FundCalibre - Investing on the go

Explore the current state of the Japanese market and its future potential with Richard Kaye, co-manager of the Comgest Growth Japan fund, who discusses how recent currency volatility is shaping investor sentiment and what lies ahead for Japan's economy. We highlight the undervalued opportunities that exist within Japan, including hidden gems in sectors like technology and renewable energy. Th...

Mark Benbow, co-manager of the Aegon High Yield Bond fund , explains the evolving high yield bond market in this episode. Mark delves into the history and growth of the asset class, current market conditions, and the dual lenses through which investors can evaluate high yield opportunities. The discussion also covers how high yield bonds perform in volatile environments, where the best opportuniti...

In this episode, we look at the unique strategies behind the recently launched Schroder Global Multi-Asset Cautious Portfolio , with co-manager Philip Chandler. We explore how the fund maintains an exceptionally low cost of 22 basis points while leveraging dynamic asset allocation and a broad array of investment tools. Philip provides an insightful analysis of the current economic landscape, discu...

Discover the complexities of Japan’s investment landscape with Karen See, co-manager of the Baillie Gifford Japanese Income Growth fund, as we discuss the market's oscillation between growth and value stocks, the impact of the weakening yen, and the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s recent corporate governance reforms. Karen offers insightful commentary on the implications for her fund and highlights th...

Richard ‘Dickie’ Hodges, manager of the Nomura Global Dynamic Bond fund, gives his predictions on UK, US and European inflation and potential interest rate cuts. He emphasises the current opportunities and strategies for generating positive returns in the fund, highlighting deeply subordinated bank debt (AT1s) as one of the best-performing asset classes. He also outlines a hedging strategy to prot...

Rhys Davies, manager of the newly Elite Rated Invesco Bond Income Plus Limited (BIPS) , discusses the origins, goals, and strategies of BIPS. Rhys explains how BIPS focuses on generating high income primarily from the high-yield bond market and highlights the advantages of a closed-ended vehicle for this strategy. We also cover the nuances of subordinated bonds and corporate hybrids, the diversifi...

Georges Lequime, co-manager of the WS Amati Strategic Metals fund , gives an update on the current trends in the strategic metals market, particularly focusing on gold and silver. We also look at the broader metals market, emphasising the lengthy lead times for mining projects and the sector's need for capital investment. Georges tells us why he’s predicting a strong future for metals, and li...

In our latest market update, Darius McDermott and Juliet Schooling Latter start with a review of the notable boost in UK smaller companies, which have outperformed global equities. The conversation also covers the poor performance of fixed income sectors, Latin America's continued struggles and India's robust market driven by IPO booms. Global elections, geopolitical tensions and their i...

Zehrid ‘Zed’ Osmani, manager of the Martin Currie Global Portfolio Trust , elaborates on his three-step investment process that ensures only the most promising companies make it into the portfolio, before diving into the significant themes driving this strategy, including demographic changes, future technology, and resource scarcity. Additionally, Zed provides insights into the valuations of indus...

Michele Ward shares the secrets behind the impressive performance of the T. Rowe Price US Smaller Companies Equity fund, which has outperformed its benchmark over 1, 3, 5, and 10 years. We explore the fund's philosophy of investing in high-quality companies, letting winners run, and maintaining a balanced approach between growth and value. We also discuss the impact of interest rates on small...

Dr. Ian Mortimer, manager of the Guinness Global Innovators fund , discusses the fund’s focus on investing in quality growth companies that are exposed to long-term secular growth themes, rather than early-stage startups. He outlines the fund's nine core themes and explains why a significant part of their strategy involves semiconductor companies, which play a crucial role across various them...

In this episode, we explore the intricacies of the Elite Rated Morgan Stanley Global Brands fund. Candida de Silva, portfolio specialist on the fund, provides insights into their strategy of holding high-quality companies with defendable, visible future earnings, emphasising the long-term ownership of these businesses. We discuss the selection of companies, their competitive advantages, and how th...

Alec Cutler, manager of the Orbis Global Balanced fund, discusses the shifting market environment, often referred to as the "four horsemen of the stock apocalypse," and how he navigates through these turbulent times. He provides insights into his contrarian investment approach, thriving in the current murky conditions to identify and capitalise on undervalued opportunities. Explore Alec&...

Tom Walker, manager of the Schroder Digital Infrastructure fund, explore the burgeoning sector of digital infrastructure in this episode. He discusses how advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), have significantly amplified the demand for digital infrastructure. He also outlines the portfolio's composition, emphasising data centres, mobile towers, and fibre networks. Despi...

Mithran Sudhir, client portfolio manager of the Goldman Sachs India Equity Portfolio fund, explores the potential implications of Prime Minister Modi’s anticipated third term on Indian equities. We discuss the ongoing reforms in India's dynamic market, including the 'Make in India' initiative aimed at boosting the manufacturing sector and attracting foreign investment. This episode...

David Stevenson, co-manager of the WS Amati UK Listed Smaller Companies fund, discusses the current market dynamics and the outlook for UK smaller companies, despite a challenging two-year period marked by receding investor appetite and outflows from small-cap funds. David argues now is a unique entry point for UK smaller company investing, buoyed by recent improvements in relative performance and...

Discover the world of artificial intelligence (AI) with Chris Ford, manager of Sanlam Global Artificial Intelligence . With AI dominating conversations globally, Chris sheds light on its evolution and current state. He reflects on the unprecedented advancements in natural language processing and generation, epitomised by technologies like ChatGPT, and the pivotal role they play in reshaping variou...

David Coombs, manager of Rathbone Strategic Growth Portfolio , explains the funds LED (liquidity, equity risk and diversifiers) framework and gives an overview of all areas of the portfolio today and the fund’s positioning. From dissecting geopolitical influences to analysing sectors like defence, MedTech, and retail, David provides valuable insights into the thought process behind managing a dive...

The IFSL Wise Multi-Asset Growth fund has weathered various market storms since launch 20 years ago. We explore the challenges of navigating volatile markets, particularly amidst events like Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, with co-manager Vincent Ropers. Despite the noise, he finds solace in the abundance of value opportunities for patient investors, highlighting sectors like investment trusts,...

Darius McDermott and Juliet Schooling Latter are back for a comprehensive quarterly market update. Reflecting on the first quarter of 2024, they delve into various regions and sectors that experienced notable highs. We also discuss the potential for economic recovery in Europe, China's struggle to regain momentum post-Covid and speculation surrounding interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve...

Manager of Jupiter Gold & Silver , Ned Naylor-Leyland, looks into the current dynamics affecting the gold market amidst conflicting factors like geopolitical tensions and interest rates. He provides insights into the intricate nature of gold pricing across different currencies, the recent breakout in the gold price including the flow dynamics in the market. Throughout the episode, Ned offers n...

Maneesh Bajaj, manager of the Brown Advisory US Flexible Equity fund , shares insights into the fund's philosophy and flexible approach, attributing its long term success. We cover a whistle stop tour of US headlines including the Magnificent Seven, including both Microsoft and Alphabet, the growing role of artificial intelligence across industries, a US election year and two significant sect...

In a special “Spring Budget” feature we’re joined by four fund managers and our very own research director, Juliet Schooling Latter, to take a closer look at UK equities. We discuss what the British ISA could mean for the UK market but, most importantly, what else still needs to be done to improve sentiment and encourage global investors to return. The managers also share where they’re finding the...

Ben James, investment specialist director on Baillie Gifford American , gives insights into why the U.S. remains a prime location for growth investors, highlighting its innovation, deep talent pool, and unique cultural optimism. A significant portion of the podcast is dedicated to the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the investment landscape. Ben shares the team's persp...

Will Argent, investment advisor to the VT Gravis Clean Energy Income fund , explores the distinctive features that set this fund apart and provides insights into the resilience of renewable energy assets through economic cycles. We also discuss the challenges faced by energy storage and battery trusts, the compelling valuations in the current market and how power prices influence opportunities and...