2026 Outlook: The Year Ahead in 14 Sparks

Apollo

Research

23 Pages

Torsten Slok believes high inflation, higher-for-longer interest rates and uneven growth create a complex backdrop, akin to the 1970s. He expects higher-for-longer interest rates to remain, with direct implications for all rate-sensitive investment strategies.
Date Published: December 2025

Key Takeaways

Recession Risk: The combination of weakening growth and persistent inflation increases the likelihood of further market turbulence, requiring investors to be cautious as they position portfolios in 2026.
AI Driving The Macro Outlook: The AI buildout has become the foundational pillar of US growth, driving capex investments, equity valuations and consumer wealth.
Divergence Between the US and Europe: The consensus expects US inflation to remain elevated because of ongoing tariffs. Europe faces none of these trade frictions and therefore will likely see inflation and interest rates fall in 2026. This divergence is unusual and increasingly relevant for global asset allocations.

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