The Sharpe End podcast

Stocks have held up well on the surface so far this year, but it’s been an extremely narrow market, driven by a handful of mega-cap hyperscalers and AI enablers. Yet after a wild week or so, that has flipped – could momentum be starting to turn the other way?

South Korea has leapfrogged the UK to become the world’s eighth-largest equity market, prompting the team to consider the implications for geographic allocation within portfolios.

With headlines and tweets about the Middle East continuing to come in hot, the team cover what's changed and what's not.

As the conflict continues in the Middle East, the team discusses whether they are making any changes to their portfolios in response to the big moves they're seeing in markets.

Geopolitics remains front and centre this month, as the team unpack President Trump’s push to acquire Greenland, and what America’s renewed focus on energy security and re-shoring could mean for global markets and the funds.

As the calendar page turns to 2026, the team discuss what the year ahead could hold. Will the new year bring about any changes or is it business as usual? A midnight raid to abduct a Venezuelan strongman is certainly a new tactic for the US, but is President Trump’s underlying aim still the same?

The Christmas jumpers and mince pies are out for the Multi-Asset Team as they enjoy that magical time of the year where they review Fund Manager David Coombs’ market predictions for 2025.

The team kicks things off this month with the UK Budget and what they would like to see emerge – but probably won’t get – from the Chancellor's briefcase.

Are we in an AI bubble? That’s the question the team try to answer on this month’s episode. While there are definitely bubble-like signs popping up in the market, are there enough for the team to be worried?

Investor eyes and ears turned to the US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole speech in August as he hinted that interest rate cuts could be coming in the US.

You may feel a sense of déjà vu this month, as the team once again talk tariffs after July’s trade deal deadline got pushed back and a raft of negotiations and agreements ensued.

Geopolitics are top of the agenda in an extra special podcast that celebrates four years of talking common sense about investing (alright and a bit of questionable banter on the side).

This month, the team discusses Trump’s new tax bill, new warning signals that have been quietly popping up in markets. Plus, an under-the-radar stock that’s a core holding for the portfolios: Assa Abloy.

This month, the team discusses US exceptionalism - a hot topic of conversation for the team for years now, then turns to earnings season and wraps up with a look at Apple.

Trump’s tariffs shake markets; the team unpacks what might happen next. The focus then switches to UK Spring Statement announcements. Plus they discuss why Compass Group is catching their eye.

This month, the team covers Europe’s recent market outperformance, then shifts to America, discussing Trump and tariffs, before wrapping up with Unilever, the manufacturer of household staples.