The increasingly complex demands of a global population that is growing older, richer and sicker is driving rising demand for healthcare services. Yet the biotech sector, which includes companies that could provide many of the solutions to the problems being created by ageing populations, has been languishing. In this show, I’m joined by fund managers Ailsa Craig and Marek Poszepczynski . We look at why the biotech sector has been struggling and the trends that could revive the ailing...

Janesville, in Winsocsin, was once the epitome of the American Dream. But everything changed following the global financial crisis when General Motors, the business that provided the town with most of its wealth, shut its plant. On today’s show we have Amy Goldstein, the award winning author of the FT Business book of the year, Janesville. Amy spent 36 years as a journalist at The Washington Post writing widely about social issues. Among her awards, she shared the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for...

Despite the flip-flopping of some governments and companies on their net zero ambitions, the world is on the road to decarbonisation. That means investors are having to make decisions too. In this show, we speak with Simon Webber, Head of Global Equities at Schroders, and Ben Popatlal, Multi-Asset Analyst at Schroders, about the challenge of decarbonising their investments and how to create a decarbonisation strategy. RUNNING ORDER: 00:53 - Part one: the road to decarbonisation 08:30 - Part...

From tariffs to trade Wars to the Chips Act, the battle for technology is only just heating up. Nearly seven decades in the making, we're only just entering act two.  Chris Miller, author of Chip War - the 2022 FT Business Book of the Year winner - joins the pod to discuss  what the next phase of the chip war looks like and what effect it might have. RUNNING ORDER: 01:10 - Part one: a short history of the chip war 05:30 - Part two: the impact of the chip war 08:58 - Part three: the next...

Looking to secure your financial future and navigate the complexities of the financial world with confidence? 🌟 Robert Starkey, Portfolio Manager, joins us to dive into the intricacies of the carry trade and explore how adopting a solutions mindset can revolutionise your approach to risk management. Embrace the journey from hard work to smart planning with a toolbox designed for success. 🛠️ Learn why it's crucial to avoid the pitfalls of chasing high returns without considering the risks, and...

In late July the Federal Reserve decided against lowering interest rates despite signals that the economy was cooling. Their inaction heightened concerns Mohamed El-Erian, an economist and an investor, has had about the Fed and central bankers for nearly two decades. In this show, El-Erian highlights the problems he recognised in the financial system back in 2007 and why they're still haunting decision making now. El-Erian is the award-winning author of When Markets Collide. It won the FT...

Jonathan Horn is a theoretical physicist, a former managing director of JP Morgan, and now he’s on mission to transform the controversial world of carbon offsetting with his firm Treefera.  In this show, we look at the challenges facing companies trying to offset and reduce their carbon footprint, and how AI and machine learning is helping solve those issues. RUNNING ORDER: 02:23 - Part one: the problem with carbon markets 09:25 - Part two: how companies like Treefera are tackling the...

It's been a wild couple of weeks in the build up to the US election. So we invited Economist, George Brown, and Head of Multi-Asset , Americas, Adam Farstrup to discuss the impact of events that have unfolded. We also talk about the likely outcomes in the race for the White House and control of Congress, and what they mean for the economy and markets. RUNNING ORDER: 00:21 - Part one: what the polls and bookies are telling us 06:48 - Part two: the race for congress 11:50 - Part three: what it...

There are so many challenges facing investors from the fallout of elections globally to AI and other global forces shaping the economy. On this show, we speak to Philip Chandler, a multi-asset investor, about how investors might deal with those challenges and the opportunities they present. RUNNING ORDER: 00:58 - Part one: Trading elections 06:22 - Part two: Navigating AI and other speed bumps NEW EPISODES: The Investor Download is available every other Thursday and will be released at 1700...

We have a very special guest for you this week. In the year of elections we thought we'd get a politician on the podcast, or at least a former politician. The Right Honourable Lord William Hague agreed to join us. Lord Hague's held many senior roles, including Leader of the House of Commons, but is best known as the Leader of the Conservative party, 1997-2001, and First Secretary of State and Foreign Secretary, 2010-2014. He now pursues a wide range of business and charitable activities. For...

Leo Quinn is the CEO of infrastructure firm Balfour Beatty. He joined as a graduate but left to explore other opportunities and learn new skills. As a problem solver he was re-hired by Balfour in 2014 and became chief executive the next year. Since then, the company has grown in strength. On the latest mid 250 podcast, Leo joins hosts Jean Roche and James Goodman. They discuss Leo's journey to becoming CEO and what he did to help fix some of the problems befalling Balfour Beatty. NEW...

A very, very late change to the schedule this week but it's a welcome one too. My colleagues Vera German and Jade Zhang had the opportunity to speak to legendary Emerging Markets investor Mark Mobius on the Value Perspective, our sister podcast, and we thought it would be rude not to share that with you. Mark founded Mobius Capital Partners in 2018 following a three-decade tenure at Franklin Templeton where he managed over $40 billion in Emerging Markets’ portfolios. Mark has experience of...

For years investors have been asking, does engagement matter and if so, how does it affect financial returns? So I sat down with my colleague, Olga Cowings who has been looking to answer those questions. In this show we’ll look how investors engage with companies, whether companies actually listen and how that might affect returns. RUNNING ORDER 00:53 - Part one: what is the relationship between engagement and returns? 08:49 - Part two: how engagement works in practice 17:08 - Part three: the...

As the crisis in the Middle East threatens to escalate we speak to General Sir Nick Carter about the situation in Israel, Gaza and beyond. Sir Nick is a former British Army officer who served as Chief of the Defence Staff in the UK. RUNNING ORDER 01:01 - Part one: Middle East update 15:20 - Part two: what the near future might hold NEW EPISODES: The Investor Download is available every other Thursday and will be released at 1700 UK time. You can subscribe via Podbean or use this feed URL...

Despite markets wobbling after a surprise rise in US inflation, the assumption remains that the federal reserve will begin cutting interest rates this year. So, we delved into the data to find out what happens in markets when central banks begin cutting rates. My colleague Duncan Lamont, Head of Strategic Research, is our guide for this episode. RUNNING ORDER 00:59 - Part one: how markets perform when rates are cut 04:29 - Part two: it's all about finding hidden gems 09:19 - Part three: what...

The last time the Japanese stockmarket was at current levels the Berlin Wall had only just fallen and Billy Joel was top of the hit parade. We speak to Taku Arai, Deputy Head of Japanese Equities at Schroders, about what happened and whether the renaissance can last in the land of rising stocks. RUNNING ORDER: 02:58 - Part one: 80s boom followed by 90s bust? 06:02 - Part two: the land of the rising stocks 10:23 - Part three: Can the feel-good factor last? NEW EPISODES: The Investor Download...

Today's show is the latest in our series of Mid 250 podcasts where we speak to CEOs of some of the biggest names listed on the UK's mid-cap stock exchange.   Today, James Goodman and Jean Roche speak with Nick Jefferies, the CEO of discoverIE, which designs and manufactures customised electronic components for industrial applications.   Since Nick Jefferies became CEO, discoverIE's share price has risen 15 times. James and Jean want to know how Nick's engineered the company's...

Energy security and carbon targets are high on the list of priorities among policymakers, consumers and investors. While a lot of people see renewable energy as a solution, Matthew Wald believes nuclear has a bigger role to play in the energy mix of the future. Matthew was a journalist for four decades at the New York Times. He's now an analyst at the Breakthrough Institute in California, concerned with climate and energy and agriculture. Matthew argues that it's difficult to see renewable...

Recent inflation muddled the picture on when interest rates might be cut, but investors still believe it will be this year. However, how brave do they need to be to invest in markets already at or near recent peaks? Schroders ran the numbers and came up with some interesting findings on how stocks perform after hitting highs and how assets perform after the rate cutting cycle begins. Fund manager Tara Jameson and Schroder Investment Solution Chief Investment Officer Alex Funk join the pod to...

The food system is on track to bust the world's entire 1.5 to 2 degree carbon budget, yet it's barely been spoken about by policymakers at climate conferences. Portfolio manager Felix Odey is our guide as we explore the way our food production and consumption is challenging climate targets. We'll look at potential solutions and what it means for your investments. RUNNING ORDER: 02:51 - Part one: The problem 06:28 - Part two: Potential solutions 10:23 - Part three: how it's affecting...

Tom Walker admits that getting anyone to have a discussion about real estate in recent years has been difficult. Then, at the end of 2023, that all changed. Now all anyone wants to talk about is real estate. Tom's Co-Head of Global Real Estate at Schroders and he joins the pod to discuss how real estate went from a difficult conversation to have to the talk of the town. RUNNING ORDER: 00:24 - Part one: the trials and tribulations of the real estate sector 03:57 - Part two: how the real estate...

Former poker player Casper Berry gives advice on how investors might avoid some of the pitfalls that can lead them to making bad decisions in the coming year. NEW EPISODES: The Investor Download is available every other Thursday and will be released at 1700 UK time. You can subscribe via Podbean or use this feed URL (https://schroders.podbean.com/feed.xml) in Apple Podcasts and other podcast players. GET IN TOUCH: mailto: [email protected] find us on Facebook send us a tweet:...

Chief Investment Officer Johanna Kyrklund and Senior Economist Azad Zangana join the show to discuss the outlook for 2024. We cover everything from interest rates and inflation to artificial intelligence and the US election in just 15 minutes. This is the final show of the year. We thank you for all your support and wish you a very happy and prosperous festive period and new year. We'll be back on January and look forward to speaking to you then.  RUNNING ORDER:  00:37 - Part one: the good...