IMAS hosted its annual Media Roundtable to unveil the findings of the IMAS Investment Managers’ Outlook Survey (IMOS) 2026. The 11th edition of the survey captured views from C-suite professionals across 63 IMAS member firms, including fund managers and asset owners based in Singapore, collectively managing over USD 35 trillion globally.

The session brought together members of the media and IMAS committee representatives for a focused discussion on the key macro signals, market expectations and strategic priorities shaping Asia’s investment landscape in 2026. 

Key Highlights

• Heightened geopolitical risk and market volatility remains a key concern in 2026. While views on the rise of global inflation again remained mixed, there is broad consensus that the Federal Reserve will continue easing, reinforcing expectations for a supportive monetary backdrop.

• Asia conviction, led by Japan and China: respondents remain constructive on Asian equities, with Japan and China most often cited as potential outperformers and a strong base case for MSCI Asia ex-Japan gains by end-2026. Close to home, sentiments towards Singapore equities remain constructive with 52% of respondents expect the STI to rise 5–10% by end-2026, supported by resilient bank earnings, attractive dividends and ongoing efforts to deepen market activity.

• AI goes mainstream amid cost and regulatory pressure: AI adoption, the rise of alternatives and increasing regulatory/operating demands are top of mind developments for 2026 —accelerating the shift towards more resilient, efficient and scalable operating models.

A live CNA interview was conducted whereby members of the IMAS Development Committee shared more insights about the survey. These themes will be further explored in the upcoming IMAS events, including the flagship IMAS Investment Conference & Masterclass taking place on 7 April. Find out more here.