SB Talks

In this episode of SB Talks, CEO Vincent O'Neill and CIO Nick Ryder unpack Australia's stubborn inflation pulse and the RBA's latest 25bp hike, considering the latest RBA forecasts with a slower return of inflation back to target, weaker growth and rising unemployment. They look at what's now priced, and how policy divergence has lifted the Aussie dollar toward 70¢. Across the Pacific, they explore Trump's Fed pick, Kevin Warsh, debating whether his hawkish past fits with new AI‑productivity optimism amid a brief U.S. data disruption from the partial government shutdown.

A bruising week for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) stocks follows, as AI "co‑worker" tools spark fears of business moat disruption, prompting the team to separate hype from genuine risk. They wrap with Japan's political shift and why the global rotation away from U.S. tech may still have room to run.

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In this episode of SB Talks, CEO Vincent O'Neill and CIO Nick Ryder take listeners on a rapid-fire tour of a turbulent start to 2026. They explore the capture of Venezuela's President, rising tensions between the U.S. and its allies over Greenland, and the White House's growing standoff with the Federal Reserve. The conversation then moves through emerging U.S. policy risks, from credit card interest rates to government shutdown chatter, before circling back to what it all means for investors.

Wrapping up, they cover Australia's resilient labour market, Japan's bond and currency moves, and the speculative surge in gold and precious metal prices that is capturing headlines worldwide.

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Join us for a special episode of SB Talks, as CEO Vincent O'Neill sits down with CIO Nick Ryder who shares insights from his 2026 Investment Outlook. From the resilience of global growth in 2025 to the surprising twists in U.S. and European markets, Nick unpacks what played out as expected, and what didn't.

Together they dive into five critical themes shaping the year ahead:

• The fusion of national security and industrial policy
• The AI boom (and bubble concerns)
• Gamification of investing
• Japan's corporate renaissance
• Geopolitical undercurrents

Get Nick's strategic take on where markets are headed and the risks that could shift the investment landscape. From equity performance and bond market dynamics to the real implications of the AI revolution, this episode offers clarity and perspective for navigating 2026 with confidence.

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In this episode of SB Talks, CEO Vincent O'Neill and CIO Nick Ryder, take a fast-paced look at global markets. In the US, manufacturing slows as tariffs bite, while AI and data centre spending surge. Back home, Australia's first full monthly CPI eliminates hopes of a pre-Christmas rate cut, even as Q3 growth and capacity constraints keep pressure on.

Nick unpacks a record capex jump, plant and equipment lead the charge, data centre hardware up 92% QoQ fueling productivity but driving imports. Markets cool after a risk-on run, crypto retreats, and competition heats up in banking. The duo also weigh the Fed chair race and a divided FOMC, before hinting at Stanford Brown's 2026 outlook: cautiously optimistic, focused on inflation, productivity, and the evolving AI story.

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In this Special Edition of SB Talks, CEO Vincent O'Neill is joined by former RBA Governor and Stanford Brown Investment Committee member Ian Macfarlane for an in-depth discussion on the global economic outlook. Together, they examine the US economy's performance, the impact of shifting tariff policies on inflation and growth, and the strength of equity markets despite policy headwinds.

Ian also offers his views on the extraordinary surge in AI related investment, the risk of exuberance creeping into financial markets, and why elements of today's environment echo some of the most significant bubbles in history.

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In this episode of SB Talks, CEO Vincent O'Neill and CIO Nick Ryder unpack the Reserve Bank's Cup Day decision and what it signals for future rate moves. They explore the latest inflation data and the RBA's updated forecasts, highlighting the delicate balance between a softening labour market and above-target inflation. Across the Pacific, the US Federal Reserve's stance is equally nuanced, with rate cuts, shutdowns, and inflation uncertainty clouding the outlook.

Nick shares insights on the US earnings season, the AI investment surge, and whether we are edging toward bubble territory. The conversation turns to private credit markets, where recent fraud cases raise red flags and prompt a closer look at lending standards.

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Disclaimer: Past performance is not indicative of future results. WCM Investment Management, LLC is exempt from the requirement to hold an Australian Financial Services License under ASIC Corporations (Repeal and Transitional) Instrument 2016/396 and is regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under U.S. law, which differs from Australian law.

In this episode of Meet the Investor, Joey Mouracadeh sits down with JB Horner, Business Culture Analyst at WCM Investment Management - a global investment firm specialising in high-quality global equities. JB takes us inside WCM's distinctive approach to investing - one built around "moat trajectory," tailwinds, and the often-overlooked power of organisational culture. He explains how the firm identifies companies not just with competitive advanatges today, but those expanding those advantages over time.

They unpack what it means to analyse culture as an investment factor. How can the behaviours and adaptability of a management team shape a company's long-term moat? What does "cultural strength" or "cultural alignment" actually look like in practice? And how does WCM's collaboration with leading academics help turn a qualitative concept into a repeatable research framework that supports performance through changing market cycles?

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In this episode of SB Talks, CEO Vincent O'Neill and CIO Nick Ryder, unpack the latest escalation in US-China trade tensions, focusing on China's new rare earth export controls and their global ripple effects. They explore how these restrictions could impact industries from semiconductors to defense, and the strategic scramble for alternative suppliers.

The conversation shifts to OpenAI's circular investment deals, with chipmakers like Nvidia and AMD raising questions about sustainability and bubble-like behaviour in the AI sector. Nick shares insights into the massive energy demands behind AI infrastructure and the uncertain path to profitability. The duo examines gold's sharp rise, central bank buying, and the unusual coexistence of record highs in both equities and safe-haven assets.

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In this episode of SB Talks, CEO Vincent O'Neill and CIO Nick Ryder, unpack the Reserve Bank's decision to hold rates at 3.6%, following three cuts earlier this year. They explore what's behind the RBA's cautious stance, rising services inflation, stronger consumer spending, and signs of renewed momentum in the housing market. The conversation shifts to the US government shutdown, where a deepening political standoff could stretch on for weeks, highlighting the economic toll drawing on past shutdowns, and the estimated $400 million daily hit to the US economy.

They discuss how this, along with tariffs and other policy moves, adds complexity to the global outlook. As we enter the final quarter of 2025, Vincent and Nick take stock of market sentiment, strong corporate earnings, and the ongoing AI investment wave.

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In this episode of SB Talks, CEO Vincent O'Neill and CIO Nick Ryder, dive into a pivotal moment for global markets as 16 central banks, led by the U.S. Federal Reserve, prepare for critical policy decisions. With rate cuts back on the table, inflation still sticky, and labor markets showing cracks, what lies ahead for monetary policy? They unpack the political tension behind the Fed's independence, the looming U.S. government shutdown, and the uncertain future of U.S.-China trade talks, starting with TikTok.

Meanwhile, Wall Street's AI euphoria shows no signs of slowing, with tech giants surging past $3 trillion valuations.

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