Capital Ideas podcast

Engineers may not get the love they deserve, says author Lord John Browne, best known for his transformative tenure as CEO of energy giant BP. In this conversation recorded shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, Browne explores themes from his latest book, "Make, Think, Imagine: Engineering the Future of Civilization," chief of which is the critical role engineering has played at the intersection o...

Capital Group portfolio manager Carl Kawaja discusses the outlook for global equity markets in the COVID-19 era. In a wide-ranging interview, Carl offers his view of the remarkable stock market rally since late March, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing investors amid unprecedented levels of market and economic uncertainty. Your host Matt Miller is the policy and communications advi...

How do leaders make important decisions when the stakes are high, the data is flawed and the outcome is unknowable? Often badly — in part, because they rely on bogus quantification instead of seasoned judgement. That's one of the themes outlined in a new book by former Bank of England governor Mervyn King and economist John Kay. In this podcast, we explore that perplexing issue at the heart of the...

The outbreak of the coronavirus and concerns about what its rapid spread could mean for global markets and economies have prompted this special episode of Capital Ideas. Hong Kong-based economist Stephen Green discusses the supply-chain disruptions already taking shape, which sectors stand to lose — or gain — from the crisis and how soon "business as usual" might be expected to return to China and...

Host Matt Miller takes us on a tour of outstanding moments from recent Capital Ideas podcast episodes, including excerpts from conversations about oil rigs, Teslas, long-term opportunities in Asia and more. Matt Miller is the policy and communications advisor for Capital Group. An author and former Washington Post columnist, Matt was co-host of the public radio program Left, Right & Center . This...

The proliferation of video streaming services has been the most conspicuous change of late in Hollywood's evolving competition for the consumer dollar. Investment analyst Brad Barrett, who has covered media for 19 years, details what differentiates the key players, how the battle lines are being drawn and what's at stake for investors. Barrett is a research director and equity investment analyst w...

Today's global oil industry is experiencing a period of disruption, says investment analyst Jacinto Hernandez. From the technological (the shale revolution) to the geopolitical (rising Middle East tensions) to the environmental (ESG concerns), Hernandez breaks down the forces shaping his outlook and draws from his 19 years covering energy to consider the implications for investors. Jacinto Hernand...

After three years of political wrangling in the U.K., Brexit finally appears to be moving forward. As the U.K. prepares to leave the European Union, Capital Group economist Robert Lind and political economist Talha Khan share their views on what's coming next and how it might affect European trade and economic growth in the years ahead. Your host Matt Miller is the policy and communications adviso...

Portfolio manager Rob Lovelace, economist Darrell Spence and fixed income investment director Margaret Steinbach share their thoughts on global equities, economies and fixed income as they look ahead to 2020. Rob Lovelace is vice chairman of Capital Group, president of Capital Research and Management Company, and serves on the Capital Group Management Committee. He has 33 years of investment exper...

Yes, e-commerce titan Amazon continues to disrupt the business of traditional retailers, but some are finding innovative ways to survive and thrive in the highly competitive U.S. retail landscape. Capital Group retail analyst Jessica Spaly discusses her long-term outlook for the sector amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday shopping season. Your host Matt Miller is the policy and communications...

After a decade of dominance by U.S. stocks, are there still compelling reasons to invest outside the United States? Absolutely, says Capital Group investment director David Polak. Here he lays out his argument for why investors shouldn't abandon international equities. David Polak leads the investment specialist team and also represents Capital Group's global equity strategies. He has 35 years of...

Fixed income portfolio managers Mark Marinella and Karl Zeile discuss the outlook for U.S. municipal bonds in light of sweeping federal tax changes. They offer their views on whether muni bonds are still attractive under the new tax regime, as well as the importance of fundamental research in a credit-driven market. Your host Matt Miller is the policy and communications advisor for Capital Group....

The title of Nobel Prize-winning economist Robert Shiller's latest book, "Narrative Economics," is telling — literally. It spotlights stories people have told one another throughout recorded history that reflect and, Shiller argues, often shape their economic circumstances. Here he discusses the most enduring and relevant of these narratives and suggests how their implications could help shape the...

Portfolio manager Winnie Kwan and investment director Kent Chan explore the long-term investment outlook for China. Amid a damaging trade war and political unrest in Hong Kong, they see the world's second largest economy as a classic stock picker's market — presenting select opportunities for patient investors. Your host Matt Miller is the policy and communications advisor for Capital Group. An au...

Retirement plan sponsors concerned about participant outcomes, take note. Capital Group's Steve Deschenes is here with a checklist for selecting superior investment managers. A research and development director with 26 years of experience, Deschenes shares his research into the factors sponsors should consider in their manager-selection process. Steve Deschenes is a research and development direct...

Iron ore, copper, gold, nickel. Extracting these metals from the earth is a tough, capital-intensive business. Equity investment analyst Frank Beaudry makes it his business to know what the world's mining companies are doing to succeed on behalf of investors. Listen as Beaudry sheds light on this sometimes dangerous industry, as well as the other sector he covers: European utilities. Your host Mat...

What happens when technological innovation, instead of helping people, displaces them? That's been a vexing question throughout history and it remains so today. In this podcast, we address the issue with Dr. Carl Benedikt Frey, author of The Technology Trap: Capital, Labor, and Power in the Age of Automation. Dr. Carl Benedikt Frey is a professor at Oxford University, where he directs the program...

Here's a news flash for financial advisors who think their clients are telling them everything: There's a good chance they aren't. In fact, they are probably keeping some big secrets that could jeopardize their long-term investment returns. In this podcast, Capital Group's head of consumer research, Mike Van Wyk, reveals what these investors might be hiding and suggests steps advisors can take to...

Long-term international investors who focus primarily on China may be missing the bigger picture. In his latest book, The Future Is Asian , global strategy advisor and author Parag Khanna argues that a "fourth wave" of Asian growth — essentially the rest of Asia — is hiding in plain sight. Here Khanna discusses common Western misperceptions of Asia's economic place in the world and offers eye-open...

Portfolio manager Alan Wilson trained at MIT to be a civil engineer. Turns out, those skills transfer nicely to the stock market — building strong portfolios instead of towering skyscrapers. In this podcast, Wilson discusses his outlook for U.S. equities and his thoughts on investing in an aging bull market. Alan Wilson is an equity portfolio manager with 34 years of investment experience, 28 with...

Portfolio manager Jody Jonsson, head of fixed income Mike Gitlin and economist Darrell Spence share their thoughts on global equities, fixed income and economies as they look ahead to the remainder of 2019 and beyond. Want continuing education credit? Financial professionals (CFP* and CIMA) can take the quiz after listening. Your host Matt Miller is the policy and communications advisor for Capita...

Given the uncertainty in today's economic environment, investors should not be caught unaware of what's in their bond portfolios. Enter Morningstar, whose recent split of the intermediate bond category should be welcome news for bond investors seeking greater transparency. Capital Group head of fixed income Mike Gitlin and portfolio manager Pramod Atluri explain. Mike Gitlin has 25 years of invest...

Helping investors enjoy a comparatively smooth ride when markets are at their choppiest is a top priority for portfolio manager Greg Johnson, principal investment officer of American Balanced Fund®. Johnson shares his approach to maintaining a favorable balance between equities and fixed income in the fund today and reveals which out-of-favor sectors hold the most exciting opportunities for him. G...

Capital Group portfolio manager Gerald Du Manoir talks about the importance of including international equities in a well-diversified portfolio, despite years of lagging index returns relative to U.S. markets. It's not about investing in geographic regions, he explains, but specific company-by-company opportunities. Du Manoir is an equity portfolio manager with 29 years of investment experience, 2...

The U.S. auto industry has seen its share of technological innovation through the decades, but perhaps none more dramatic than what lies just around the bend. Investment analyst Kaitlyn Murphy, a 14-year veteran of Capital Group, discusses the recent adoption of electric vehicles, the uneasy promise of autonomous cars and the challenge of investing in an industry mired in transition.   Your host M...