The Sharpe End podcast

This month, the team discusses Trump’s trade tariffs and what it means for the Financial Markets and their Funds. Then, look at AI and DeepSeek’s emergence. Plus, the team discusses heavy equipment manufacturer, Caterpillar.

It’s been quite the new year hangover for the global bond market. The team unpacks the volatile start, financials sector strategies, and why the US-based global investment company KKR is an attractive new holding.

Mariah Carey is back, Elf on the Shelf is loose, and our head of multi-asset, David Coombs, faces his annual predictions test. Will the team be naughty or nice when scoring David’s forecasts?

A lot going on this month, so the team focus on two rather large events which took place within a week of each other.

The gaze turns eastward this month as the team discuss China’s recent stimulus. Will it be enough to wrestle the economy out of its post-COVID funk?

It’s just over a month since Keir Starmer took over at Number 10, and for those of you not glued to Ticketmaster scrambling for Oasis tickets you may have noticed that we’ve started to learn a little more about what “Starmerism” will look like.

Trying to unpick some pretty extraordinary moves in global indices, the team discuss what’s been going on. They then move on to automotive parts and also review American Tower.

On the eve of the most telegraphed election result in UK history, the team turns instead to a murkier electoral outlook in Europe.

Inflation is on our agenda but not quite in the way you might expect. We discuss the outlook for inflation in the longer term and consider how some big structural changes could shift perceptions on what’s a ‘normal’ rate of inflation.

In an election extravaganza of a year the team discuss how they will navigate the many political changes which may be ahead, Plus, they delve into diversification and the UK medical equipment company Smith & Nephew.

While the US economy and markets seemingly look in a pretty good place right now, the team discuss one of the potential flies in the ointment: US commercial real estate. Many worries have been floated about large cuts to office property values – are they valid? And if so what second order impacts could there be? The focus then turns eastward to the rise of Japan’s stock market and increased investor interest. This leads the team to discuss whether years of corporate reform could mean a new dawn for the nation or just another false one. Finally, the Magnificent Seven is tackled head on as the team discuss Nvidia, the darling of the market, to highlight what the company does, how it has changed, and why it has earned plaudits and a stratospheric share price rise.

With plenty of debate about the state of the US economy, whether the inflation dragon is slain or not, if the landing will be a soft one, and when the Fed might start cutting rates, the team discuss whether the US economic porridge is too hot, too cold or just right.

The Magnificent Seven was the buzz phrase of 2023 as seven stocks drove so much of the return from US equity markets. America isn't the only place with a concentration issue though: it’s the same picture in Europe and the UK. The team look forward and discuss what risks and opportunities may lie ahead as a result of this phenomenon. They then turn to the defence sector and why there might be some meaningful changes afoot to drive more government spending in this area. Finally, Canadian e-commerce company Shopify is on the agenda as the team outline the company's broad appeal, along with the ups and downs of their journey owning this name.

After the roller coaster that was 2023, the team discuss getting their bearings for the year ahead. Then, speaking of creaking behemoth structures in need of investment, they explain why they’ve been buying general infrastructure funds for the first time ever. Finally, a new portfolio holding is German medtech company Carl Zeiss, which specialises in cutting-edge tools for eye health. Perhaps some of Carl Zeiss’ products may help us all better see what the year ahead might hold…

It’s that time of year again where the whole Sharpe End team get together for the Christmas Special and become David’s judge and jury on the predictions he made for 2023 at the end of last year. Did David’s crystal ball serve him well in calling what happens to the bond markets, commodity markets, equity markets, and a few more random areas too!? Last year David managed 5.5 points, an advance on the 4.5 points of the year previous. Will his march toward prediction perfection continue, or will it all come crashing down to reality with a bump?

Is US President Joe Biden’s huge infrastructure stimulus bending the US Treasury yield curve more than Beckham at the dead ball? Moderating inflation hasn’t stopped long-term US Treasury bond yields from whipping higher (and therefore prices falling sharply) in the past couple of months – could it be worries around government spending and the much larger amount of bonds being sold at auction? Meanwhile, earnings season has dominated stock markets recently, so the team discuss the winners and losers this time round and why. Lastly, they share why US landfill and recycling business Waste Management is more exciting than you may first think.