17 September 2026
Alex Grassino, Global Chief Economist

The Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate by 25 basis points at its September meeting, in line with market expectations. Alex Grassino, Global Chief Economist, shares his latest views on the implications of the rate hike.
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decision and press conference went smoothly—a welcome development, in our judgment, after the mixed signals that emerged from the Fed’s July meeting. The rate decision: A 25 basis-point hike, bringing the federal funds rate from 3.75% to 4.00%. We’d highlight a few points:
Asia High Yield has reached new highs; what’s next?
Asia High Yield (HY) bonds, known for providing an attractive source of income, present a very different opportunity set today compared to the pre-pandemic era. As discussed in our investment note from nearly a year ago, the asset class is no longer dominated by Chinese Mainland property developers. Instead, it has become more diversified, with investment opportunities spanning multiple areas, such as financial institutions, gaming operators, infrastructure providers, and selected frontier markets.
Global Multi Asset Diversified Income Strategy (GMADI) update: A balanced approach to market volatility
Global equity markets have recently experienced sharper movements, particularly in areas linked to artificial intelligence (AI). Earnings announcements from AI hardware, semiconductor and large cloud-computing companies have been key sources of volatility. Concerns about potential interest rate hikes have added to uncertainty. The Global Multi Asset Diversified Income (GMADI) Strategy has not been immune to these market movements. However, its income focus, broad diversification and relatively defensive positioning may help limit the effect of sharp changes in technology and growth-related investments.
Global Equity Diversified Income (GEDI) Fund: Staying selective through market volatility
Global equity markets have recently experienced greater volatility. Much of this has been driven by earnings announcements from AI hardware, semiconductor and large cloud-computing companies. Concerns about potential interest rate hikes have also added to investor uncertainty. After a prolonged period of strong performance in AI-related areas, market expectations have become demanding. Even companies reporting solid results have experienced sharp share-price moves when their outlook has only met, rather than exceeded, investor expectations. Against this backdrop, the GEDI Fund remains focused on its core objective: generating income while maintaining diversified exposure to potential capital growth.
Asia High Yield has reached new highs; what’s next?
Asia High Yield (HY) bonds, known for providing an attractive source of income, present a very different opportunity set today compared to the pre-pandemic era. As discussed in our investment note from nearly a year ago, the asset class is no longer dominated by Chinese Mainland property developers. Instead, it has become more diversified, with investment opportunities spanning multiple areas, such as financial institutions, gaming operators, infrastructure providers, and selected frontier markets.
Global Multi Asset Diversified Income Strategy (GMADI) update: A balanced approach to market volatility
Global equity markets have recently experienced sharper movements, particularly in areas linked to artificial intelligence (AI). Earnings announcements from AI hardware, semiconductor and large cloud-computing companies have been key sources of volatility. Concerns about potential interest rate hikes have added to uncertainty. The Global Multi Asset Diversified Income (GMADI) Strategy has not been immune to these market movements. However, its income focus, broad diversification and relatively defensive positioning may help limit the effect of sharp changes in technology and growth-related investments.
Global Equity Diversified Income (GEDI) Fund: Staying selective through market volatility
Global equity markets have recently experienced greater volatility. Much of this has been driven by earnings announcements from AI hardware, semiconductor and large cloud-computing companies. Concerns about potential interest rate hikes have also added to investor uncertainty. After a prolonged period of strong performance in AI-related areas, market expectations have become demanding. Even companies reporting solid results have experienced sharp share-price moves when their outlook has only met, rather than exceeded, investor expectations. Against this backdrop, the GEDI Fund remains focused on its core objective: generating income while maintaining diversified exposure to potential capital growth.