Speakers and topics
More to be announced soon
Navigating equity income in a changing global economy
Jacob and James will discuss their approach to investing for income in a rapidly evolving global economy. With rising inflation, higher interest rates and an increasingly unpredictable geopolitical landscape, they will explore how these shifts have transformed equity income as an investment strategy.
Are volatile government bonds and stable credit spreads the new normal?
Higher inflation and less certainty surrounding interest rates have ushered in a new era for bond investors, where the opportunities across rates and credit is plentiful but so are the risks. Tighter credit spreads and a wider dispersion in yields across core government bond markets may well be the new normal. For investors to optimise their fixed income allocation, generate attractive income, and take advantage of the diversification and hedging properties of this asset class, a flexible approach to asset allocation and duration risk is essential.
Asia back in focus: time to look again
Following the stunning advances made in AI, Asian markets are stirring. Should we be surprised? Not really. The world is being shaped by how it communicates, how it’s powered and how it thinks. To translate this into growth requires knowledge, skills and capital, all of which Asia has in abundance. Dominance in semiconductors, 5G, batteries, energy generation, transmission equipment and electric vehicles is already evident. The arrival of DeepSeek shows innovation at the cutting edge. Regional trade and multi-point manufacturing networks provide the mechanism to transmit growth and wealth across the region. Good quality companies complete the picture. Many are still looking at China’s cyclical slow down and waiting for stimulus-driven growth. Sustained growth requires more fundamental underpinning, which is already here and not yet priced in.
Reasons to be optimistic about high-yield bonds
Impax expects tight high-yield spreads to persist given robust fundamentals and a macroeconomic backdrop that is not too hot, not too cold. Supply and demand dynamics look supportive for the asset class again this year. Structurally the high-yield market has evolved, shifting towards higher-quality issuers with shorter duration. Historically high all-in-yields and low default rates support prospective returns.
Unlocking the AI investment opportunity
Artificial intelligence is emerging as the next general-purpose technology, triggering a wide range of new applications across all parts of the economy. As we begin to understand what these might be, Nick is an investment analyst in the Polar Capital technology team and he will give his thoughts on the broader outlook for AI and where he is seeing the most exciting developments, both for the enablers of the technology and the wider beneficiaries across all sectors.
Is capitalism broken? If not, then refocusing on fundamental principles will matter now
The prevailing market optimism assumes that US equities can defy history and avoid mean reversion. However, decades of market cycles suggest otherwise. Valuation excesses, concentration risks and fiscal imbalances eventually correct. Nick will explore why exceptional conditions rarely persist, how dividend strategies can provide stability in an uncertain market and why anchoring portfolios in fundamentals is the best defence against an inevitable mean reversion.
UK smaller companies: a generational investment opportunity?
Developed market small- and mid-cap companies have experienced their worst period of relative performance outside of the tech bubble. The UK small-cap cycle is now at a 15-year relative low. To River Global, a powerful combination of sentiment and valuations at historically depressed levels, positively inflecting relative earnings growth and accelerating momentum behind structural reform presents a compelling entry point.
Why property now: the case for hybrid in an evolving landscape
Historically, property funds have offered attractive long-term returns and lower volatility compared to other asset classes. However, the illiquidity of the underlying assets can pose challenges for certain investors. By combining direct property investments with listed securities, there is an opportunity to achieve attractive returns with an enhanced liquidity profile. This modern approach addresses the illiquidity issue while maintaining the benefits of property investments.