Macro views

Disruption and divergence: Markets in early 2026

March 31, 2026 - 3 min

Jack Janasiewicz, CFA

Multi-Asset Portfolio Manager and Lead Portfolio Strategist – Natixis Investment Managers Solutions

Garrett Melson, CFA

Portfolio Strategist – Natixis Investment Managers Solutions

Brian Hess

Portfolio Manager – Natixis Investment Managers

PLACEHOLDER

What happens when a renewed energy shock collides with slowing growth, shifting market leadership, and an increasingly constrained policy backdrop?

In our quarterly macro webinar, Disruption and divergence: Markets in early 2026, Portfolio Manager Brian Hess is joined by Multi Asset Portfolio Manager and Lead Portfolio Strategist Jack Janasiewicz, CFA^®, and Portfolio Strategist Garrett Melson, CFA^®, to examine a market environment defined by uncertainty and uneven outcomes.

Watch the video to hear how geopolitical stress is reshaping energy markets, why starting economic conditions matter more than past analogs, and what diverging signals across credit, equities, and policy could mean for portfolio positioning as 2026 unfolds.

Key topics discussed

The risk of another global energy shock and implications of higher-for-longer oil prices.
How energy price pressures flow through inflation, consumers, and Fed policy.
U.S. economic conditions entering the shock, including labor markets and growth momentum.
Stress in private credit markets, with a focus on business development companies and liquidity dynamics.
Equity market rotations tied to artificial intelligence disruption and shifting market breadth.
Mega-cap weakness and the case for a potential rotation away from cyclicals.

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This material is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. The views and opinions contained herein reflect the subjective judgments and assumptions of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of Natixis Investment Managers or any of its affiliates. The views and opinions expressed may change based on market and other conditions. There can be no assurance that developments will transpire as forecasted, and actual results may vary.

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