Economists have cut growth forecasts and raised inflation expectations since the U.S. tariff announcement on April 2. For multi-asset-class investors, the key question is how shifting macroeconomic expectations could affect asset prices. 

Tariff risks are at center stage for investors. To help manage the uncertainty, this blog post shows how revenue-exposure data and a scenario-analysis framework enable equity investors to translate targeted industry assumptions into potential portfolio-level impacts.

Monetary policy, strong U.S. growth and global uncertainty could lead to U.S.-dollar strength. We highlight this scenario, using the MSCI Macro-Finance Model, to help multi-asset-class investors assess the potential impact of tariffs and a stronger U.S. dollar on their portfolios. 

Inflation has eased recently, but secular trends like surging debt levels, deglobalization, aging populations and supply-chain disruptions could keep it elevated in the longer run, along with rates. This scenario poses challenges for multi-asset-class investors.

Attendees at the MSCI Institutional Investor Forums in the U.S. and Canada agreed that the investment megatrends they see underscore the need to centralize risk in investment decision-making, making a total portfolio approach increasingly attractive.

The concept of tax alpha can help a wealth manager explain a client’s after-tax performance. In a new article in the Journal of Wealth Management, we propose two frameworks for the after-tax calculation used to measure tax alpha. 

We found a strong historical correlation between a company’s MSCI ESG Rating and its cost of capital in both equity and debt markets. Firms assessed as the most resilient to financially material sustainability-related risks financed themselves more cheaply. 

Global forecasters have recently suggested that the world economy is headed for a soft landing. Our latest market stress test looks at how this and other, less benign scenarios could affect a multi-asset-class portfolio in the coming months.