Deeper Thought

The 2024 Ruffer Review explores what the rise of artificial intelligence means for investors, the murky realities of cricket, and the “thankless endeavour” of forecasting. Also discussed are the technological developments that have shaped markets, and the political-economic ecosystem.

Investors remain concentrated, with most active assets in growth-style funds and passive assets concentrated in giant US technology shares. With valuations where they are today, that is a concern according to the Orbis team, which says diversification utilizing neglected stocks will be key.

Since tulipmania, good investment ideas have regularly been turned inside out after being taken to extremes. With 2021 setting all sorts of trading records, this presents an ‘alarming’ trend, especially for passive investors with lazy exposures.

Compliance leaders are at the centre of a transformational time in regulatory adherence and risk management, argues fintech provider Complii in this new whitepaper.

Using long-term data, Orbis Investments has been able to map out the current investment environment and chart a decade-long path of challenges and opportunities ahead in this pivotal whitepaper. 

Fear of an impending recession in the US has been hashed out for more than 18 months now, says Francis Gannon. The reasons are myriad, but not enough people are talking about what shape a recovery would take and how investors should position themselves.

Up until recently, alternative investments were only really open to institutional investors, but with these now available at a wholesale and retail level the retirement strategy game has changed.

The crippling doom loop between the banks and the real economy we saw in 2008 is unlikely to feature in the coming recession, says Ruffer’s Jamie Dannhauser, who is more concerned about a violent liquidation in financial markets.

Taking a long-term view of disruptive trends, and their implications on long-term asset class forecasts and strategic allocation, Amundi shares its updated annual capital market assumptions publication.

Proactive management and stock picking are, in some ways, two sides of the same coin. But advisers and investors should be aware of their fundamental differences according to HMC Capital.

The ethical investment house believes consumer credit can be positive for society if it is used to buy useful items. But companies like Afterpay focus on impulse purchases that are more likely to push vulnerable Australians into financial over commitment.

While ESG arose in the space of listed equities, private debt managers can be more effective than equity funds or other fixed income investors in getting companies to meet their ESG goals.