Danish investment bank Saxo Bank has continued its two-decade tradition by releasing its 2026 "Outrageous Predictions" list, featuring scenarios such as quantum computing-induced panic, gold prices soaring to $10,000, and an AI automation crisis.
On December 2, Saxo Bank’s Chief Market Strategist John Hardy noted that some of the bank’s 2025 "outrageous predictions" are already showing early signs of materializing. For instance, the prediction about Trump’s tariff policies weakening the dollar is unfolding: the dollar has fallen 8% this year, on track for its worst performance since 2017, driven by widening fiscal deficits and concerns over the Federal Reserve’s independence.
Another prediction—that Nvidia’s market cap would double Apple’s—hasn’t fully come true, but the chipmaker’s valuation has surged 34% to $4.37 trillion, surpassing Apple’s $4.18 trillion. These cases provide a framework for assessing the 2026 predictions.
The latest 2026 "Outrageous Predictions" include breakthroughs in quantum computing, gold prices hitting $10,000, and large-scale AI system failures—each scenario detailing potential market disruptions.
Saxo Bank’s annual "Outrageous Predictions" report highlights low-probability, high-impact events that could shake financial markets. These are not the bank’s official views but serve as a reminder for investors to consider overlooked risks. The 2025 predictions included "Trump 2.0" destroying the dollar, Nvidia’s market cap doubling Apple’s, natural disasters bankrupting major insurers, and OPEC’s collapse due to electrification.
**Quantum Computing Sparks Financial Panic** Strategist Neil Wilson predicts quantum computers will advance faster than expected, triggering market chaos. Investors would flock to safe havens like silver and gold, driving gold to $10,000. Stocks tied to quantum computing (e.g., IBM, cybersecurity firms) would experience extreme volatility.
**AI Automation Crisis** Investment Strategy Head Jacob Falkencrone forecasts that by 2026, agent-based AI systems will optimize and automate nearly everything—until cascading failures trigger a full-blown crisis. Scenarios include algorithmic errors causing flash crashes, widespread AI-driven accounting fraud, and robots executing faulty commands in factories, leading to casualties.
The trillion-dollar cleanup would boost revenues for cybersecurity, audit, and consulting firms tasked with fixing and securing codebases. Valuations of highly autonomous AI platforms would plummet as investors shift to companies offering oversight and human control.
**Other Bold Predictions** Saxo’s 2026 list also includes: - Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding saving the global economy; - A smooth U.S. midterm election in 2026 sparking unity and civility trends; - Weight-loss drugs becoming mainstream, even for pets; - SpaceX announcing an IPO; - A Fortune 500 company appointing an AI model as CEO.