Investment outlooks for the second half of 2026

Explore what the next six months may hold in store for markets

The theme of the year to date has been uncertainty in a fragmented world, but markets have remained remarkably resilient in the face of it. How long can that last amid continued strains – and new pressures like the approaching U.S. midterm elections? Mid-year outlooks from PIMCO, Man Group, Scope Ratings, and more offer timely perspectives on the key areas to watch over the next six months.

Rupture and Resilience (PIMCO)

Can high-quality fixed income offer resilience to portfolios in today’s fragmented world?

Macro Outlook: Growth Hinges on Iran War, AI Rollout (Capital Group)

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

AI and the Iran war are pulling the global economy in opposite directions – and other forces to watch the rest of this year.

2026 H2 Outlook: In a Resilient Equity Market, Selectivity Matters (Lord Abbett)

Will the trends that led to equity market strength in the first half of the year remain intact?

2026 Mid-Year Investment Outlook: Constructive, Not Complacent (Morgan Stanley)

Earnings growth from AI supports equities, but corporate credit faces supply pressure from AI-related issuance.

H2 Outlook: Persistence, Perception and the Path Ahead (Columbia Threadneedle)

What matters to markets is not just the size of a shock, but its persistence and direction.

Global Equity Mid-Year Outlook 2026 (Charles Schwab)

The same forces driving equities higher seem to be concentrating risk.

Mid-Year Global Outlook 2026: The Ripple Effect (Man Group)

How much longer can markets remain calm under today’s geopolitical and economic strain?

2026 Mid-Year Outlook: Promise and Pressure (J.P. Morgan Private Bank)

Understanding what could go wrong from here—and what could go right—will define the decisions investors make next.

Mid-Year Sovereign Outlook: Reassessing Sovereign Credit Risk (Scope Ratings)

Where geopolitical, political, macro, fiscal, and market pressures are converging to shape sovereign credit risk.

Q2 2026 Investment Outlook (HSBC AM)

What’s keeping markets afloat amid the heightened uncertainty?