JPMorgan investment advisers leaning on in-house research amid global volatility

CALGARY — A top adviser at JPMorgan Asset Management says the firm is leaning heavily on its deep in-house research capabilities as it navigates geopolitical upheaval and global economic uncertainty.

Shayan Hussain is the head of U.S. investment specialists for global fixed income, currency and commodities at the investment manager, which had US$4 trillion under management globally as of last September. He’s on a six-city Canadian road-show this week to promote JPMorgan’s offerings in Canada, which it aims to expand.

JPMorgan spends half a billion dollars a year on research, and investments are scrutinized bond-by-bond, Hussain said in an interview.

“Research is really important for us in general,” he said.

“I would say research is really important in today’s environment in particular.”

The bank said it doesn’t rely solely on public macro data, much of which was unavailable during the U.S. government shutdown last year.

For instance, his team has access to anonymized credit card data through retail banking division Chase, which provides deep insight into consumer behaviour and the health of the overall U.S. economy.

“It’s about creating durable portfolios that can manage through these bouts of volatility,” said Hussain, who is based in New York.

“But then also volatility creates opportunity.”

Among the areas JPMorgan has seen good opportunities has been in emerging markets.

He added corporate margins and balance sheets are looking healthy these days and it’s a good time to look at fixed income.

“Now is the time to embrace yields in your portfolios. If rates stay higher for longer it’s not a bad thing for investors,” he said. “You can lock in a pretty healthy yield without taking on a lot of risks.”

Hussain expects one or two more rate cuts from the U.S. Federal Reserve ahead, regardless of any change in leadership. There’s been an ongoing confrontation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Fed chair Jerome Powell, who has been trying to defend the independence of the central bank and resist pressure from the White House to cut interest rates more sharply.

“Inflation seems to be more under control. It’s moderating,” Hussain said.

“It’s really the labour side of the equation that’s more challenged. I think that it does point toward cutting or easing rates regardless.”

JPMorgan Chase is the biggest bank in the United States.

In Canada, it has 600 employees with a presence in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2026.

Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press