The concept of risk-profile is often discussed in the world of investment, as this determines the precise type of asset class and investment vehicles that you deal in. The economic climate also has a variable impact on investors depending on their risk profile, with those who are averse to risk likely to seek flight during times of socio-economic crisis.

Take the coronavirus pandemic, which will either have encouraged risk-averse investors to consolidate their existing assets or commit to so-called safe-haven assets such as gold. However, those with an appetite for risk would have been more likely to seek out ways to capitalise on global volatility, in order to profit as markets decline.

In this post, we'll ask whether now is a good time to invest your cash, while appraising the best investment opportunities in the current climate.

A Look at the Macro-economic Climate

While not all socio-economic crises' have been created equal, there are a number of universal factors that often define periods of austerity.

For example, the coronavirus has seen a number of major and emerging currencies see their value depreciate during the first half of 2020, thanks largely to widespread quantitative easing measures and a decline in capital inflows from foreign investors.

This can make it hard to identify viable exchanges and profit in a depreciating market, with even the US dollar struggling against the backdrop of huge stimulus measures and ongoing geopolitical conflicts.

Conversely, stocks are far more appealing in the current climate, not least because they can offer a more secure store of wealth depending on how they're traded.

You can also appraise stocks in the same way as usual, by addressing the relevant company's market cap, existing balance sheet and the liquidity of shares within an overall portfolio.

You can also analyse the current market to see which shares and markets have performed particularly well during the first two quarters of 2020. In this respect, ecommerce and telecommunications brands have arguably enjoyed the most sustained growth during this time, as consumer behaviour has changed markedly during periods of lockdown.

Where to Invest Right Now

The ecommerce market was already one of the fastest growing spaces prior to the coronavirus pandemic, with an estimated 1.92 billion digital buyers active worldwide.

March also saw a 21% year-on-year increase in online sales in the UK, and this trend is expected to continue indefinitely as consumers remain loath to shop excessively in-store.

At present, we'd also recommend avoiding nations that have either been particularly impacted by Covid-19 or are continuing to battle with the pandemic (such as the US and Brazil). This helps you to avoid the impact of sustained lockdowns and stimulus packages on stocks and currencies respectively, while opening your mind to new markets and options.

Fashion brands in Turkey may offer increased value at present, for example, as this country's retail niche has benefitted from global production inflows (from China) and grown to employ an impressive 1.67 million people nationwide.

The Asian markets have also fared well of late, with affiliated nations ahead of the curve in terms of overcoming Covid-19 and rebooting their economies.

Even currencies such as the Hong Kong dollar have performed relatively well during Q2, while the Japanese Yen remains a viable safe-haven in a strained global economy.