Viewpoints by Alex Grassino, at Manulife Investment Management
Alex provides global macroeconomic and financial markets research for the multi-asset solutions team and helps implement the tactical asset mix overlay for selected Canadian balanced fund mandates. He joined the firm when Standard Life's Canadian operations were acquired by Manulife in January 2015. Prior to joining Standard Life Investments in 2012, Alex worked as an equity research analyst and as a financial markets economist at Laurentian Bank Securities.
- Education: B.A. in Economics and History, McGill University; M.Sc. in Financial Services Management, University of Surrey
- Joined the company: 2015
- Began career: 2001
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2023 Q1 Global Macro Outlook—The Year Ahead
We expect 2023 to be a year of two halves: H1 could be defined by a material slowdown in growth as the effects of aggressive monetary tightening kick in, while H2 could see an easing in macroeconomic conditions. Read our economic growth forecast for 2023.
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Asset allocation update: Foresight November 2022
Our multi-asset solutions team examines how recent developments have shaped expected returns across different asset classes.
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Q4 2022 Global Macro Outlook
Rising inflation, enduring supply chain disruptions, and rising uncertainty—hardly a strong start to 2022; however, our macroeconomic strategy team believes that global growth prospects will become brighter as the year progresses.
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The Fed remains hawkish, but easing could occur in 2023
The U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to hike rates by 0.75% shouldn't surprise anyone—it was widely expected; however, the bank's latest economic projections caught markets off guard. Read more.
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Inflation’s impact on retirement portfolios: quantifying the future cost today
Small increases in inflation can have outsized consequences for retirees’ portfolios. How do you plan for retirement in a new inflation reality? We quantify how much rising prices can impact investors’ retirement plans, and the changes that can be made to increase the odds of reaching their goals.
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Why did the BoC decide against raising rates in January?
The BoC left interest rates unchanged at 0.25% at its meeting on January 26. The central bank’s decision defied market expectations and caught many investors off guard.
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Foresight November 2021: macro themes and market outlook
Optimism about the reopening has faded as supply chain disruptions, inflation, and changes in the labor market weigh on sentiment. We examine how returns expectations across asset classes have changed in recent months.
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The Delta effect: Three-minute macro
The Delta variant of COVID-19 is certainly complicating the outlook for the global economy, and we’re keeping an eye on five ways that those complications may materialize. We also take an ESG lens on the gig economy and discuss the yield situation among emerging-market debt.
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U.S. inflation outlook—10 things to monitor
As concerns about U.S. inflation grows, investors are scrutinizing economic data for clues on what could happen next. We highlight 10 factors to monitor.
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Canada’s economic outlook—recovery delayed, not derailed
The third wave of COVID-19 may have dimmed Canada's economic outlook in the near term, but our macroeconomic strategy team believes the country's still on track to do well in the second half of 2021.
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