CIO reading list, February 2026: How to diversify

Explaining the past is easy - positioning for the future, difficult

Diversification remains a core investment topic for 2026. This collection of insights brings thought leadership that will help allocators tackle this challenge.

For CIOs

Alternative Credit: Diversify Globally, Derisk Locally (Nuveen)

Alternative credit continues to offer resilient income potential, but successful outcomes depend on thoughtful diversification and disciplined risk management.

Nuance of Granularity: PGIM’s Contextual Model (PGIM)

As data volumes expand and market dynamics evolve, the challenge has shifted from identifying factors to understanding how they should be weighted at the company level.

2026 Global Private Markets Outlook (New York Life Investments)

Private markets enter 2026 on firmer footing, with deal activity rebounding alongside a more supportive rate environment.

Private Credit Market Update: Q4-2025 (Northleaf Captial Partners)

Although tariff policies continue to have an impact on certain segments of the economy and market volatility persist, overall economic growth has proved resilient.

Institutional Infrastructure for Tokenized Indexing (S&P Dow Jones Indices)

In today's environment, there is potential for tokenized indices to reshape investment strategies.

High Yield: Investing in a Transformed Credit Ecosystem (Capital Group)

For compliance reasons, this paper is only accessible in certain geographies

The high yield market has changed dramatically over the last two decades. Yet many institutional investors continue to view the asset class through a backward-looking lens.

From CIOs

The Boom Environment Has Started (Merrill)

Nominal growth is running in “boom” territory. This supports higher profits and a risk-on investment mindset.

2026 Q1 Macro Investment View (Citi Wealth)

Explaining yesterday’s markets is easy. Positioning portfolios for what comes next is more challenging.

Refocusing on Growth and Earnings (Standard Chartered)

Improving growth and earnings offer room for optimism in early 2026. But are investors too optimistic?

The “Donroe Doctrine” and Populist Persuasion (Rockefeller Global Family Office)

Global uncertainty, Japan yields, and cooling AI momentum frame Rockefeller CIO Jimmy Chang's Monthly Perspective.

The Bubble You Can’t Exit: Dan Rasmussen on the PE Trap (Excess Returns)

Thia conversation touches on a range of topics, including private equity and private credit risks, AI-driven capital cycles, and overlooked opportunities in key sectors.

Diversification Is the Name of the Game (Nomura)

In the short term, global equity markets tend to move in sympathy, so diversification through precious metals and FX trades works better. What about the long term?