The Allan Gray Podcast
Long-term investors have to make sense of a barrage of information, from market movements and geopolitical news to economic developments and personal finance trends. Through conversations with investment professionals from Allan Gray and various expert guests, we aim to give you insight into how we view the world and how this shapes the way we construct our portfolios to deliver long-term returns for our clients. Allan Gray is an authorised financial services provider.
Episodes
34. Exploring the frontier: Why elevated risk offers enticing opportunities
Global markets are navigating a challenging mix of persistent conflict, energy insecurity and volatile inflation, stoking fear among investors. In frontier and smaller emerging markets, that fear weighs heavily on asset prices, often sending them well below what the underlying business fundamentals suggest.
Horacia Naidoo-McCarthy, a manager in the Institutional Clients team, is joined by portfo
33. South Africa’s reform test: Fleeting gains or fundamental change?
Last year’s strong market returns renewed optimism in South Africa after years of sluggish growth, but many investors are wondering whether the country has truly reached a turning point or is merely in the midst of a false dawn. Allan Gray portfolio managers Thalia Petousis and Sandy McGregor are joined by ESG analyst Raine Adams to discuss whether the country’s reform narrative is on track. They
32. How to outsmart behavioural biases when investing – with Dr Daniel Crosby
For many investors, 2025 intensified the behavioural pressures that shape investment decisions. Markets reached record highs, even as global growth slowed and political tides turned across major economies. Amid these contrasts, investors and advisers were reminded just how crucial it is to manage behaviour. Falling prey to inherent behavioural biases and knee-jerk reactions when markets shift are
31. The cost of chasing perfection when investing – with Dr Thomas Curran
Is perfectionism costing us more than we realise in mental health, life and investment decision-making? Our head of Group Savings and Investments, Shaheed Mohamed, and Dr Thomas Curran, a leading academic on perfectionism and bestselling author, explore how striving for perfection can undermine long-term outcomes. Their conversation ranges from burnout and analysis paralysis to the hidden cost of
30. Investment ideas that make us go hmmm – with Grant Williams
While what worked for the last 40 years of investing may not work for the next 40, history offers valuable lessons for the path ahead. Chief investment officer Duncan Artus and renowned author and publisher Grant Williams unpick past events and explore future opportunities. From Japan’s decades-long battle with deflation and the unique opportunities in its bond market to the rise of gold as a coun
29. Separating the numbers from the narratives
There is often a great disparity between a stock’s market value and what it is fundamentally worth. In conversation with portfolio manager Rory Kutisker-Jacobson, Mark Dunley-Owen, portfolio manager from our offshore partner, Orbis, explores global investment opportunities beyond those currently in vogue. They delve into high-conviction picks in China, standout businesses in frontier and emerging
28. Gold in the age of fiscal dominance
With government debt levels at historic highs and inflationary pressures lingering, fiscal dominance is reshaping the global monetary landscape. Central banks are increasingly caught in a delicate balancing act – controlling inflation, while also managing the burden of sovereign debt and excess liquidity. At the same time, the US dollar’s role as the world’s primary reserve currency is facing grow
27. From pints to Pixar
Shifting consumer patterns and behaviour. Disruptive innovations. Generational changes. These are not simply headlines; they are real challenges being navigated by investors. However, that is not all they are. They are also opportunity creators for investors who have done their homework and are deeply focused on fundamentals. Allan Gray portfolio managers Rory Kutisker-Jacobson, Jithen Pillay and
26. Are global investors dependent on great expectations?
Global investors have been on a rollercoaster ride in the wake of President Trump’s announcement of an array of reciprocal tariffs which rocked global stock markets, initially sending US shares tumbling and then rebounding as investors hung onto news headlines as a key determinant of prices. But prices shouldn’t be confused with value, and the extreme volatility serves as a stark reminder to inves
25. SA listed property: The appeal of fixed assets in an uncertain world
South African listed property has shifted from being a leading wealth creator in the early 2000s to one of the weakest performers over the past decade on the back of sluggish economic growth, ongoing infrastructure challenges and the impact of COVID-19 on retail and office space demand. Over the last year, the sector has shown signs of recovery. Is it time to cement the opportunity, or should it b
24. How money tells the story of humanity – with David McWilliams
Many investors focus on trying to figure out how new technologies might change the world so that they can identify and back the likely winners. But according to renowned Irish economist and bestselling author David McWilliams, the greatest, enduring technological innovation of modern civilisation is not artificial intelligence or the internet – it is money. In conversation with Allan Gray chief in
23. Beyond the US: Separating the signals from the noise
The US has dominated global news flow in the wake of the presidential election, and market-moving headlines continue to present the temptation to act on impulse. As investors who focus on the fundamentals, the “great election year” has challenged Allan Gray and our offshore partner, Orbis, to continue to filter the signals from the noise to identify compelling long-term opportunities. In this epis
22. A revival for South Africa’s retail giants?
As sentiment towards the South African economy improves following the formation of the government of national unity, some of the major retailers are seeing improved share performance. Lower oil prices, extended periods of uninterrupted power supply and the recent interest rate cut, which heralds a shift in policy, are notable short-term tailwinds to the sector. However, the longer-term prospects f
21. How the great election year has shaped financial markets
Global elections have been a dominant force this year, with sentiment around polling and election results driving volatility in many markets. The ANC’s drastic decline at the polls and the formation of a government of national unity have been of keen interest to investors in SA Inc. Abroad, we have seen Labour take the lead by a landslide in the UK general election and the US presidential race hea
20. Two-pot: How to achieve better retirement outcomes
The new two-pot retirement system has been designed to improve retirement outcomes for South Africans, while allowing some access to retirement savings in case of severe financial stress. However, there are some hidden risks that investors should be aware of to ensure they don’t inadvertently offset its intended benefits. Richard Carter, head of Assurance, is joined by Shaun Duddy, head of Product
19. Building multi-asset portfolios in an uncertain world
Periods of heightened uncertainty are inevitable when you are investing over the long term. And when it is not clear when or how things might change, multi-asset portfolio construction becomes an increasingly complex task. For some time, our offshore partner, Orbis, has warned that the environment appears to be changing, noting stickier global inflation, a shifting geopolitical landscape and highe
18. Investment notes from the frontier
Investing in frontier markets is not for the faint-hearted. But for those brave enough to look beyond material risks, such as political instability, currency fluctuations and poor liquidity, many of these smaller markets provide fertile hunting ground for compelling ideas and exposure to sectors that are not available in South Africa. In conversation with Grant Pitt, head of Institutional, portfol
17. Trends shaping the future of investment management
The commonly accepted wisdom is that if we want a glimpse into the future of South Africa’s financial services sector, we should take a look at the United Kingdom’s financial landscape and delay the experience by a few years. In this conversation, Dan Brocklebank, UK head of our offshore partner, Orbis, joins portfolio manager Jithen Pillay to explain how key themes, such as tighter regulation, ar
16. Timeless lessons on risk, opportunity and living a good life – with Morgan Housel
With 2024 set to be a news-heavy year, investors are speculating about everything from what interest rates might do next, to the outcome of elections around the world. Given the levels of uncertainty, many are finding it hard to avoid panicking and making rash decisions based on emotions. Allan Gray portfolio manager Tim Acker is joined by renowned behavioural psychology expert and bestselling aut
15. Holding steady when global markets are in flux
The Investment teams at Allan Gray and Orbis have both been talking about the huge disparities in global valuations for some time. There are pockets of the market that are incredibly cheap, but many of the most popular regions and sectors are eye-wateringly expensive. For a moment last year, it seemed as though these disparities were beginning to narrow amid rising inflation and subsequent interes
14. How to be a little less wrong – with James Aitken
When it comes to investing, marginal improvements can make a significant difference to investment returns over time. James Aitken, the founder of Aitken Advisors, has spent three decades gaining a deep understanding of the global financial system’s plumbing. He has carefully studied markets and investors to identify the subtle differences that can help us become “a little less wrong” and produce m
13. From Johannesburg to Japan: How to resist the magnetism of the magnificent seven
Buoyed by the ongoing excitement around artificial intelligence, the so-called “magnificent seven” (Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, MSFT, Nvidia and Tesla) have been able to count themselves among this year’s biggest winners. And it is easy to understand why: They are great businesses at the forefront of the latest tech developments, and they are expected to deliver exceptional growth. That said, his
12. Lessons from the winners and losers of the last five years
Over the last five years, deteriorating domestic conditions and rapidly developing global trends have seen some well-known stocks, and even entire industries and markets, fall in and out of favour. From Ramaphoria and the COVID-19 pandemic, to the collapse of Steinhoff and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, investors have been tasked with figuring out who the winners might be in a very complex environm
11. Can long-term investors afford to invest without considering ESG?
Companies, and their shareholders, are facing increasing levels of scrutiny from the media, activists and the public for the impact they have on the environment and society. As we consider many of the recent headline-grabbing corporate failures, it becomes clear that companies that fail to consider and manage environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors often prove to be poor investments and
10. Are we entering a global stockpicker’s paradise?
In conversation with portfolio manager Rory Kutisker-Jacobson, Matthew Spencer from our offshore partner, Orbis, explains why the investment team believes that the stock market boom over the last few years is making way for a global stockpicker’s paradise. As the deflation of the “Everything Bubble” continues, long-term investors who remain focused on understanding the fundamentals of the companie
09. Why South Africa is still attractive for investors
From persistent loadshedding to deteriorating national infrastructure, South Africa’s challenges are well known. The recurring negative headlines have prompted many investors to look into increasing their offshore exposure as they ask themselves whether investing in the local market is still worth the risk. In conversation with portfolio manager Tim Acker, investment analysts Siphesihle Zwane and
08. The new normal: What lies ahead?
As memories of masks and lockdown restrictions fade, investors face a new list of challenges. Locally, loadshedding has eroded business margins and is casting a shadow on the market. Abroad, the threat of a new banking crisis has proven extremely unsettling and is having a negative impact on sentiment.
In the latest episode of The Allan Gray Podcast, portfolio manager Thalia Petousis and Sandy M
07. Massive market moves: How will they shape the years ahead?
2022 will probably be remembered for being the year of war and inflation, and the end of a decade of “free money” distorting markets. To put it in perspective, a passive 60:40 offshore balanced fund delivered probably its worst performance in US dollars in 100 years, sending a clear message to investors: Things have changed. Allan Gray chief investment officer, Duncan Artus, joins Tamryn Lamb, hea
06. Do local banks offer value in an inflationary world?
Although banks are generally geared to economic activity, many local banks proved to be resilient through the COVID-19 pandemic and have been good investments since. But in the current period of high global inflation and slowing economic activity, how will the local banking sector fare? Are there still long-term opportunities? Allan Gray portfolio manager Tim Acker poses this question to investmen
05. Are better outcomes for retirement savers on the horizon?
Retirement reform is on the horizon as the National Treasury takes steps to implement the proposed “two-pot retirement system”. The proposed system has the dual aim of creating limited access to retirement fund assets to help savers cope with short-term emergencies and improving the preservation of retirement savings – ultimately producing better retirement saving outcomes. Allan Gray’s head of As
04. Do old investment truths still hold in the current global environment?
In the latest episode of The Allan Gray Podcast, hosted by Allan Gray portfolio manager Rory Kutisker-Jacobson, Dan Brocklebank, head of Orbis UK, reflects on the most valuable investment truths he has learnt as he celebrates two decades at the firm. Dan joined our offshore partner during the dotcom boom and has seen our shared investment philosophy play out through multiple cycles. During the con
03. Can South African investors continue to count on commodities?
Investors in commodity miners and producers have found themselves in one of the better places in the market since the pandemic, owing partly to a lift in demand as countries embarked on stimulus programmes and supply-side constraints keeping a lid on production. Local mining shares were one of the key driving forces behind the FTSE/JSE All Share Index hitting a new high earlier this year. As local
02. Can optimism rise from the inflationary ashes?
South African inflation just hit its highest peak since 2009, as it accelerated to 7.4% in June, in line with the global trend. Over in the US, inflation reached a four-decade high of 9.1% last month. As households around the world grapple with rising food and fuel costs, central banks are faced with the difficult task of hiking interest rates to rein in inflation. Allan Gray portfolio manager San
01. How to think about investing in an energy-short and volatile world
From the global technology stock sell-off and rising inflation, to the war in Ukraine exacerbating a global energy crisis, investors are tasked with navigating an increasingly complex and volatile environment. In the first episode of the Allan Gray podcast, Tamryn Lamb hosts a conversation with Allan Gray’s chief investment officer, Duncan Artus, and Alec Cutler, portfolio manager at our offshore
