Happy New Year and welcome to The Art of Investing’s 2026 Outlook Special.
Rich McDonald, Mark “Spice” Holden and Chris Fellingham are joined by economist Stu Thompson to cut through the noise and focus on the big themes that could shape markets in 2026. Not next week’s headlines, not bank price targets, but the forces that really matter for long-term investors.
With consensus forecasts pointing to steady growth and falling rates, the team challenge whether markets have become complacent. From Japan’s bond market and the unwinding of the yen carry trade, to a weaker US dollar, stubborn inflation risks and rising political volatility, this episode is all about understanding where the real risks, and opportunities, may lie next year.
🇯🇵 Japan & the Yen Carry Trade
Why rising Japanese bond yields could trigger a global competition for capital, and why this matters far beyond Tokyo.
📈 Bond Yields & Competition for Capital
Long-dated government bond yields are rising as investors demand higher returns. What that means for equities, portfolios and risk appetite.
💵 Dollar Weakness
Stu explains why the US dollar could be one of the weaker major currencies in 2026, and why commodities may benefit as a result.
🔥 Inflation Isn’t Dead
Stronger growth, fiscal stimulus and a weaker dollar could keep inflation firmer than markets expect, reshaping rate expectations.
🏛️ Politics & Volatility
From US midterms to UK political instability, the team explore how political pressure often leads to market-moving policy decisions.
🤖 AI Meets Reality
After driving markets higher, AI stocks may face tougher questions in 2026 as investors demand real returns, not just promises.
• Are markets underestimating inflation risks in 2026?
• Could Japan’s bond market be the catalyst for global volatility?
• Is a weaker dollar inevitable, and how should investors prepare?
• Can equities thrive if interest rates don’t fall as much as expected?
• Why sitting on some cash isn’t “bearish”, it’s optionality
✔️ Why consensus forecasts are often the least useful input
✔️ How rising bond yields can quietly pressure risk assets
✔️ Why commodities often outperform when currencies weaken
✔️ How professionals think about risk before it shows up in prices
✔️ Why investing is about positioning, not prediction
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
📈 Subscribe for weekly investing insights and to follow the live portfolio in real time.
This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments. All discussions regarding the model portfolio are illustrative and for educational purposes.
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.
January Incentive:
7.5% AER variable interest on cash balance up to £10,000.
Promotion from 1 January 2026 until 16 January 2026. First trade must be made before 16th January. Interest boosted from First Trade until 31st March 2026.
Your capital is at risk.
New customers only. Offer valid until 16/01/2026 on ISA, GIA or SIPP accounts. T&Cs apply.
Merry Christmas and welcome to a special Best Bits episode of The Art of Investing.
To round off 2025, we’re revisiting some of the most memorable moments from 2025, the bold calls, the big debates, the lessons learned the hard way, and the moments that genuinely made us laugh.
From investor psychology and AI optimism, to Budget chaos, bond market nerves and why selling well matters more than buying smart, this episode is a reminder of what really drives long-term returns.
Whether you’re catching up over the holidays or revisiting your favourite moments, this is The Art of Investing at its best.
Why great investors aren’t defined by how many winners they pick, but by what they do when things go wrong.
Rabbits, Assassins, Hunters and the hard reality of cutting losses before they cut you.
Spice tells the story of his best ever investment, and why selling 20% down after a 20-fold gain was the right decision.
Why self-funding loops in tech can be a warning sign, and why markets have “seen this film before”.
Adam Smith pulls back the curtain on the chaos, the ignored process, and the moment markets lost confidence, including the phone call Jeremy Hunt thought was a prank.
Stu Thompson explains the political pressure behind forecasts, and why being wrong doesn’t always carry consequences.
Spice lays out why the next 12–18 months could be a sweet spot for markets: falling rates, easing inflation and strong growth.
A hard look at how pensions, policy and decades of selling pressure reshaped UK equities.
Chris Bowie explains why the best bond opportunities appear when everyone else is uncomfortable.
✔️ Markets reward behaviour, not predictions
✔️ Psychology matters more than ideas
✔️ Crises create opportunity — if you can stay disciplined
✔️ The “nervy middle” is where real returns are made
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
📈 Subscribe for weekly investing insights and to follow the live portfolio in real time.
This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments. All discussions regarding the model portfolio are illustrative and for educational purposes.
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.
December Incentive – Get 5% cashback on your investments:
FOR A LIMITED TIME WE’VE DOUBLED OUR OFFER: GET 10% CASHBACK UP TO £200.
Open a new account and invest a minimum of £50 by 31 December, and keep at least £50 invested until March.
You’ll receive 5% cashback on your invested value from 21 November to 31 December (max payout £100).
Your capital is at risk. New customers only.
Offer valid until 31/12/2025 on ISA, GIA or SIPP accounts. T&Cs apply.
📄 Full details & T&Cs: https://www.ig.com/uk/5-percent-cashback-nov-25
This week’s episode is the Christmas Party Special. The tone is festive, but the market conversation is anything but fluffy.
Rich McDonald, Mark “Spice” Holden and Chris Fellingham reflect on a volatile end to the year, asking whether the long-awaited Santa Rally is simply late… or quietly getting back on track. With US markets lagging, tech wobbling, commodities rallying and rate cuts finally landing, the team cut through the noise to focus on one thing: how investors should be positioning for 2026, and what actually matters from here.
Expect market history, sharp portfolio insight, a few war stories from the trading floor, and more than a few Christmas crackers.
🎅 Santa Rally Watch
Markets wobble into year-end, but improving inflation and rate cuts raise hopes of a late festive surge.
📉 Tech Reality Check
AI poster children stumble as capital spending rises faster than revenues, raising questions about valuation and patience.
🇺🇸 US Market Lag
For once, the US underperforms global peers, forcing investors to rethink weightings and concentration risk.
⛏️ Commodity Comeback
Gold, copper and mining stocks shine as rate cuts, a softer dollar and China stimulus expectations lift hard assets.
🏦 Rates Finally Falling
The Bank of England cuts rates as inflation cools, while US data strengthens the case for further easing in 2026.
🎄 Year-End Games
The team lift the lid on how professional investors manage portfolios, and sometimes “massage” prices, into year-end.
Weekly performance: -0.89%
Total return since inception: +10.06%
Top Performers:
🥇 iShares Physical Gold ETC: +2.53%
🥈 BlackRock World Mining Trust: +2.26%
🥉 Vanguard FTSE 250 ETF: +1.64%
Underperformers:
🪙 VanEck Crypto & Blockchain Innovators ETF: –15.34%
📉 Invesco EQQQ NASDAQ-100 ETF: –3.59%
🇯🇵 iShares Nikkei 225 ETF: –2.67%
• Is the Santa Rally delayed, or quietly forming?
• Are tech valuations finally being stress-tested?
• Should investors reduce US concentration after years of dominance?
• Is copper now more compelling than gold?
• How should portfolios really be reviewed at year-end?
✔️ Why markets often rally after bad news, not before
✔️ How professional investors think about year-end positioning
✔️ Why commodities thrive when rates fall and currencies weaken
✔️ How to audit your portfolio properly over Christmas
✔️ Why long-term investors shouldn’t fear all-time highs
📈 Download the full Portfolio Performance Slides
View the portfolio breakdown: here
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
Subscribe for weekly investing insight and to follow the live portfolio in real time.
This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments. All discussions regarding the model portfolio are illustrative and for educational purposes.
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.
December Incentive – Get 5% cashback on your investments:
FOR A LIMITED TIME WE’VE DOUBLED OUR OFFER: GET 10% CASHBACK UP TO £200.
Open a new account and invest a minimum of £50 by 31 December, and keep at least £50 invested until March.
You’ll receive 5% cashback on your invested value from 21 November to 31 December (max payout £100).
Your capital is at risk. New customers only.
Offer valid until 31/12/2025 on ISA, GIA or SIPP accounts. T&Cs apply.
📄 Full details & T&Cs: https://www.ig.com/uk/5-percent-cashback-nov-25
Rich McDonald, Mark “Spice” Holden and Chris Fellingham are joined once again by economist Stu Thompson for a wide-ranging episode that uncovers why QE and the Fed Cuts might just be kicking off the Santa Rally, and how it's multiplying your portfolio returns.
From blockbuster takeover bids and trillion-dollar IPO rumours, to a surprise return of quantitative easing and rising long-dated bond yields, the team unpack a week full of “toppy” signals, and explain why the bond market may be quietly flashing warning lights beneath the surface.
Along the way, they dig into the Fed’s latest rate cut, what’s really driving equity markets higher, and why Santa’s rally might not be as smooth as investors are hoping.
📉 Fed Cuts - But Changes the Game
The Federal Reserve cuts rates by 25bps, but quietly reintroduces QE at the short end of the bond market, earlier and more aggressively than expected.
📊 Bond Market Warning Signs
US, Japanese and global long-dated bond yields rise despite rate cuts, raising questions about inflation, credibility, and future growth.
🎥 Mega Deals & Market Froth
A $75bn+ bidding war for Warner Bros and rumours of a SpaceX IPO at a $1.5tn valuation spark debate about market peaks.
📈 Rotation Under the Surface
While big tech cools, the Russell 2000 hits fresh highs, signalling rotation into smaller US companies.
🤖 AI Reality Check
Oracle disappoints, Nvidia cools, and capital expenditure concerns resurface, reminding investors that AI profits still need to show up in cash flows.
🎄 Is the Santa Rally at Risk?
With central banks, payroll data, inflation prints and global bond markets all in focus, the team debate whether year-end optimism can survive.
Stu helps decode what’s happening beneath the headlines:
📌 Why rising long-dated bond yields matter more than rate cuts
📌 What QE vs QT actually means for markets
📌 Why the yield curve is quietly steepening, and why that matters
📌 How AI productivity is changing growth and employment forecasts
Weekly performance: +1.15%
Total return since inception: +10.95%
Top performers:
🥇 VanEck Crypto & Blockchain Innovators ETF: +7.22%
🥈 BlackRock World Mining Trust: +7.20%
🥉 iShares Russell 2000 ETF: +1.52%
Underperformers:
📉 WisdomTree Copper ETF: –0.90%
📉 Vanguard FTSE 250 ETF: –0.67%
✔️ Why equity markets can rise even as bond markets flash warnings
✔️ How QE can return without anyone ringing the alarm bell
✔️ Why the bond market sets the “price of risk” for everything else
✔️ What rising yields really say about inflation and credibility
✔️ How to spot market “froth” without panicking
✔️ Why catalysts matter more than valuation alone
📈 Download the full Portfolio Performance Slides
View the portfolio breakdown: here
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
Subscribe for weekly investing insights and to follow the live portfolio in real time.
This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments. All discussions regarding the model portfolio are illustrative and for educational purposes.
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.
December Incentive – Get 5% cashback on your investments:
FOR A LIMITED TIME WE’VE DOUBLED OUR OFFER: GET 10% CASHBACK UP TO £200.
Open a new account and invest a minimum of £50 by 31 December, and keep at least £50 invested until March.
You’ll receive 5% cashback on your invested value from 21 November to 31 December (max payout £100).
Your capital is at risk. New customers only.
Offer valid until 31/12/2025 on ISA, GIA or SIPP accounts. T&Cs apply.
📄 Full details & T&Cs: https://www.ig.com/uk/5-percent-cashback-nov-25
🏆 NOW AN AWARD-WINNING PODCAST
Huge thank you to everyone who voted! TAOI just won Best Financial Podcast, Best Financial Analysis, and Best Investing Education at the Good Money Guide Awards.
This week, Rich McDonald, Chris Fellingham and Mark “Spice” Holden break down one of the most complex macro weeks of the year. From Japan’s shock rate-rise chatter to a crypto wipeout, a commodities surge, and the portfolio’s push toward being fully invested for the potential Santa Rally…yes, we’ve added more copper!
We answer a few listener questions;
1. Should all investors be using a stop loss?
2. How to manage positions when taking profits and managing the downside risk?
3. Should we all have an annual target return for our ISAs and how to manage investments when you hit your target early?
This Week’s Highlights
Macro Deep Dive: Japan, Yields & Why It Matters
The team translate Japan’s bond market into plain English:
(as referenced in-episode — not final weekly numbers)
Weekly Performance: +0.68%
Total Return Since Inception: +9.8%
Top Performers:
🥇 BlackRock World Mining Trust: +5.4%
🥈 WisdomTree Copper ETF: +3.34%
🥉 VanEck Crypto & Blockchain Innovators ETF: +2.55%
Underperformers:
🇮🇳 iShares MSCI India ETF: –2.94%
🌏 iShares Core MSCI EM IMI ETF: –0.93%
🇯🇵 iShares Nikkei 225 ETF: –0.64%
Actions Taken:
We are now fully invested heading into year-end.
• +2.5% WisdomTree Copper ETF
• Cash now fully deployed, with Gilts acting as defensive ballast
What You’ll Learn
📈 Download the full Portfolio Performance Slides
View the portfolio breakdown: here
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
Subscribe for weekly investing insights and to follow the live portfolio in real time.
Disclaimer
This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments. All discussions regarding the model portfolio are illustrative and for educational purposes.
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.
December Incentive – Get 5% cashback on your investments:
Open a new account and invest a minimum of £50 by 31 December, and keep at least £50 invested until March.
You’ll receive 5% cashback on your invested value from 21 November to 31 December (max payout £100).
Your capital is at risk. New customers only.
Offer valid until 31/12/2025 on ISA, GIA or SIPP accounts. T&Cs apply.
📄 Full details & T&Cs: https://www.ig.com/uk/5-percent-cashback-nov-25
🏆Enjoying the show? Cast your vote for us in the Good Money Guide Awards: https://goodmoneyguide.com/awards/finfluencer-awards/
This week on The Art of Investing, Rich McDonald, Mark “Spice” Holden and Chris Fellingham break down one of the most dramatic weeks since the portfolio launched – a UK Budget that surprised market and confused economists.
With the FTSE wobbling, the pound drifting, and US markets powering ahead, the team get into a heated (and very funny) debate about what the UK actually needs…and why investors are quietly moving their money elsewhere.
Expect strong views, deeper macro insight than ever, and the biggest disagreement we’ve had on the show.
The team unpack the biggest Budget talking points:
Weekly performance: +1.8%
Total return since inception: +9%
Top Performers:
Underperformers:
Actions Taken:
• –5% Vanguard FTSE 250 ETF
• +2.5% FTSE 100
• +2.5% S&P 500 Hedged
📈 Download the full Portfolio Performance Slides
View the portfolio breakdown: here
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
Subscribe for weekly investing insights and to follow the live portfolio in real time.
We’ve been nominated in the Good Money Guide Finfluencer Awards – if you’re enjoying the show, we’d love your support.
Vote here: https://goodmoneyguide.com/awards/finfluencer-awards/
This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments. All discussions regarding the model portfolio are illustrative and for educational purposes.
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.
November Incentive – Get 5% cashback on your investments:
Open a new account and invest a minimum of £50 by 31 December, and keep at least £50 invested until March.
You’ll receive 5% cashback on your invested value from 21 November to 31 December (max payout £100).
Your capital is at risk. New customers only.
Offer valid until 31/12/2025 on ISA, GIA or SIPP accounts. T&Cs apply.
📄 Full details & T&Cs: https://www.ig.com/uk/5-percent-cashback-nov-25
🏆Enjoying the show? Cast your vote for us in the Good Money Guide Awards: https://goodmoneyguide.com/awards/finfluencer-awards/
This week on The Art of Investing, Rich McDonald, Mark “Spice” Holden and Chris Fellingham are joined by Adam Smith, former Special Advisor to the Chancellor, for the most inside-Treasury Budget preview we’ve ever recorded.
With Rachel Reeves’ first Budget just days away, Adam explains how decisions really get made — the politics, pressure, fiscal rules, OBR scrutiny and the moments where things nearly go off the rails.
Meanwhile, markets have been wild:
• Bitcoin drops 35% from the highs
• Nvidia posts one of the biggest earnings beats in history
• The Fed cools December cut expectations
• Long gilts sell off on credibility worries
• And Rich… turns fully bullish
Adam Smith, former Special Advisor to the Chancellor, reveals the real mechanics behind the Budget:
📊 The Scorecard — every tax & spend decision in one spreadsheet
🧮 Fiscal Rules — how they’re bent, stretched and stress-tested
🏛️ OBR Checks — what survives scrutiny (and what doesn’t)
🔥 Mini-Budget Lessons — why credibility beats headlines
🔮 Next Week’s Budget — freezes, pension tweaks, revenue raisers
Plus: the late-night calls, panic moments and political chaos behind every fiscal event.
Weekly performance: – 2.6%
Total return since inception: +7.20%
Actions Taken:
What You’ll Learn
How Budgets are really built
📈 Download the full Portfolio Performance Slides
View the portfolio breakdown: here
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
Subscribe for weekly investing insights and to follow the live portfolio in real time.
We’ve been nominated in the Good Money Guide Finfluencer Awards - if you’re enjoying the show, we’d love your support.
Vote here: https://goodmoneyguide.com/awards/finfluencer-awards/
This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments. All discussions regarding the model portfolio are illustrative and for educational purposes.
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.
November Incentive – Get 5% cashback on your investments:
Open a new account and invest a minimum of £50 by 31 December, and keep at least £50 invested until March.
You’ll receive 5% cashback on your invested value from 21 November to 31 December (max payout £100).
Your capital is at risk. New customers only.
Offer valid until 31/12/2025 on ISA, GIA or SIPP accounts. T&Cs apply.
📄 Full details & T&Cs: https://www.ig.com/uk/5-percent-cashback-nov-25
🏆Enjoying the show? Cast your vote for us in the Good Money Guide Awards: https://goodmoneyguide.com/awards/finfluencer-awards/
Welcome to Episode 19 of The Art of Investing - brought to you by IG, the global investing platform.
This week, the team hand over the mic to Lee Freeman-Shor, fund manager turned author of The Art of Execution - the book that proves great investors aren’t defined by their ideas, but by what they do when those ideas go right…or wrong.
Rich McDonald, Mark “Spice” Holden and Chris Fellingham dive into the psychology behind winning (and losing) in the markets. Expect honesty, humour and a full audit of everyone’s personal investing “tribe” - Rabbit, Assassin, Hunter, Raider or Connoisseur.
Key Behavioural Traits That Could Kill a Portfolio:
Lee breaks down the five “investor tribes” from his research:
Plus: why even elite fund managers only get 3/10 stock picks right, and what the top performers actually do differently.
Weekly performance: +0.4%
Total return since inception: +9.8%
📈 Download the full Portfolio Performance Slides
View the portfolio breakdown: here
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
Subscribe for weekly investing insights and to follow the live portfolio in real time.
We’ve been nominated in the Good Money Guide Finfluencer Awards - if you’re enjoying the show, we’d love your support.
Vote here: https://goodmoneyguide.com/awards/finfluencer-awards/
This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments. All discussions regarding the model portfolio are illustrative and for educational purposes.
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.
November Free Share Bundle:
Grow your portfolio with IG. Invest £50 with IG and get a free share bundle worth between £40 and £200.
Make your first investment into an ISA, GIA or SIPP account before the 30th November and benefit from Commission-Free Investing as well as 4% Variable Interest on Cash.
Welcome to Episode 18 of The Art of Investing - brought to you by IG, the global investment platform.
Rich McDonald, Mark “Spice” Holden, and Chris Fellingham take a trip through financial history to explore one of the most important questions facing the UK government right now: what happens when a budget goes wrong?
With just weeks until Rachel Reeves delivers her first budget, the team looks back at past fiscal failures - from the 1976 IMF bailout to the Liz Truss “mini-budget” meltdown - and discusses what lessons markets (and investors) can learn from both.
Top performers:
Underperformers:
Action taken:
📈 Download the full Portfolio Performance Slides
View the portfolio breakdown: here
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
Subscribe for weekly investing insights and to follow the live portfolio in real time.
This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments. All discussions regarding the model portfolio are illustrative and for educational purposes.
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.
November Free Share Bundle:
Grow your portfolio with IG. Invest £50 with IG and get a free share bundle worth between £40 and £200.
Make your first investment into an ISA, GIA or SIPP account before the 30th November and benefit from Commission-Free Investing as well as 4% Variable Interest on Cash.
Other fees may apply, T&Cs found here or on ig.com/uk
Welcome to Episode 17 of The Art of Investing – brought to you by IG, the global investing platform.
Rich McDonald, Mark “Spice” Holden and Chris Fellingham are joined by special guest Chris Bowie, one of the UK’s leading bond managers, to demystify the world of corporate bonds - what they are, how they fit into a portfolio, and when they shine. As markets hit fresh highs, the team unpack the latest Fed rate cut, Trump’s “taco trade” tour of Asia, Nvidia’s record-breaking $5 trillion valuation, and why Japan’s bond market may just reshape global liquidity. Then, Bowie takes us deep into credit markets, from investment grade to high yield and explains why short-dated bonds might be today’s smartest income play.
This Week’s Highlights:
Portfolio Snapshot:
Top performers:
Underperformers:
What You’ll Learn:
📈 Download the full Portfolio Performance Slides
View the portfolio breakdown: here
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
Subscribe for weekly investing insights and to follow the live portfolio in real time.
Disclaimer:
This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice, financial planning guidance, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments. All discussions regarding the model portfolio are for educational purposes only. Past performance is not an indication of future results.
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.
November Free Share Bundle:
Grow your portfolio with IG. Invest £50 with IG and get a free share bundle worth between £40 and £200.
Make your first investment into an ISA, GIA or SIPP account before the 30th November and benefit from Commission-Free Investing as well as 4% Variable Interest on Cash.
Other fees may apply, T&Cs found here or on ig.com/uk
Welcome to Episode 16 of The Art of Investing - brought to you by IG, the global investing platform.
Rich McDonald, Mark “Spice” Holden and Chris Fellingham dig into a rollercoaster week for markets as crypto sells off, AI stocks wobble, and the FTSE 100 pushes back toward record highs. The trio debate whether this is just another healthy correction, or the first cracks in the bull market. And, the team add Vanguard FTSE 250 to the portfolio, listen to find out what changes we’ve made to the portfolio this week.
🐻 Revenge of the Bears: Are tech valuations finally starting to bite?
💥 Earnings Season Heats Up: 86 % of US companies are beating expectations - but can it last?
📉 Crypto Correction: Bitcoin and blockchain names take another leg down.
🏦 UK Banks Shine: Barclays and HSBC post strong results, boosting the FTSE.
⚙️ Rotation Watch: Money begins to flow from mega-cap tech into smaller stocks.
Top Performers:
🪷 India ETF +3.7 %
🇯🇵 Nikkei 225 +1.1 %
🏦 FTSE 100 +1.1 %
Underperformers:
💎 Gold –3.8 %
⛏️ World Mining Trust –7.4 %
🪙 VanEck Crypto & Blockchain ETF –15.9 %
📈 Download the full Portfolio Performance Slides
View the portfolio breakdown here: Portfolio
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
Subscribe for weekly investing insights and to follow the live portfolio in real time.
This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice, financial planning guidance, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments. All discussions regarding the model portfolio are for educational purposes only. Past performance is not an indication of future results.
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.
October 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 October 2025. Must remain invested until 31 November 2025. Other fees may apply.
T&Cs found: Here
Welcome to Episode 15 of The Art of Investing - brought to you by IG, the global investing platform.
Rich McDonald, Mark “Spice” Holden and Chris Fellingham are joined by behavioral economist Stuart Thompson to unpack one of the biggest questions in finance right now: are we in a market bubble?
From crypto crashes and record equity highs to the psychology driving investor behaviour, the team takes a hard look at what’s behind today’s market confidence - and whether it’s justified.
💥 Crypto Volatility: Bitcoin drops sharply in a flash selloff - what triggered it, and what comes next?
📈 Equities on Edge: Global indices remain near record highs despite softening data.
💬 Behavioral Economics: Guest Stuart Thompson explains why fear and greed still move markets faster than any algorithm.
🏦 Central Banks: Investors continue to price in more rate cuts as data weakens.
📊 Portfolio Review: The team weigh the balance between risk assets and defensive plays amid talk of overheating markets.
Weekly performance: +0.5%
Total return since inception: +8.8%
Top performers:
Underperformers:
Positioning:
The team discusses trimming crypto exposure, staying long gold, and holding steady on equities as valuations stretch.
📈 Download the full Portfolio Performance Slides
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
Subscribe for weekly investing insights and to follow the live portfolio in real time.
This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice, financial planning guidance, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments. All discussions regarding the model portfolio are for educational purposes only. Past performance is not an indication of future results.
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.
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 October 2025. Must remain invested until 31 November 2025. Other fees may apply.
T&Cs found: Here
Welcome to Episode 14 of The Art of Investing - brought to you by IG, the global investing platform.
This week, Rich McDonald, Mark “Spice” Holden and Chris Fellingham tackle the markets head-on - from new all-time highs and a stronger dollar, to Japan’s new Prime Minister and China’s next big play.
It’s also decision week for the team as they decide whether to trim, add, or double down in their live portfolio after another strong run. With 8% total returns in just eight weeks, the bulls and bears are locking horns.
The team debate whether to take profits, raise targets, or brace for a correction — as the “Goldilocks economy” keeps investors dancing while the music’s still playing.
📈 Download the full portfolio performance slides here
Quarterly Performance & Allocations
The team answers the big question: What do you do when you’re ahead of your targets? - a full episode on portfolio management psychology.
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
Subscribe for weekly investing insights and to watch the team’s live portfolio evolve in real time.
This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice, financial planning guidance, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments.
All discussions regarding the model portfolio are for educational purposes only. Past performance is not an indication of future results.
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.
October 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 October 2025. Must remain invested until 31 November 2025. Other fees may apply.
T&Cs found here: https://www.ig.com/uk/bonus-shares-promotion-oct-25
This week, the team face a packed agenda: a looming US government shutdown, soaring global markets, and the first part of their quarterly portfolio review. Rich McDonald, Chris Fellingham, and Mark “Spice” Holden dig into everything from pharma stocks to sovereign wealth funds - before voting on whether the Chairman should keep his crown for another quarter.
📊 Quarterly Performance Slides:
We’ve pulled together the full set of portfolio performance slides so you can see exactly how the model portfolio has done over the past quarter - winners, laggards, and everything in between.
👉 View the Quarterly Performance Slides here
📄 Download the Portfolio ETFs list: here
📄 Download the Portfolio Quarterly Review list: here
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
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. The value of shares, ETFs and ETCs can fall as well as rise, which could mean getting back less than you originally put in.
October 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 October 2025. Must remain invested until 31 November 2025. Other fees may apply.
T&Cs found here: https://www.ig.com/uk/bonus-shares-promotion-oct-25
Rich McDonald, Chris Fellingham and Mark “Spice” Holden get their hands dirty with a deep dive into mining and metals - from copper powering AI data centres to uranium’s surprising comeback. Along the way, they tackle your big questions: is long-term investing really just about “time in the market,” or can timing it make all the difference?
This week’s market action:
Special Topic - Metals & Mining Deep Dive:
Portfolio Action:
Your Questions Answered:
📄 Download the Portfolio ETFs list: here
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice, financial planning guidance, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments. All discussions regarding the model portfolio are for educational purposes only.
Past performance is not an indication of future results. 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.
For more info: IG Investment Campaign
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.
📄 Download the Portfolio ETFs List: here
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
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.
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-25
For more info: https://www.ig.com/uk/invest-campaign
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.
📄 Download the Portfolio ETFs List here
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
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.
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?
We’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: theartofinvesting@ig.com
IG Free Share Bundle Offer
IG 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.
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.
The 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: theartofinvesting@ig.com
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.
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:
📄 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: theartofinvesting@ig.com
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 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=1
Start your investing journey here: https://upl.inc/the-world-of-ig