Man Group CFO: ‘Confident’ about 2026 as Assets Hit Record

The global economy is showing signs of resilience in the face of uncertainty, with several major players demonstrating confidence in their outlook for the coming year. Man Group, the world's largest publicly listed hedge fund, is one such example, having seen $1.4 billion of net inflows in the final three months of 2025. According to CFO Antoine Forterre, this growth has left the company "confident" about its prospects for 2026 (Source: Bloomberg).

Meanwhile, in South Africa, the latest budget has been hailed by Moody's Ratings as a demonstration of the country's "strong fiscal stance". While the ratings agency cautioned that "meaningful" debt reduction will require stronger economic growth, the budget's emphasis on fiscal discipline is a positive sign for investors (Source: Moody's Ratings).

In the financial sector, KKR & Co. has sold a minority stake in its post-trade services provider OSTTRA to six banks, in a deal that highlights the growing importance of financial-market infrastructure firms. The sale is the latest in a series of deals for such companies, as investors seek to capitalize on the increasing demand for efficient and secure post-trade services (Source: KKR & Co.).

Erste Group Bank AG is another company that is expanding its reach through strategic deals. The bank's €7 billion ($8.3 billion) acquisition of a Polish bank is expected to boost its net interest income to over €11 billion this year, exceeding analyst expectations. The deal marks Erste's entry into the Polish market and is seen as a key driver of the bank's growth strategy (Source: Erste Group Bank AG).

However, not all companies are immune to the challenges posed by economic uncertainty. Indian refiners, for example, are holding back on Russian oil purchases due to uncertainty over US tariffs. A recent US Supreme Court ruling has thrown into question a trade deal that would have cut tariffs on Russian oil imports in exchange for India halting those imports. As a result, Indian refiners are keeping their Russian oil purchases to a minimum, awaiting clarity on the situation (Source: Bloomberg).

Despite these challenges, the overall picture is one of resilience and confidence in the face of economic uncertainty. As companies like Man Group, Erste, and KKR demonstrate their ability to adapt and grow in a rapidly changing environment, investors are taking note. With fiscal discipline, strategic deals, and asset growth driving confidence, it seems that the global economy is well-positioned to navigate the challenges ahead.

Sources:

• Bloomberg: "Man Group CFO: ‘Confident’ about 2026 as Assets Hit Record"
• Moody's Ratings: "South Africa Budget ‘Confirms’ Strong Fiscal Stance"
• KKR & Co.: "KKR Sells Stake in $3.1 Billion Post-Trade Firm OSTTRA to Banks"
• Erste Group Bank AG: "Erste Says Interest Income to Top €11 Billion After Poland Deal"
• Bloomberg: "India Holds Line on Russian Oil With Trump’s Tariffs in Question"