The speaker stated that regions like Europe are energy importers and are "bound to have more sensitivity to the situation," leading his firm to move "closer to benchmark" in those regions. As a major energy importer, Europe faces a disproportionate growth and inflation shock from sustained high oil prices, directly impacting corporate earnings and equity market performance. The explicit identification of higher sensitivity and the action to reduce active risk (de-risk) in those markets implies a bearish or cautious view relative to other regions. A swift resolution to the conflict and a sharp drop in oil prices, or European economies proving more resilient than anticipated.