For investors to gain indirect exposure to real assets, for example, among the real assets investors can use exchange traded/liquid instruments like for example listed real estate companies, known as REITs (real estate investment trusts), which own and operate income-producing properties. Examples include data centres, the growth of which is driven by the rise of AI (artificial intelligence) and cloud computing; senior housing, where demand is fuelled by the aging baby boomer population; and single-family rental properties, which meet the needs of millennials.

Listed infrastructure companies offer exposure to the resources and services that are essential to the daily functioning of our society and economy. For instance, these companies build and manage the infrastructure that ensures we receive the utilities required for daily life: water, energy, transportation, and telecommunications.

While some sectors within infrastructure are sensitive to trade and global demand, these companies generally offer predictable revenue streams, driven by long-term contracts. This makes the asset class more resilient and defensive than a broader equity portfolio.