Each Quarter Myself, Manish Kataria and Adam Lawrence pick a financial product such as Stocks, Bonds, ETF's etc. We explain reasoning for our choices and open the conversation up to the others for critique.

While we are invested in these products this is not investment advice!

What we talked about...

Bond Investment Strategy Discussion

Adam discussed his investment strategy, focusing on bonds as a hedge against potential market volatility and inflation. He highlighted the tax advantages of investing in Gilts and the current attractive yields compared to other investment options. Rod asked questions about Adam's approach, including how to buy bonds and what would change his mind about the strategy. Manish provided additional insights, emphasizing the role of bonds and gold as hedges for stock portfolios and the tax efficiency of investing in single Gilts.

Israel: Attractive Tech Investment Destination

Manish discussed the performance of global stock markets, highlighting that while the US market reached record highs in 2024, investors should not be deterred by this as it is a normal occurrence. He suggested Israel as an alternative investment destination for tech stocks, noting its strong performance over the past two years despite geopolitical concerns. Manish explained that Israel's high research and development spending, strong tech sector, and defence spending make it an attractive option for global diversification, particularly for those concerned about US currency risk.

Market Timing and Investment Strategy

Rod and Manish discussed the investment potential of a market with strong fundamentals, including high productivity growth and a concentration of academic skills and startups. Rod expressed concern about timing, wondering if the market was already priced in and if it was too late to invest. Manish acknowledged this risk but viewed it as a good momentum play, suggesting that geopolitical concerns could provide opportunities for accumulation. Adam agreed with this perspective, noting that momentum has proven to be a successful investment factor and that staying out of the market could be more challenging than making a calculated risk.

India ETF Investment Strategy

Rod presents his investment pick, an ETF tracking the Indian market (ticker IIND). He explains that he has invested in this for a few years and believes it's currently well-priced after a pullback. Rod cites India's fast-growing economy, favorable demographics with many young people, an expanding middle class, and a high number of millionaires as reasons for his choice. He views India's young demographic as positive for productivity and overall growth potential.

Rod discussed the long-term prospects of investing in India, highlighting its strong fundamentals, including a growing finance sector and a young, educated workforce. He noted concerns about currency risk due to the Indian rupee being priced in US dollars and the volatility of the market. Adam agreed with the long-term potential of India, comparing it to China 25 years ago, but expressed uncertainty about the timing of the investment. Manish, who also owns India, supported the long-term view, citing demographics and potential benefits from global trade dynamics, while acknowledging the currency risk for sterling-based investors.

Investment Picks and Performance Review

The group discussed investment picks and performance, with Rod sharing his successful April pick of URNG, which gained 91% since then. Manish recommended the Framlington ETF over the more expensive alternative due to its lower expense ratio of 0.2%, and mentioned he would consider trimming his position in the crypto-related ETF BLK due to recent strong performance. Adam expressed a preference for long-term buy-and-hold investing focused on fundamental value.

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