17 September 2025
Rana Gupta, Senior Portfolio Manager, Indian Equities
Koushik Pal, Senior Director, Indian Equities


On 3 September 2025, India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council approved significant GST simplifications and reductions for a range of
categories. This has come at the right juncture given the country faces a potential slowdown from higher-than-expected US tariffs on Indian goods exports. In this investment note, Rana Gupta, Senior Portfolio Manager, Indian Equities, and Koushik Pal, Senior Director, Indian Equities, examine the impact of this “structural rate cut” on the country’s economic trajectory and equity investment opportunities in the background of the US tariff situation and its impact when US-India trade relations were to normalise.
Global Multi Asset Diversified Income Fund (GMADI) update amid recent Middle East developments
Global markets turned to a risk off mode in March 2026 as rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East eclipsed earlier optimism about growth and policy support. Equity and fixed-income markets declined as energy price shocks and uncertainty weighed on investor confidence. However, the diversified portfolio construction and income generation focus supported the Manulife Global Fund – Global Multi Asset Diversified Income Fund (“GMADI” or “the Fund”) in delivering relatively resilient performance ( 4%) .
Global Equity Diversified Income (GEDI) strategy: Recent update amid Middle East developments
Despite the heightened market volatility, the Global Equities Diversified Income (GEDI) strategy has demonstrated resilience. We have made selective portfolio adjustments to address the rising risks and believe that by combining four powerful pillars—growth, value, income, and options—the strategy is well positioned to potentially deliver attractive yield alongside long-term capital growth.
The real asset renaissance: securing power, materials, and energy in a deglobalized world
Global supply chains are being reshaped by deglobalisation, geopolitics, and the race for energy and technological security, shifting the focus from efficiency toward resilience. In this environment of higher costs, persistent inflation pressures, and constrained supply, real assets may play an increasingly important role in helping investors navigate uncertainty and capture long‑term structural trends.
Global Multi Asset Diversified Income Fund (GMADI) update amid recent Middle East developments
Global markets turned to a risk off mode in March 2026 as rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East eclipsed earlier optimism about growth and policy support. Equity and fixed-income markets declined as energy price shocks and uncertainty weighed on investor confidence. However, the diversified portfolio construction and income generation focus supported the Manulife Global Fund – Global Multi Asset Diversified Income Fund (“GMADI” or “the Fund”) in delivering relatively resilient performance ( 4%) .
Global Equity Diversified Income (GEDI) strategy: Recent update amid Middle East developments
Despite the heightened market volatility, the Global Equities Diversified Income (GEDI) strategy has demonstrated resilience. We have made selective portfolio adjustments to address the rising risks and believe that by combining four powerful pillars—growth, value, income, and options—the strategy is well positioned to potentially deliver attractive yield alongside long-term capital growth.
The real asset renaissance: securing power, materials, and energy in a deglobalized world
Global supply chains are being reshaped by deglobalisation, geopolitics, and the race for energy and technological security, shifting the focus from efficiency toward resilience. In this environment of higher costs, persistent inflation pressures, and constrained supply, real assets may play an increasingly important role in helping investors navigate uncertainty and capture long‑term structural trends.