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South Africans vote in municipal elections on 4 November, but the political shifts at play reach well beyond local government. Join the conversation with Foord portfolio manager Nancy Hossack and political economist Frans Cronje to look at where power is moving in South Africa.    They talk about coalition stability, the ANC’s next chapter, South Africa’s changing relationship with the US, and what these shifts could mean for the next national elections.

Owning more investments does not necessarily mean you are diversified. The ten largest companies now make up around 40% of the S&P 500, while South Africa’s market carries its own concentration risk through gold and precious-metals shares.    In this episode, Linda Eedes examines why portfolios can hold many securities yet remain exposed to the same economic story. She explains why diversification may look like underperformance while a concentrated trade keeps winning, but remains essential to managing permanent capital loss and compounding wealth over time.

Has US exceptionalism gone too far?     Portfolio managers Brian Arcese and Ishreth Hassen discuss US market concentration, US equity valuations and the risks of global portfolios becoming increasingly exposed to one market, one currency and one investment theme.    From the valuation gap between the US and Asia to overlooked businesses in markets such as Korea, India and Indonesia, they discuss how patient, bottom-up investing can uncover compelling opportunities that many global investors may be missing.

The predictions that artificial intelligence would make entire professions redundant were confident. But jobs in areas thought to be most vulnerable have still not disappeared as expected, and businesses are increasingly training employees to use AI more effectively.   In this episode, Linda Eedes considers what AI’s evolving impact on employment reveals about forecasting the future. From valuation discipline and diversification to finding opportunity among perceived “AI losers”, she explains why investors should remain open to multiple outcomes and build portfolios that do not depend on one prediction being precisely right.

July’s market returns may have looked relatively flat on the surface, but beneath them lay significant volatility across AI-related technology stocks.     In this episode, Linda Eedes unpacks the story of a high-profile AI hedge fund collapse and the lessons it offers on risk management. She explores why successful investing is about more than predicting the future, highlighting the importance of diversification, valuation discipline and avoiding leverage to build resilient portfolios for the long term.    Tune in for a timely reminder that successful investing is not about predicting the future with certainty, but about building resilient portfolios that can endure whatever the future brings

Inflation is rising again, interest rate expectations keep shifting, oil prices are moving around, and AI optimism is still driving market excitement. Where do these varying signals leave investors?  In our latest podcast, client portfolio manager Dalphin Hou and portfolio manager Brian Arcese unpack why successful investing is less about calling the next market move and more about being prepared for a range of outcomes. Join the conversation on what inflation, interest rates and changing market expectations could mean for investors.

Artificial intelligence continues to attract record levels of investment, with billions flowing into data centres, microchips and AI infrastructure. Alongside this excitement, the gap between AI market expectations and real-world productivity is getting harder to ignore.   In our latest podcast, AI: Opportunity with Caution, Brian Arcese speaks to JC Xue about where we may be in the AI investment cycle - exploring why AI remains a compelling long-term opportunity, what growing market froth could signal for investors, and why companies are now likely to start optimising their AI spend.

AI has captured the market’s imagination, but inflation may prove the more persistent test.   Transformative technologies can create extraordinary long-term winners, but history shows that innovation-led booms often bring overvaluation and painful capital losses when too much capital chases too many opportunities at the wrong price.   AI matters. But even the strongest investment themes can become risky when enthusiasm leaves little margin of safety.   Meanwhile, the forces that helped keep inflation low for decades are beginning to unwind. Inflation may not dominate headlines like AI, but it remains one of the greatest threats to long-term purchasing power.   In this month’s Markets in a Nutshell, Linda Eedes explores why valuation discipline, inflation resilience and portfolio diversification still matter.

Despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East, increased oil prices and persistent trade tensions, global markets continued to move higher in May - driven largely by the ongoing AI investment boom.   In this episode of Markets in a Nutshell, Linda Eedes focuses on what matters from here.   She explores how the AI race is reshaping global markets, why deglobalisation may keep inflation structurally higher and what these shifts could mean for diversified investment portfolios.

After a volatile March, global markets rebounded sharply in April – even as geopolitical tensions escalated and inflation pressures continued to build. In this episode of Markets in a Nutshell, Linda Eedes focuses on what matters from here. She explores the macroeconomic backdrop shaping global markets, the risk of inflation staying higher for longer and why now is not the time for investor complacency.

March was a reminder of how quickly market optimism can unravel. The beginning of the month was defined by hopes that inflation had been tamed and would start to fall. But by mid-March, the escalation of the Israel-American conflict with Iran triggered an inescapable disruption the world over. Linda Eedes unpacks this shift and its immediate and far-reaching consequences on global markets during March and beyond in this episode of Markets in a Nutshell.

In February 2026, the S&P 500 stalled while international markets surged, outperforming the US by the widest margin since 2009. From ‘AI scare trades’ to US policy uncertainty, investors are questioning the long-held assumption of US dominance.   Investment professional Linda Eedes unpacks why capital is shifting toward Europe, Asia and a resilient South Africa, and why gold – not US Treasuries – is the hedge of choice in the current geopolitical storm.

January started with a geopolitical bang, and the world’s risk premium rose - forcing markets to price a world in which alliances appear more transactional and institutions more exposed to politics. In this month’s Markets in a Nutshell, investment professional Linda Eedes recaps January 2026, from equity gains amid tensions to sharp commodity reversals. Volatility reminded us that crowded trades can unwind with little notice, underscoring the value of diversification, liquidity and fundamentals. The key lesson? Preparation matters more than prediction: deploy capital with discipline as opportunities broaden across regions and sectors.

Rate cuts and resilient growth defied recession fears in 2025. Global equities delivered their strongest year since 2019, with European and emerging markets outperforming the US by double digits. Commodities surged to record highs. Linda Eedes reflects on a remarkable year of unexpected outcomes – and why misbehaving markets remain the greatest certainty as investors step into 2026.

Markets paused in November as US equities stayed flat, tech underperformed, and gold soared while Bitcoin slumped. South Africa rallied on supportive conditions, while China remained under pressure. Linda Eedes explains why diversification—blending growth with defensiveness—remains key for resilience in uncertain times.