Drop-In: Asia macro and markets update – Fracturing, the Fed and AI’s influence

As 2026 begins, the drivers for Asian markets are crystallising. Geopolitical headlines remain a constant, while equity markets continue to lean on a narrow – and potentially fragile – set of narratives. Against this backdrop, the Federal Reserve is approaching its first meeting of a high-stakes year that looks set to redefine the US policy landscape. What will this all mean for Asia’s economic and market outlook?

Join our economists for an online briefing on 29 January at 1600 SGT / 0800 GMT that will focus on the key forces shaping Asia in this opening phase of 2026. During this 20-minute session, the team will be answering your questions on what’s driving Asian economies as they address key issues, including: 

• Signals from the Fed’s January meeting and their implications for Asia, including the outlook for the dollar;
• Asia in a fracturing world: How our latest assessment of geopolitical alignments could shape the region’s economic outlook, including the chill in the India-US bilateral relationship; 
• Global equity markets and AI-whether the AI boom is sustainable and which markets look most exposed or best placed.