Ben's Market Chat - Insights and Interviews

Every episode of Star Trek began with the famous words ‘Space, the final frontier’. 

 But not for Jodi Bartin & Stuart Martin, the principals behind the forthcoming launch of the Space for Earth (S4E) fund. It’s just the beginning of a long and no doubt successful journey into how space applications are already and will continue to benefit and sustain our planet.

 Both Jodi & Stuart have a storied track record in the space industry. Jodi’s transactional experience in this sector is unparalleled. Stuart’s knowledge and experience at the ‘coal face’ of space is one of the deepest in Europe. 

 In this episode we discuss current trends in the space industry and the investment rationale that underpins the team’s approach.

 Jodi & Stuart take us through a fascinating journey into space with many examples and applications that are benefitting us here on earth at scale. They discuss the winners and potential losers, government vs private sector investment as well as which regions/countries are winning the race. And of course, we can’t mention this Industry without a discussion about Elon Musk and his ambitions and activities in space.

 If you want further information about the team, please feel free to reach out to us and we will gladly put you in touch with Jodi & Stuart.

Always do your own research or seek the advice of your professional financial advisor.

You can find us on LinkedIn and YouTube, Money Matters, Ben Hakham CEO at Traderoutes Capital.

Its a potentially game changing week! Benign US CPI numbers for September almost guarantee a decline in Fed rates when they deliberate on Wednesday. US/China trade discussions turning friendly and we try to explain the current investor addiction to gold.

Market sentiment is likely to be swayed this week by earnings announcements from Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta, Amazon and Apple. These 5 account for 25% of the S&P500 Index in value terms. Whatever they say will drive sentiment, at least for the short term. 

Valuations are high but are not necessarily in bubble territory. We'll take a granular look at each company's valuations and prospects. Volatility is likely to be at elevated levels this week and bad earnings calls will be punished severely.

However, with interest rates on the decline, liquidity in capital markets improving, the US economy in mild growth mode and employment levels (as far as we know! no figures available) steady at near full employment levels, equity markets, particularly the US, remain robust and buying the dips remains the sensible option.

Always do your own research or seek the advice of your professional financial advisor.

You can find us on LinkedIn and YouTube, Money Matters, Ben Hakham CEO at Traderoutes Capital.

This week we'll discuss whether the continued government closure in the US will begin to frighten investors trying to find fresh & up to date signals on the health of the economy. The 10 year bond yield is below the Fed rate. Mortgages in the US normally price off the 10 year rate. Are we going to witness a resurgence in the housing market? 

Plenty of talk in the investor world about bubbles bursting and Black Swans on the horizon. We don't see it. The US is in a downward interest rate environment, the consumer remains resilient, the tax benefits of the big beautiful bill are coming and government need for short term funding is declining thanks to tariff receipts.

Valuations are high and Q3 earnings announcements will impact short term stock movements more than ever. However, the US remains the overweight in global portfolios as momentum and liquidity remains strong.

Always do your own research or seek the advice of your professional financial advisor.

You can find us on LinkedIn and YouTube, Money Matters, Ben Hakham CEO at Traderoutes Capital.

In this episode we discuss the US government shutdown and the potential spill over into the wider economy. We'll also discuss President Trump's latest tariff salvo at China and ascertain if this is yet another escalate in order to de-escalate strategy. Did the stock market on Friday get overly pessimistic? In Europe, we talk about interest rates and potential risk asset under performance vs the US. 

The US market is expensive but it may be justified by better growth and an interest rate loosening cycle. 

We'll also preview bank results this week and highlight the consensus growth rate for both financials and tech.

Always do your own research or seek the advice of your professional financial advisor.

You can find us on LinkedIn and YouTube, Money Matters, Ben Hakham CEO at Traderoutes Capital.

In this episode of Finance and Money Matters, the focus is on market observations and investment processes amidst a relatively quiet news week. Key points include recent results from Caterpillar, Diageo, Apple, and Eli Lilly, with a particular emphasis on the impact of tariffs and interest rate changes. The Bank of England recently cut interest rates by 25 basis points, possibly facing another cut in the near future, although the UK's fiscal situation complicates matters. Major takeaways include the varying impacts of tariffs on capital-intensive versus asset-light businesses, the negative effects on Eli Lilly's stock due to their obesity treatment issues, and the potential resurgence of the US middle class driven by recent economic policies. Looking ahead, upcoming CPI numbers from the US may influence future interest rate decisions by the Federal Reserve.

Always do your own research or seek the advice of your professional financial advisor.

You can find us on LinkedIn and YouTube, Money Matters, Ben Hakham CEO at Traderoutes Capital.

In episode seven of 'Money Matters' on August 5th, the host discusses the current state of market valuations, macroeconomic events, and impacts on portfolio positioning. Key points include the disappointing Amazon earnings, slow employment growth, and the implications of changes within the Federal Reserve. The discussion also covers the performance and valuation of the S&P 500, particularly focusing on the 'Magnificent Seven' stocks. The comparison between US and European markets is highlighted, with the US market seen as more attractive despite higher valuations. Potential risks like tariffs and inflation are also explored. The host concludes with a recommendation for an equity-heavy portfolio, emphasizing the strength of US technology stocks while cautioning against potential stagflation risks.

Always do your own research or seek the advice of your professional financial advisor.

You can find us on LinkedIn and YouTube, Money Matters, Ben Hakham CEO at Traderoutes Capital.

In today's episode we discuss the impact of the Fed's decision this week and the implication for further rate cuts this week.

What's happened to the copper market?

What could be some of the side-effects of US tariffs on other regions and the inadvertent impact on the USD.

In corporate news, we look at the key results announcements of the week including Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Amazon.

In THOUGHT FOR THE DAY we discuss the dynamics and capex spend in the global cloud storage market and the AI effect.

Always do your own research or seek the advice of your professional financial advisor.

You can find us on LinkedIn and YouTube, Money Matters, Ben Hakham CEO at Traderoutes Capital.