While rate hikes, inflation, and budget uncertainty have dampened the spirits of many equity investors, one corner of the market is quietly thriving.

The S&P Emerging Companies Index (XEC) has surged 35% over the past 12 months, proving that there is "always a bull market somewhere" if you know where to look.

In this episode, Joel Fleming, Portfolio Manager of the UBS Micro Cap Fund, reveals why the most exciting opportunities often lie in the market’s least efficient spaces.

The GFC exposed a harsh reality: for investors in or near retirement, large drawdowns aren’t just uncomfortable — they can be permanent. Aaron Binsted from Lazard Asset Management saw this firsthand. It shaped the thinking behind a strategy designed to deliver equity returns with lower volatility and a focus on growing income. In this episode, we cover how markets are navigating today’s macro backdrop, why “economic diversification” matters more than ever, and the under-appreciated dividend growers Binsted is backing on the ASX.

Markets are wobbling, sentiment is turning, and investors are starting to question what comes next. In this episode, Munro Partners CIO Nick Griffin explains why he still believes we’re in a bull market, how the war in Iran is impacting markets, and why AI is forcing a major rethink on tech investing.

Gold has re-entered the spotlight, but L1 Capital believes investors may be looking in the wrong place. After years of investing in commodities, the firm formalised its view with a dedicated gold strategy in March 2025, now set to list as the L1 Gold Fund Limited (ASX: LGF, subject to approval).

Co-Chief Investment Officer Raphael Lamm sees the real opportunity not in bullion, but in overlooked gold equities trading on “astounding” free cash flow yields. Crucially, the strategy does not depend on rising gold prices, with valuations anchored in conservative assumptions.

In this episode of The Rules of Investing, Lamm explains why structural forces could support the opportunity for years to come.

Please note, this interview was recorded on Monday, 16 March 2026.

Periods of intense uncertainty test even the most seasoned investors. Today, markets face several competing forces: artificial intelligence reshaping industries, geopolitical tensions fuelling energy volatility, and elevated valuations alongside concentration in parts of the Australian equity market.

For Yarra Capital Management’s Dion Hershan, these environments demand discipline rather than panic. While investors remain fixated on macro headlines, he argues many meaningful micro changes are being overlooked. Drawing on experience across multiple market cycles, from the tech wreck to the global financial crisis, Hershan believes the decisions made in turbulent periods often matter most. In fact, he says a handful of well-timed choices can set up a portfolio for an entire decade.

Please note, this interview was recorded Thursday, 12 March 2026

For much of the past year, investors have been focused on growth stocks and AI winners. But some of the strongest returns have come from stocks the market had largely written off. James Hawkins, Head of L1 Capital’s Catalyst Fund, is building a reputation for finding value where others aren’t looking, combining deep research with an activist mindset to unlock it. That strategy has helped drive a strong year for the fund, with contrarian positions in companies like BlueScope Steel and Mineral Resources fuelling 30% gains. In this episode of the Rules of Investing, Hawkins explains L1’s affinity for hard assets, the catalysts for unlocking value and the unloved stocks capturing the markets attention.

Private lending has expanded rapidly over the past decade as banks pulled back from parts of the corporate market. The result has been a surge of capital chasing income, but the speed of that growth is also raising questions about how the sector will perform when the cycle eventually turns.

In this episode of the Rules of Investing podcast, Privity Credit Managing Partner Ryan Donnar explains why lending outside the banking system is far from a one-dimensional asset class. He also outlines where crowding is emerging, why structure matters more than yield, and the key questions investors should ask before allocating capital.

Please note, this interview was recorded Tuesday, 24 February 2026

Equity markets are in the middle of what Greg Dean calls “the world’s most uncomfortable rotation." In this episode, the founder of Langdon Equity Partners explains why AI may not be the real story, why high-margin businesses can be more vulnerable than they appear, and how he’s positioning his portfolio, including a 7.6% stake in L1 Group and a decision to reinvest in Johns Lyng after its take-private.

More than 70 companies reported this week and while the ASX 200 continues to push record highs, stock reactions remain ruthless.

In this episode, Ben Clark argues it’s been one of the strongest reporting seasons in years, with banks, miners and consumer names broadly beating expectations.

He explains why Woolworths’ resurgence caught the market off guard, why WiseTech’s AI defence matters more than its job cuts, and why Monadelphous and Ramsay may be turning points.

Clark also highlights heavy insider buying across tech, suggesting recent weakness may be overdone. Despite volatility, he sees momentum building into the second half.

With reporting season taking a positive turn, Chris Conway speaks with James Gerrish of Market Partners to get his hot take on a big week of reporting season, the key beats and misses, and what he's keeping an eye on for the rest of the season.