Barclays Brief

Forces shaping markets in 2026

Barclays Brief

Show Notes

Most episodes of The Barclays Brief focus on a single market theme, but this week we have a special episode for you. Adeel Khan, our Global Head of Markets, joined hosts Ronnie Wexler and Patrick Coffey, to give you his insights across the full breadth of macro, equities and credit, bringing you perspectives from Adeel’s unique vantage point. Adeel outlines why the global backdrop remains more resilient than headlines suggest, buoyed by a powerful US consumer and an AI investment cycle shifting decisively from infrastructure build-out to monetisation. He also explains why inflation could ease back toward 2% by year-end, and how the equity narrative is evolving as the era of beta gives way to alpha in a market that could reward precision, discipline and true stock picking skill. The discussion then moves through the shifting FX landscape including a multi-year USD correction, low rates volatility and improving emerging market fundamentals. All this before turning to credit, where Adeel highlights why financing conditions remain robust even as dispersion continues to widen. Looking ahead, he sets out three key predictions and the one risk that ties them all together. Listen now for a clear cross asset view from Barclays’ Global Head of Markets and what it means for positioning in 2026. Listeners can hear more on this topic: •Barclays Brief #14 – Headlines to hedges: Positioning in 2026 •Barclays Brief #13 – AI: The macro game changer •Barclays Brief #15 – Rise of the humanoid robots •Barclays Brief #11 – Credit markets: What’s ahead for 2026

Clients can read more from Barclays Research on Barclays Live: •US dollar: How low can it go? •Debasement trade & broadening in full swing •Headline exhaustion

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Oct 20, 2026

The US consumer has proved to be more resilient than expected, supported by a constructive employment backdrop, income growth and rising household wealth. But beneath that aggregate strength, behaviour is shifting. Consumers are becoming more selective, and their ability to absorb further inflation is becoming increasingly divided by income. In this episode of the Barclays Brief, host Ronnie Wexler speaks with Priya Ohri-Gupta, Head of US High Grade Research and US Consumer Credit Research Analyst, about the state of US consumer resilience and why it is increasingly uneven. They explore the emergence of a two-speed consumer economy, with higher-income households supported by wealth creation while lower-income consumers face greater pressure on their ability to spend. At the same time, consumers across the board are becoming more deliberate about where their money goes, seeking value and trading down. Ronnie Wexler and Priya Ohri-Gupta also consider the signals that could point to weakening demand, and how inflationary pressures currently being absorbed by retailers could test resilience into 2027. As US consumers become more selective, investors may need to follow suit. With the important holiday spending period approaching, Ohri-Gupta considers the characteristics that could differentiate consumer and retail businesses as spending patterns evolve.

Oct 12, 2026

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Oct 9, 2026

French government bonds, or OATs, are under growing pressure. While rising yields reflect a broader sell-off across European markets, concerns over France’s fiscal trajectory and political uncertainty are driving an additional risk premium.

Sep 30, 2026

Markets have spent much of 2026 confronting higher bond yields, tighter central bank policy and elevated oil prices. By historical standards, that should have been enough to derail growth. Instead, markets and the global economy have continued to surprise to the upside. In this episode of Barclays Brief, host Ronnie Wexler is joined by Ajay Rajadhyaksha, Global Chairman of Research, to discuss the thinking behind Barclays Research's latest Global Outlook, Reluctantly Optimistic. They explore why the traditional relationship between higher rates and weaker growth appears to be weakening, and how a powerful AI investment cycle is helping sustain economic momentum. The conversation also examines the strength of US corporate earnings, the resilience of the US consumer and early signs that AI-driven productivity gains are extending beyond the largest technology companies. While risks remain, particularly around sovereign debt and bond markets, Rajadhyaksha argues that the fundamental drivers supporting growth and risk assets remain firmly in place. This episode was recorded on Monday 28 September at 5:00pm British Summer Time.

Sep 29, 2026

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