BlackRock recommends adding 2 'hard assets' in your portfolio today

Group 1: Bitcoin and Gold Investment Insights - Rick Rieder, Chief Investment Officer at BlackRock, advocates for Bitcoin's inclusion in investment portfolios alongside gold, with allocations varying based on individual risk profiles [1] - Rieder's team currently holds a 3-5% allocation to gold, viewing it as a better currency hedge compared to Bitcoin, which is characterized by volatility and correlation with the Nasdaq [2] - On September 8, gold reached a record high of $3,646.13 per ounce, while Bitcoin traded at $112,071.43, with U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs seeing $364.3 million in net inflows, indicating rising institutional interest [3] Group 2: Market Environment and Investment Opportunities - Rieder describes the current market conditions as highly favorable for investors, highlighting robust earnings growth in technology and attractive yields in fixed income [5] - He believes that there are numerous investment opportunities across various asset classes, including public equities, private investments, gold, and Bitcoin, marking it as the best environment for investors he has ever seen [5] Group 3: Monetary Policy Perspectives - Rieder suggests that the Federal Reserve should consider a 50 basis point interest rate cut, although he anticipates a more likely 25 basis point reduction based on upcoming inflation data [6] - He notes that even with a 25 basis point cut, investors can still construct portfolios that yield satisfactory returns, especially if inflation remains around 3% [7] Group 4: BlackRock's Digital Asset Initiatives - BlackRock has actively engaged in the digital asset sector, launching the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) on Nasdaq on January 11, 2024, followed by the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) on July 23, 2024, after receiving SEC approval [8]