Beyond the Benchmark by EFG

As the US economy eagerly awaits labour market data and whisperings of an AI bubble grow, Moz talks to Michael Leithead, Head of Fixed Income at EFGAM about the path ahead. In the spotlight are Fed rate cuts, the economic impacts of Artificial Intelligence and what some of the idiosyncratic risks are to be aware of in the current cycle. Our host, Moz Afzal: https://bit.ly/31XbkTR Our guest: Michae...

Renowned market technician Jeff deGraaf, Chairman and CEO of RenMac, helps explain what time it is on RenMac's Market Cycle Clock, and what it signals for equities. Alongside discussing sector opportunities, he also lays out the case for why he believes we’re in a broad-based global bull market, despite near term consolidation risks. Our host, Moz Afzal: https://bit.ly/31XbkTR Our guest: Jeff deGr...

In this special short episode of Beyond the Benchmark, GianLuigi and Stefan give their immediate reaction to the Fed's 17 September decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points. While a true picture of market reaction is yet to be seen, Stefan highlights some of the learnings to be gleaned from the decision about how the FOMC is currently operating and what their longer term thinking is. Our...

The US consumer remains a crucial pillar of the economy, but what happens when they face the combined pressures of high interest rates and trade tariffs? In this episode, Chelsea Wiater, Senior Portfolio Manager for New Capital’s US growth equity strategies, unpacks the evolving habits of American consumers. She explores the striking divergence between weak consumer sentiment and resilient spendin...

Collapsing birth rates are taking the world into uncharted territory, according to research done by James Pomeroy and HSBC. Shrinking populations from China to Europe will put unprecedented pressure on fiscal policy, but bright spots for investors still remain in the developing world. Our host, Moz Afzal: https://bit.ly/31XbkTR Our guest: James Pomeroy, Global Economist at HSBC https://bit.ly/38Y9...

In the first of a special three-part series, Giorgio Pradelli, CEO of EFG International, joins Moz to discuss his personal and professional journey. From his early days in Torino, Italy, to leading one of Europe’s top private banks, Giorgio shares valuable insights on leadership, decision-making, building a strong company culture, and the importance of staying calm under pressure in today’s ever-c...

In the wake of the 'big, beautiful bill', Don Rissmiller shares his view that 2026 and beyond look positive for the US economy. However, there may be some turbulence in the final months of 2025 as tariff disruption and geopolitical pressures wash through the system.  Our host, Moz Afzal: https://bit.ly/31XbkTR Our guest: Don Rissmiller, Partner and Chief Economist at Strategas http://bit.ly/4oz4jl...

Could Trump appoint a new Fed chairman before Powell’s term is due to end and what are the possible market implications? Stefan Gerlach joins Moz Afzal to explore the current central bank dynamics as well as the broader economic challenges facing the US, eurozone and UK and how feasible their growth ambitions are. Our host, Moz Afzal: https://bit.ly/31XbkTR Our guest: Stefan Gerlach, Chief Economi...

Shannon Tan, EFG Sports Ambassador and professional golfer on the Ladies European Tour joins Moz on the podcast this week. The 21 year old Singaporean golfer shares the story of her journey to professional golf, along with her strategies for maintaining focus and discipline while on tour, and how she copes with the pressure of playing against some of the best in the world. Our host, Moz Afzal: htt...

Chris Senyek, Chief Investment Strategist at Wolfe Research goes into why he thinks the cyclical nature of the market has changed in the years since the 2008 financial crisis. As central banks grapple with sticky inflation and high debt to GDP ratios, we discuss the delicate balancing act between yields and interest rates and how they differ globally. Our host, Moz Afzal: https://bit.ly/31XbkTR Ou...

Friend of the podcast Dan Clifton returns to Beyond the Benchmark to help make sense of the ongoing Trump tariff saga and his ‘big beautiful bill’. Trump’s economic trials and tribulations are also set against the backdrop of a radical shift in the way the US conducts foreign affairs, as signalled on his recent trip to Qatar in a speech which has been surprisingly overlooked by most. Our host, Moz...

José Pedro Almeida, Executive in Residence at INSEAD, explains how he helps governments, investors and businesses lead AI and digital transformations, with a particular focus on healthcare. From how to get CEO buy-in to the dos (and don’ts) of measuring success, Jose explains the human role in a GenAI enabled business. Our host, Moz Afzal: https://bit.ly/31XbkTR Our guests: José Pedro Almeida http...

What role do global platforms such as Meta have in managing misinformation? What is the difference between misinformation and fake news, and what impact does it have on society? What lessons has Meta learnt from the challenging geopolitical environment of the past few years? Moz talks to Tom Bonsundy O’Bryan, Head of misinformation policy for EMEA at Meta to gain a fascinating insight into the wor...

The Trump administration has an infamously dim view on sustainability, but what does this really mean for the landscape of sustainable investing? Melanie Beyeler, Senior Portfolio Manager at New Capital, talks to Moz about why it’s not necessarily all bad news for the segment, and what sustainable investing opportunities may arise out of the new global dynamic. Our host, Moz Afzal: https://bit.ly/...

In this special episode of Beyond the Benchmark, the tables are turned as EFG’s Global Chief Investment Officer, Moz Afzal, steps into the hot seat. Fresh off being named CIO of the Year at the 2025 WealthBriefing European Awards, Moz shares insights into his journey from junior analyst to managing $25 billion in assets. He discusses the key challenges he’s faced, the importance of leadership and...

Is it really the case that the first to invent a technology is the one who benefits from it in the long term? Is it a myth that we can accurately predict the outcomes of new innovation? In this final episode of the 3 part Laws of Technology series, Nathan Furr dispels two oft-held but statistically untrue myths about human innovation. This episode was recorded on 12th September 2024. Our host, Moz...

Chinese generative AI contender, DeepSeek, caused huge waves in markets across the globe at the end of January. Investors and analysts were caught flat footed after the Chinese company, operating on inferior hardware, revealed a generative AI comparable to leading Western models while claiming that development costs had been a fraction of their American counterparts. This week with the help of Jon...

Will Trump successfully cut a deal with Russia on the Ukraine conflict? Will we see the emergence of a new great power paradigm? Where does an aggressive 'America First' policy leave the rest of the world? The next decade is beset by geopolitical questions following great change in Washington. Against this backdrop, Gideon Rachman, Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator at the Financial Times, talks at...

Donald Trump's election victory brings with it a plethora of unknowns about the next four years. After a highly unusual election cycle, change is on the horizon, from a reordering of the existing power structures of the West to tariffs on China, from Elon Musk's DOGE to deregulation. In this special episode, Dan Clifton, Head of Policy Research at Strategas, delivers his thoughts on Trump 2.0 at t...

Economic resilience, shifting policies, and global uncertainties set the tone for 2024. In this episode, Moz and Daniel reflect on a year marked by strong US growth, challenges in Europe, and the lingering effects of Covid stimulus. They share their perspectives on the key factors shaping the outlook for 2025, from trade tariffs to potential stimulus in China, and discuss what these trends could s...

In this episode of Beyond the Benchmark, Moz is joined by Jeff deGraaf, a leading technical analyst from RenMac, for an insightful discussion on 2024’s market performance and opportunities in 2025, as well as touching on China’s resilience and the global influence of the US dollar. Our host, Moz Afzal: https://bit.ly/31XbkTR Our guest: Jeff deGraaf, CMT, CFA, Chairman and Head of Technical Researc...

Breaking companies down into modular systems that drive value and understanding their self-reinforcing cycles are key in navigating the technological landscape. Nathan Furr takes us through two laws of technology in the next of this three-part series, providing examples of how today’s leaders are utilising these elements to their advantage. This episode was recorded on 12th September 2024. Our hos...

Polls on a knife edge, multiple assassination attempts, a convicted felon running for president, a candidate campaigning for just 100 days pre-election; these are just a few of the reasons this US election cycle is unlike anything we have ever seen. Thankfully, Dan Clifton, Head of Policy Research at Strategas, is here to bring some clarity to the turmoil, and what all this might mean for investor...

As central banks around the world appear to be successfully getting a handle on inflation, we look at the changing market narrative going into the final quarter of 2024. Labour market numbers start to take precedence in shaping market sentiment, while the US gears up for an election that, despite intense volatility, is surprisingly normal in its impacts on markets so far. Meanwhile further afield,...

Does the conventional wisdom around technology and business really hold up to scrutiny? Nathan Furr guides us through the 6 Laws of Technology, each law turning a piece of conventional thinking on its head when it comes to how companies deploy technology for the best outcomes. This is part 1 of a 3 part series, each episode covering 2 of the laws in detail. Our host, Moz Afzal: https://bit.ly/31Xb...