
L&G Talks Asset Management 389: Our 2026 investment outlook – the CIO call
Dec 11, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Sonja Laud, the Global Chief Investment Officer at Legal & General Investment Management, is joined by Christopher Jeffery, Head of Macro Strategy, Colin Reedy, Head of Active Strategies, and Robin Martin, Global Head of Investment Strategy & Research. They explore the implications of AI-driven capital expenditure and government debt, the '2-2' US growth scenario, and the impact of the Ukraine war on markets. The panel also dives into investment opportunities in digital infrastructure and warns of fiscal risks, making this a must-listen for forward-thinking investors.
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Shifting Goalposts For Markets
- Geopolitics, higher interest costs and AI capex are shifting long-term investment goalposts and will shape asset prices.
- Governments' strategic buying of energy, defence and AI infrastructure raises sectoral opportunities and political risk.
AI Monetisation Is Make-Or-Break
- 2026 is the year markets will test whether AI capex leads to real monetisation rather than just hype.
- We need global AI revenues >$1tn p.a. by the early 2030s to justify the scale of announced capex.
Conflict Resolution Would Boost Europe
- An end to the Ukraine war would materially ease European energy costs and reshape Europe's growth and fiscal outlook.
- Conflict resolution timing remains uncertain but would be a major positive shock for European manufacturing competitiveness.











