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...

Welcome to a very special edition of The Investor Download where your host is Schroders’ CEO Peter Harrison – and the topic is all things AI. Join Peter as he talks to Michael Bhaskar, one of the authors of The Coming Wave, a 2023 bestseller which critics have described as “vital”, “terrifying”, and “unmissable”. Michael visited Schroders’ London office to record the conversation which was joined by Nils Rode, Charlotte Wood and Alex Tedder – each of whom in their different roles at Schroders...

The Federal Reserve gave the clearest indication yet that their aggressive tightening cycle is coming to an end, sending the price of gold to new highs. For nearly 15 years, the relationship between gold prices and real returns on government bonds remained strong. Whenever interest rates rose and real rates on bonds turned positive, the gold price tended to fall. But then something went wrong. Listen to the latest Investor Download with fund manager James Luke. We discuss what's happening...

James Montier is an author, a member of GMO’s asset allocation team and a partner at the firm. He also wrote the book on the seven sins of fund management. In this episode, James takes us through the seven sins, which apply to all investors, not just fund managers. They’re even more relevant today, given the new era we’re entering of markets and the economy.  If you want to listen to the full interview then follow the link to our sister podcast The Value Perspective. RUNNING ORDER: Part one -...

Earth Overshoot Day - the date when humanity exhausts nature's budget each year – fell on August 2 in 2023. Worryingly, that date is getting earlier every year. So, how do economies keep growing without draining the earth of its natural resources? One answer is the circular economy. For investors, it's a huge opportunity. In this show, analyst Joe Fernandes explores the circular economy as an investment theme with fund manager Jack Dempsey. RUNNING ORDER: 01:52 - Part one: what is the...

Peter Hinssen is an entrepreneur, teacher, speaker and author who believes in the "never normal”, within which there are phoenixes and unicorns battling for supremacy. The winner will depend on which one adapts better. Keen to find out what the never normal is and who are the phoenixes and the unicorns? then keep listening. RUNNING ORDER: 01:03 - Part one: the never normal 15:20 - Part two: man plus machine 25:12 - Part three: hunting for phoenixes NEW EPISODES: The Investor Download is...

It’s now less than a year to go before the US presidential election. And in a world facing heightened geopolitical tensions and the challenge or higher interest rates and higher inflation, the outcome of the election could prove seismic. So, Sam Furlonger sat down with Economist George Brown to discuss current expectations of who might win and how the outcome might affect markets and the economy. RUNNING ORDER: 01:44 - Part one: Who might win the election? 05:23 - Part two: How might the...

Investment director John Mensack and portfolio manager Autumn Graham lift the veil on emerging markets and in particular the world of corporate debt. They discuss challenges and opportunities in this vast asset class and how it's expected to perform against the backdrop of the 3D reset. RUNNING ORDER: 01:06 - Part one: defining emerging market corporate debt 07:58 - Part two: challenges and opportunities 14:40 - Part three: EM corporate debt and the 3D reset NEW EPISODES: The Investor...

Pets At Home is a company hoping to create a better world for pets and the people that love them. As part of its plan the company recruited Lyssa McGowan as CEO in 2022. On the latest mid 250 podcast, Lyssa joins hosts Jean Roche and James Goodman. They discuss Lyssa's journey to becoming CEO and her life as a CEO, as well as her vision for the company and why we haven't seen peak pet just yet. RUNNING ORDER: 01:00 - Part one: the beginning of the journey 09:55 - Part two: are we at peak...

Given the conflicts in the middle East and Ukraine, worsening relations between the US and China and instability in Africa, we thought it would be useful to hear the views of General Sir Nick Carter. Sir Nick is a former senior British Army officer who served as Chief of the Defence Staff and as commanding officer during conflicts in Bosnia and Kosovo in the late 90s. RUNNING ORDER: 01:00 - Part one: The Middle East 07:21 - Part two: Russia/Ukraine 12:00 - Part three: US/China 20:45 - Part...

A recent panic in the bond market sparked headlines in the press of an imminent crash in financial markets, but should investors be worried? Alex Funk, Chief Investment Officer of Schroders Investment Solutions, joins the pod to take us through what's happened, what's next and how investors might tackle an uncertain period for markets. RUNNING ORDER: 02:24 - Part one: bond market turmoil 05:32 - Part two: the interest rate problem 11:06 - Part three: investing in uncertain times NEW...

Long Term Asset Funds are a new initiative by the UK government. They've been created in an attempt to boost investment in areas such as infrastructure and climate-related goals and to turbo charge a flagging economy. Known as LTAFs, they are new to the UK but they're similar to schemes already in place in Europe and the rest of the world. But what are LTAFs? James Lowe, Sales Director, joins the pod to discuss what LTAFs are, their pros and cons and what areas of the economy they are set to...

Central banks have paused their rate-hiking cycle but have made it clear the battle to suppress inflation is not yet won and interest rates are likely to remain higher, for longer. Investors Alex Funk and Tara Jameson join the pod to discuss the pros and cons of keeping your money in cash, even when interest rates are so high. RUNNING ORDER: 02:13 - Part one: why bother investing? 05:35 - Part two: what's changed? 07:56 - Part three: should i invest? NEW EPISODES: The Investor Download is...

Susannah Nicklin, the Non-Executive Chair of the Schroders BSC Social Impact Trust, joins the pod to discuss everything impact investment. From what it is, where to invest and the returns you might expect we cover everything you've always wanted to know impact investing. RUNNING ORDER: 01:05 - Part one: A short history of impact investment 05;44 - Part two: making an impact investment 11:34 - Part three: impact investing returns NEW EPISODES: The Investor Download is available every Thursday...

To meet net zero targets countries will need companies like RWE creating power from clean sources. So we speak to Tom Glover, UK country chair of RWE, about the the challenges and opportunities that presents. Fund manager Ashley Thomas also joins the pod to give his view of the current situation from an investor's perspective. RUNNING ORDER: 00:24 - Part one: the challenge in keeping energy costs low 04:55 - Part two: taking action 12:34 - Part three: an investors view with Ashley Thomas NEW...

In the second part of our exploration of the new space race, author and journalist Tim Marshall once again guides us through space. In the wake of India's historic landing at the moon’s south pole, we talk about the rush for commodities, supply chain issues and tensions in space. If you missed part one you can listen here. RUNNING ORDER: 01:33 - Part one: the race for commodities in space 03:56 - Part two: tensions in space 08:54 - Part three: supply chain issues NEW EPISODES: The Investor...