The Art of Investing

• Fed Interest Rate cuts, Timing your Exponential Exit & Elon Musks $17 Billion Trade

  This week, it’s all about monetary policy madness. With the Fed cutting rates for the first time in a year, the Bank of England holding fire, and central banks from Canada to Japan making moves, Rich McDonald, Chris Fellingham and Mark “Spice” Holden dive into what interest rate decisions really mean for markets.From Fed independence under Trump to the risks of policy mistakes, the team debate whether we’re seeing the start of a full rate-cutting cycle, or just an insurance tweak. Plus: Elon Musk regains the top spot as the world’s richest man, Alphabet joins the $3 trillion club, and TikTok gets a last-minute reprieve in the US.What’s Hot This EpisodeFed Cuts Rates: First move since Dec 2024 – is it the start of a cycle?Bank of England Watch: Inflation keeps UK policymakers on edgeElon Musk Strikes Back: Tesla up 30% after a $1bn buy-inAlphabet Joins $3 Trillion Club: Only the fourth company ever to do itTikTok Survives: What it means for US tech giantsPolicy Mistakes Through History: From the Great Depression to the GFC💼 Portfolio UpdatePerformance: +3.46% in six weeks (vs 10% annual target)Big Winner: VanEck Blockchain ETF up 25% since purchase (but is it time to take profits?)Other Moves: Nikkei +1.9%, India +1.55%, S&P 500 (GBP-hedged) +1%Laggard: DAX down 3% since initiation❓ Your Questions AnsweredWhen to Take Profits: How the team think about trimming winnersFragile vs Anti-Fragile Assets: Why diversification matters more than everCurrency Risk: Hedged vs unhedged ETFs explained in plain EnglishIs Monetary Policy Broken? Why rate cuts might not hit the economy like they used to📄 Download the Portfolio ETFs List: here 📧 Get in touch: [email protected]:This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice, financial planning guidance, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any securities. All portfolio discussions are for educational purposes only. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Your capital is at risk.Your capital is at risk. The value of shares, ETFs and ETCs can fall as well as rise, which could mean getting back less than you originally put in.September Free Share Bundle Grow your portfolio with IG. Invest £50 with IG and get a free share bundle worth between £40 and £200.**New customers only. Make your first investment of at least £50 into an ISA,
GIA or SIPP account by 30 September 2025. Must remain invested until 31 October 2025. Other fees may apply. T&Cs found here - https://www.ig.com/uk/autumn-welcome-share-promotion-terms-sep-25For more info: https://www.ig.com/uk/invest-campaign

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• FTSE vs Wall Street: Can the UK compete?

  This week marks a first: our debut guest, Charles Hall, Head of Research at Peel Hunt, joins Sophie (making her own debut as host) alongside Chris Fellingham and Mark “Spice” Holden. Together, they tackle one of the hottest topics in finance right now: what happened to the UK stock market, and can it make a comeback?From pensions and regulation to stamp duty and sovereign wealth funds, this episode dives into the structural challenges holding the UK back – and the changes needed to make London a top-tier market again.What’s Hot This EpisodeGlobal Markets: S&P 500, NASDAQ, Dow Jones and Nikkei all hitting new highsChina Stimulus Hopes: Hong Kong and EMs at multi-year highsGold & Silver: Back at record levels (14-year high for silver)Non-Farm Payrolls: Data issues, Trump drama, and what it means for Fed policyOPEC Moves: Supply increase offsets Middle East tensionsGuest Spotlight: Charles HallWhy UK pensions stopped funding UK equitiesHow regulation, taxation, and passive investing reshaped the marketThe shrinking pool of UK-listed companies – and why that mattersSteps that could make Britain investable again: regulation reform, tax incentives, and financial educationThe case for a British sovereign wealth fundPortfolio UpdatePerformance: +2.59% since launch (up 1.5% this week)Winners: VanEck Blockchain ETF +6.3%, BlackRock World Mining +4.7%, Japan +4%Laggards: Copper -0.6%, DAX -0.3%Debate of the Week: Should the team take profits on gold after a 40% run, or hold on?❓ Listener TakeawaysWhy all-time highs are normal – not a sell signalCash ISAs vs Stocks & Shares ISAs – what’s better for long-term wealthWhy UK investors are (unknowingly) funding the US economyHow better financial education could change investment behaviour📄 Download the Portfolio ETFs List here 📧 Get in touch: [email protected]:This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice, financial planning guidance, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any securities. All portfolio discussions are for educational purposes only. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Your capital is at risk.

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• Financial Fight or Flight: The Risks Every Investor Should Know

  September is here - historically the worst month for markets - and the team are all over the risks. Rich McDonald, Chris Fellingham and Mark “Spice” Holden dig into bond yields spiking to 25-year highs, gold smashing new records, and why Apple is cashing $20bn a year from Google.With the model portfolio up 1% since launch, this week is all about risk vs reward: which assets are fragile, which are anti-fragile, and how do you actually balance them?What’s Hot This EpisodeBonds Bite Back: UK 30-year yields near 6% – why that matters for equitiesGold Hits Record Highs: Silver and copper follow as commodities shineApple + Google Deal: $20bn payments that move tech stocksGoogle Antitrust Case: Why a judge ruled new AI search engines mean no monopolyNon-Farm Payrolls + CPI: Big data drops set to shape the Fed’s next movePortfolio UpdateCurrent performance: +1.02% since inception (up 0.4% this week)Winners: Gold ETF +5.4%, Copper +3.3%, BlackRock World Mining +1.8%Losers: DAX -1.1%, Nikkei -1%, Russell 2000 -1%Fragile vs Anti-Fragile: ~78% fragile assets (equities), ~22% anti-fragile (gold, commodities, crypto hedge)Your Questions AnsweredCurrency Risk 101: How GBP vs USD can turn a 20% gain into an 8% lossWhich Account, Which Risk? ISA vs General Investment Account – where should your higher-risk holdings sit?Diversification Hacks: Why correlations matter and how to balance assetsShould You Hedge? When to use GBP-hedged ETFs to control FX exposure📣 Coming Next WeekWe’re joined by Charles Hall, Head of Research at Peel Hunt, to talk UK equities and what it will take to make the UK market investable again.📄 Download the Portfolio ETFs List here: Here 📧 Get in touch: [email protected] Free Share Bundle OfferIG is giving away up to £200 free share bundle when you invest at least £50. Until 30th September. Available when making first investment in a new or existing ISA, GIA or SIPP. Find out more at https://www.ig.com/uk/invest-campaign. T&Cs found here Disclaimer:This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice, financial planning guidance, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any securities. All portfolio discussions are for educational purposes only. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Your capital is at risk.

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• The Fed is Cook-ed, Long Live the Fed

  Rich McDonald, Chris Fellingham and Mark "Spice" Holden debate whether Jackson Hole’s dovish vibes can offset Trump’s Fed takeover plans. Spoiler alert: they disagree. A lot.This week’s drama includes French governments falling faster than their bond prices, Nvidia disappointing despite making buckets of cash, and our first portfolio shake-up as the team goes hunting for Russell 2000 gains.Plus: your burning questions on profit-taking, currency hedging, and why global ETFs are basically just expensive ways to buy American stocks.What’s Hot This EpisodeThe Spice Market Update: S&P 500 hits all-time highs while French politicians practice musical chairsAI Revolution 2.0: Snowflake surges 15% as companies finally figure out what to do with all that dataNvidia Reality Check: $38bn guidance gap sends shares on a rollercoaster (spoiler: they recovered)Fed Independence Crisis: Trump’s chess moves to stack the FOMC and what it means for your moneyThe One Big Beautiful Bill: Manufacturing jobs vs. AI job losses in the ultimate economic cage matchPortfolio ActionOur first live trade! The team dumps 5% of gilts to buy Russell 2000 exposure.Mark gets his way on US small caps while Chris mutters about political risks from the sidelines.Current performance: Up 0.59% (crypto leads the charge, India gives back last week’s gains)Your Questions AnsweredPortfolio Building 101: The three factors that actually matter for the next five yearsCurrency Headaches: Why your dollar ETF isn’t matching the S&P 500 (hint: sterling happened)Profit vs. Loss Paranoia: When to cut and run vs. diamond hands strategy2008 PTSD: What the team learned from Lehman’s collapse and Mario Draghi’s “whatever it takes” momentBook RecommendationThe Art of Execution by Lee Freeman-Shor – discover whether you’re a rabbit, assassin, hunter, raider, or connoisseur (spoiler: we’re all rabbits at heart). 📧 Get in touch: [email protected]:This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice, financial planning guidance, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any securities. All portfolio discussions are for educational purposes only. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Your capital is at risk.

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• S&P 500: Are stocks in a Bubble or Rational Exuberance?

  Welcome to Episode 7 of The Art of Investing – This week, Rich McDonald, Chris Fellingham, and Mark Holden dive into the strength of U.S. equities and ask the big question: can the S&P 500 keep climbing, or is a correction on the horizon? With U.S. indices testing record levels, shifting rate expectations, and mixed signals in global markets, the team break down what it all means for investors.This week’s highlights include:Market update: S&P 500 nearing highs, Fed policy expectations, and global equity performance.Portfolio review: The latest allocation moves and how the team are balancing growth and caution.Risk & discipline: Why diversification and risk awareness are critical in bullish conditions.Investor psychology: How sentiment can distort decision-making when markets approach peaks.Practical investing takeaways: What this all means for positioning in 2025.📄 Download ETF list and performance here:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1R3LEKkNo4M6UDaw4eyeBdBeaV7aH_fvL?usp=drive_link👉 Download supporting slides from this episode:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1YDv9-F6Tm4-41XqjWvlZnxTw5eJOPZRd?usp=drive_link📧 Get in touch: [email protected] capital is at risk. The value of shares, ETFs and ETCs can fall as well as rise, which could mean getting back less than you put in. New customers only. Offer valid until 15 August for ISA, GIA, and SIPP accounts. Other fees may apply. T&Cs apply.Disclaimer: This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended as personal investment advice, financial planning guidance, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any securities. All portfolio discussions are for educational purposes only. Past performance is not an indication of future results.Subscribe ► https://www.youtube.com/IGUnitedKingdom?sub_confirmation=1Start your investing journey here: https://upl.inc/the-world-of-ig

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