating wealth; it has been a journey toward freedom, confidence and self-reliance.

Reporter: How do you see the investment market evolving in the particularly harsh geostrategic and macroeconomic conditions we are currently experiencing? How can external political events influence investment decisions?

Rayeiris Maduro Rondon: The market is evolving towards immediate results, because no one can predict for sure what's about to happen in the future. In this environment, the expectations are higher.

I think the market should be less reactive and more analytical, select businesses that have the strength to overcome any macro event, and think in terms of the long-term results, no matter the amount of volatility we can be experiencing today.

The undeniable trend goes to a different place, though. Index funds are driving inflows into the market, so having an active approach should be an advantage for investors.

Reporter: How do you feel as an investor at the moment? What is the market sentiment now?

Rayeiris Maduro Rondon: The market sentiment is anxious, with sudden political decisions. We can't be sure of asset performance in this environment. I believe the market is overly reactive to news, which develops huge volatility in almost all sectors. Inventors are changing their approach from stocks to commodities, such as gold and silver, with many expectations for the AI monetisation, and I see some risk because of the huge amount of money spent on research and capex.

Reporter: Were there situations or moments when you withdrew your money from one asset and invested it in another (which assets are losing and which are winning)?

Rayeiris Maduro Rondon: I've recently sold part of my positions in big tech companies' stocks that are reaching my target price, one with +150% in gains, and another with +80% in profit. The difficulty here is that both are good businesses with high levels of growth, but if for any reason those companies can't keep the growth pace, their price might collapse. I don't want the risk of being exposed to a big percentage of my portfolio; however, if the company keeps the expansion, I will benefit from the gains, at least to a small degree. I divided the gains I made, some to keep in cash waiting for new opportunities, and some to reinvest in companies that the market is pessimistic about, for example, luxury, and retailers are suffering the most, in my opinion, due to geopolitical uncertainty.

Reporter: What was the biggest disappointment, from an investment point of view, in 2025?

Rayeiris Maduro Rondon: For me, the software and customer service companies, with all the AI boom, the idea of the complete autonomy of AI to replace many businesses, in my opinion, is overly optimistic. Humans are the core of any business; if my company depends on customers to make revenue, I'm sceptical that AI can fully replace human empathy in business. I've been dealing with bots trying to solve my problems, and it has been really disappointing, at least today and in the near future, computers aren't capable of replacing humans in customer service and other areas.

Reporter: Which investment areas have caught your attention this year?

Rayeiris Maduro Rondon: Software companies and retailers, since their prices are very depressed because they've been heavily punished by sentiment, not fundamentals.

Reporter: What products, tools, service on the platform do you use or find very helpful? What are the most important features an online platform can offer?

Rayeiris Maduro Rondon: What makes eToro great, in my opinion, is the social investing, sharing knowledge, ideas, and making long-lasting friendships. I consider many on the platform very close friends with common interests (investing). At the same time, the copytrading system was how I started, and when I made my first gains in the stock market, I became a Popular Investor. I can live from what I'm passionate about and help others like me, who don't know where to start. I think for an online platform, the most important feature is the intuitiveness. I do not want to spend hours learning how to open a trade, or close it, or find something, in that eToro is great.

Reporter: What is your investment strategy for 2026?

Rayeiris Maduro Rondon: The boring part of being a long-term investor is that nothing changes from one year to another in terms of principles and strategies; the goal is always the same: find good quality businesses trading below their fair value. That's value investing, recognising value, where others might see just red flags.

Reporter: Thank You!