The world's biggest risks

Angela Mancini from the Control Risks says there will only be more tension in the U.S.- China relations next year. She adds that the risk of military conflict around Taiwan is much lower however there are concerns around rhetoric from both countries, especially the U.S. as it heads into the election season.

Toby Lawson of Societe Generale says economic indicators do not suggest markets will recover in the near term, adding that the buying in equity markets is more reflective of a lesser risk-off mode rather than a risk-on mode.

As investors try to make sense of the fallout from the coronavirus, Hugh Young of Aberdeen Standard Investments says investors may not be factoring in the risk of a second wave of infections as they are only slowly starting to realize the huge economic consequences of the pandemic.

The weak dollar will continue even as the market leans to the prospect of four rate hikes this year, says Khoon Goh of ANZ.

Tina Fordham of Citi discusses the lasting impact negative headlines could have months from now on the US midterms.

Andrew Haskins of Colliers International says property market conditions are looking great, but he says it is also prudent to look at potential downsides.

Chad O'Carroll of the Korea Risk Group says the "layer-upon-layer" of U.N. economic sanctions on North Korea will remain a roadblock to its diplomatic normalization efforts.

Callum Henderson of the Eurasia Group says that while there are risks, China and the U.S. have good communication system to solve disputes.

Citi's Tina Fordham says key risk events to watch in 2018 will the Russia investigation and US-China relations.

Michael Preiss, executive director, Taurus Wealth Advisors, says higher rates are an appropriate response to curb continued global reliance on debt.

David Kuo, CEO, The Motley Fool Singapore, says while risks over a North Korea confrontation are real - it is difficult to quantify and investors should focus on hard figures.

The US. abandoning NAFTA to conflict in North Korea are real risks, but otherwise the global economic recovery looks good, says Jean-Francois Perrault, chief economist, Scotiabank.

Risks such as North Korea are getting swept aside by the tide of global liquidity, says Jeremy Coller, chairman & CIO, Coller Capital.

UN sanctions on North Korea are unlikely to bring a halt to missile and nuclear tests, but the U.S. will push that path for now, including a complete oil embargo, says Harry Kazianis, director of Defense Studies, Center for the National Interest.

South Korea is actively responding to the weapon tests by the North with its own military buildup, says Scott Seaman, director, Asia, Eurasia Group.

A war on the Korean Peninsula is the "single biggest geopolitical threat" and one that would move markets, says Tina Fordham, managing director and chief global political analyst, Citi.

Douglas Paal of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace outlines what to expect in response to tensions on the Korean Peninsula and says deployments of bombers will likely be temporary.

Markets in Japan will likely take a new weapons test by North Korea in stride, says Nicholas Smith, Japan strategist, CLSA.