Global elections have been a dominant force this year, with sentiment around polling and election results driving volatility in many markets. The ANC’s drastic decline at the polls and the formation of a government of national unity have been of keen interest to investors in SA Inc. Abroad, we have seen Labour take the lead by a landslide in the UK general election and the US presidential race heat up as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump increase their efforts to return to the White House. In the latest episode of The Allan Gray Podcast, portfolio managers Thalia Petousis and Sean Munsie join Product Development manager Vuyo Mroxiso to explore the impact of the great election year on financial markets and explain how political change is reshaping the opportunity set for long-term investors and how it effects retirement funds etc.

The new two-pot retirement system has been designed to improve retirement outcomes for South Africans, while allowing some access to retirement savings in case of severe financial stress. However, there are some hidden risks that investors should be aware of to ensure they don’t inadvertently offset its intended benefits. Richard Carter, head of Assurance, is joined by Shaun Duddy, head of Product Development, to explore what the new rules mean for investors and their retirement planning. In this conversation, they explain the complexities, clear up common misconceptions and highlight the missteps investors should avoid to achieve better results.

Periods of heightened uncertainty are inevitable when you are investing over the long term. And when it is not clear when or how things might change, multi-asset portfolio construction becomes an increasingly complex task. For some time, our offshore partner, Orbis, has warned that the environment appears to be changing, noting stickier global inflation, a shifting geopolitical landscape and higher risk-free rates. With key national elections across the globe, the transition to green energy and the rise of artificial intelligence increasing the noise, long-term investors must consider a host of additional variables as they pursue meaningful returns. 
In conversation with Orbis portfolio manager Alec Cutler, Nshalati Hlungwane, a manager in our Institutional Clients team, explores the global investment universe and finds out how Orbis is thinking about its multi-asset strategies in the current environment. From saving for education to offshore investing and beyond.

Investing in frontier markets is not for the faint-hearted. But for those brave enough to look beyond material risks, such as political instability, currency fluctuations and poor liquidity, many of these smaller markets provide fertile hunting ground for compelling ideas and exposure to sectors that are not available in South Africa.
Investors in the Allan Gray Balanced, Equity and Stable funds have some exposure to frontier markets, but those with a greater risk appetite are also able to invest in the Allan Gray Frontier Markets Equity Fund. In conversation with Grant Pitt, head of Institutional, portfolio managers Rory Kutisker-Jacobson and Varshan Maharaj discuss the themes shaping frontier markets and explain how they navigate the risks as they pursue long-term returns.

The commonly accepted wisdom is that if we want a glimpse into the future of South Africa’s financial services sector, we should take a look at the United Kingdom’s financial landscape and delay the experience by a few years. In this conversation, Dan Brocklebank, UK head of our offshore partner, Orbis, joins portfolio manager Jithen Pillay to explain how key themes, such as tighter regulation, artificial intelligence and increasing geopolitical tension, are shaping the future of asset management and financial advice. They explore how a handful of trends are challenging the status quo and presenting opportunities for those willing to embrace changes in regards to investments opportunities going into 2025

From the global technology stock sell-off and rising inflation, to the war in Ukraine exacerbating a global energy crisis, investors are tasked with navigating an increasingly complex and volatile environment. In the first episode of the Allan Gray podcast, Tamryn Lamb hosts a conversation with Allan Gray’s chief investment officer, Duncan Artus, and Alec Cutler, portfolio manager at our offshore partner, Orbis. Delving into many of the critical issues shaping the environment, they explain how they are thinking about these global events and positioning the portfolios for a range of potential outcomes.

South African inflation just hit its highest peak since 2009, as it accelerated to 7.4% in June, in line with the global trend. Over in the US, inflation reached a four-decade high of 9.1% last month. As households around the world grapple with rising food and fuel costs, central banks are faced with the difficult task of hiking interest rates to rein in inflation. Allan Gray portfolio manager Sandy McGregor started his career in the 1970s when, much like today, the world was facing rampant global inflation and an energy crisis. In conversation with Allan Gray portfolio manager Thalia Petousis, Sandy reflects on the very real geopolitical and economic challenges currently affecting the world. Taking us through a range of scenarios, he shares some important lessons from the past and looks to the future, reminding long-term investors that periods of strife often present opportunities.

Investors in commodity miners and producers have found themselves in one of the better places in the market since the pandemic, owing partly to a lift in demand as countries embarked on stimulus programmes and supply-side constraints keeping a lid on production. Local mining shares were one of the key driving forces behind the FTSE/JSE All Share Index hitting a new high earlier this year. As local investors, we think we are pretty well-versed in analysing and valuing commodity producers, but when you go to a global asset allocation level, there is not nearly the same amount of interest, outside of hedge funds and some niche managers. Allan Gray portfolio managers Sean Munsie and Rory Kutisker-Jacobson and investment analyst Jithen Pillay discuss the cyclical nature of commodities and delve into the various macro issues that are currently impacting commodity prices. They also explore the energy transition and share their views on some of the new opportunities in the sector. On the commodity boom and other South African fables (and foibles)

In the latest episode of The Allan Gray Podcast, hosted by Allan Gray portfolio manager Rory Kutisker-Jacobson, Dan Brocklebank, head of Orbis UK, reflects on the most valuable investment truths he has learnt as he celebrates two decades at the firm. Dan joined our offshore partner during the dotcom boom and has seen our shared investment philosophy play out through multiple cycles. During the conversation, he explains how Orbis thinks about investing in an environment shaped by rising geopolitical tension, a growing global energy crisis and rampant inflation. Dan also shares some insight into where Orbis is finding compelling opportunities today, why forecasters are so bad at predicting what will happen tomorrow and why we still believe that the best way to build wealth is by adopting a long-term approach.

Although banks are generally geared to economic activity, many local banks proved to be resilient through the COVID-19 pandemic and have been good investments since. But in the current period of high global inflation and slowing economic activity, how will the local banking sector fare? Are there still long-term opportunities? Allan Gray portfolio manager Tim Acker poses this question to investment analysts Pieter Koornhof and Siphesihle Zwane, who have spent time researching some of the biggest names in the sector and determining where the best opportunities lie.