The Offshore Advantage: Wealth, Banking & Beyond

Join Chris Stead and Gary James as they discuss current key market drivers — from the latest U.S. Supreme Court ruling on tariff policy to the evolving trends emerging from U.S. corporate earnings season. They also examine hostilities and escalating tensions in the Middle East following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February 2026, exploring how global financial markets have responded duri...

Starting with the inauguration of the polarising 47th President of the United States, 2025 was never going to be a quiet one. Join the Melville Douglas team for a short review of the past year and some insights into the year ahead. About Standard Bank Offshore Standard Bank Offshore is the international arm of the Standard Bank Group, Africa's largest bank by assets. Our banking, lending, fid...

During this episode, Will Groat, Head of West Africa, discusses the fundamentals of investing with Senior Portfolio Manager, Gary James. At an introductory level, they discuss why investing in traditional asset classes, such as equities and bonds, should form part of your overall wealth and key factors to consider when formulating your investment strategy.  About Standard Bank Offshore Standard Ba...

In this episode, Senior Portfolio Manager, Gary James, and Fixed Income specialist, Simon Bradbury, focus in on the fundamentals of the asset class. Often seen as a ‘safe haven’, Simon and Gary discuss what to expect from Fixed Income investing, from yields to duration to default risk and how Fixed income can form part of a well-diversified portfolio.   About Standard Bank Offshore Standard Bank O...

During this episode, Senior Portfolio Managers, Gary James and Chris Stead, are discussing equities. They unpick some of the key features of the asset class to include what to expect as an investor and how a well-diversified basket of equities can deliver superior long-term risk adjusted returns...but beware the risks!  About Standard Bank Offshore Standard Bank Offshore is the international arm o...

After six consecutive months of equity market gains, November saw the onset of volatility and risk aversion sparked by growing concerns around elevated valuations of Artificial Intelligence (AI) related stocks and the enormous capital expenditure and financing required by them to develop infrastructure and ever more powerful compute and inference capabilities.  Listen to James Hibbs, Head of Melvi...

After the rise, comes the fall. Years after central banks embarked on one of the most aggressive rate hiking cycles in living memory, the decrease in these hikes will have far reaching implications. In this episode, Sibabalwe Kasi explores the varied anticipated impact of interest rate cuts on the financial sector through the lens of key holdings such as JPMorgan Chase, S&P Global and Partners...

Given the increased financial market volatility, we outline key events driving the material change in sentiment and discuss whether this represents an opportunity, a threat, or a finely balanced combination of the two. About Standard Bank Offshore Standard Bank Offshore is the international arm of the Standard Bank Group, Africa's largest bank by assets. Our banking, lending, fiduciary and in...

Central Banks have embarked on one of the most aggressive rate hiking cycles in living memory. In this episode we will discuss central bank monetary policy, and the reaction in global bond markets. Join Mo Baluchi in discussion with Simon Bradbury, co-manager of the Melville Douglas Bond Funds, as they discuss the outlook for global interest rates and what this means for bond investors. About Stan...

Semiconductors, also known as microchips, have become a $600 billion industry and one of the most critical technologies powering the global economy. In this episode, we'll explore the semiconductor industry and how it is fuelling technological advancements across all sectors. We'll also delve into the geopolitical implications of this pivotal technology and discuss its future trajectory....

As inflation ebbs developed world central banks now look set on a path of lowering interest rates, commencing H1 2024. Will the significant rally in global asset prices towards the end of 2023 be repeated in 2024? Join our host Mo Baluchi as he challenges our Head of Portfolio Management, Chris Stead, on portfolio returns and the factors that drove markets in Q4 2023 and what we can expect in 2024...

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has been one of the most resonating themes of 2023. In this episode we go beyond the hype, dissecting whether these AI advancements will truly herald a transformative era in technology. Join Justin Maloney, Fund Manager of the Melville Douglas Global Equity Fund, in discussion with Chris Willis, Global Technology Analyst, as they delve into this topic and what it me...

Have we averted a global recession, and is the global banking sector on the verge of collapsing?  Join our host Adam Hunt, Head of International Wealth and Investment, as he quizzes our Head of Portfolio Management, Chris Stead, on the factors driving markets in 2023, and what we can expect this year from inflation and interest rates.  Listen to this episode to find out more and subscribe to keep...