After tensions rose again in the Middle East over the weekend, news yesterday that US envoys will travel to Doha for fresh talks with Iran today allowed markets room to rally. The Dow Jones, which now includes Alphabet, ended yesterday’s session above 52,000 for the first time. Asia continued the rally overnight with the Kospi set to exceed a 105% year-to-date performance by the end of its session. Meanwhile, the yen fell to a 40-year low against the US dollar. And, as Europe melts in the midst of the highest June temperatures on record, Carsten Menke, Head of Next Generation Research, joins the podcast today to talk about the economic impact of climate change, why ‘sponge’ cities are being developed, and what the implications are for investors.

• (00:00) - Introduction: Helen Freer, Product & Investment Content