The Allan Gray Podcast

34. Exploring the frontier: Why elevated risk offers enticing opportunities 04.05.2026 53min

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 portfolio managers Rory Kutisker-Jacobson and Varshan Maharaj to explore opportunities in unloved or overlooked markets amid uncertainty. Using some examples from the Allan Gray Frontier Markets Equity Fund’s investment universe, they discuss the distinction between structural and cyclical risk, how deep fundamental research can uncover high-quality businesses hidden in plain sight, and where patient long-term investors may be rewarded for leaning into risk when fear dominates asset prices.

33. South Africa’s reform test: Fleeting gains or fundamental change? 08.04.2026 47min

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 also explore the structural factors shaping the economic environment, including energy, water and logistics, and share views on whether local asset prices can withstand global shocks.

32. How to outsmart behavioural biases when investing – with Dr Daniel Crosby 17.02.2026 49min

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 well-known ways to hinder performance and erode returns. In conversation with Allan Gray portfolio manager Tim Acker, leading behavioural finance expert and author Dr Daniel Crosby explores habits and hacks that personal and professional investors can employ to navigate volatile markets, avoid cognitive traps and enhance their long-term investment success.

31. The cost of chasing perfection when investing – with Dr Thomas Curran 01.12.2025 34min

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 chasing short-term gains. They also delve into the difference between perfection and excellence, the role of behavioural bias in investing, and the value of cultivating self-compassion and working towards realistic goals.

30. Investment ideas that make us go hmmm – with Grant Williams 05.11.2025 44min

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 counterweight to fiat currency, they reflect on market cycles across regions and eras. The conversation spans geopolitics and power, inflation, disruptor industries and the slow pivot from virtual to virtuous value.

29. Separating the numbers from the narratives 17.10.2025 40min

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 markets, and promising US mid-cap industrials, as the rise of AI ripples across sectors. Against the backdrop of shifting geopolitics, they remind investors of the importance of challenging dominant market narratives to avoid overpaying – a key factor in achieving long-term outperformance.

28. Gold in the age of fiscal dominance 12.09.2025 54min

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 growing scrutiny. Amid this evolving environment, gold is reasserting itself as a trusted store of value. Horacia Naidoo-McCarthy, Institutional Clients manager, hosts portfolio manager Thalia Petousis and investment analyst Umar-Farooq Kagee to explore a wide range of themes – from the recent gold rally to fiscal dominance and safe-haven assets.

27. From pints to Pixar 24.06.2025 45min

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 Siphesihle Zwane delve into British American Tobacco, AB InBev and Disney – three large, long-standing businesses that have managed to reinvent themselves despite existing within rapidly evolving industries, experiencing major changes in their core economics and having made major acquisitions in recent times.

26. Are global investors dependent on great expectations? 06.06.2025 51min

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 investors that paying a premium for optimism is dangerous and hefty price tags should be interrogated. In a wide-ranging conversation, Institutional Clients manager Horacia Naidoo-McCarthy and Rob Perrone, a senior investment specialist at our offshore partner, Orbis, explore the current global investment universe, explain why “great expectations” appear to be baked into markets and discuss many of the compelling opportunities in less popular markets.

25. SA listed property: The appeal of fixed assets in an uncertain world 24.04.2025 53min

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 be approached with caution? In conversation with Allan Gray portfolio manager Siphesihle Zwane, investment analysts Ghiete van Zyl and Umar-Farooq Kagee explore how we apply our long-term investment approach when considering opportunities in listed property. They also unpack the distinctive features of this asset class and explain the fundamental drivers of the sector’s longer-term prospects.

24. How money tells the story of humanity – with David McWilliams 11.02.2025 46min

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 investment officer Duncan Artus, McWilliams explains why he believes that money – a social technology – has changed the direction of humanity, and why it continues to influence the development of the world. Through money, we take a tour of the global investment universe, discussing everything from Trump and trade wars to credit cycles and currencies.

23. Beyond the US: Separating the signals from the noise 19.11.2024 50min

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 episode, portfolio manager Tim Acker is joined by Orbis portfolio manager Ben Preston. They touch on the impact of the US election on the markets, delve into how Orbis is exploring potential in the Korean market and biopharmaceuticals, and reveal enhancements to Orbis’ investment process.

22. A revival for South Africa’s retail giants? 22.10.2024 52min

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 for SA retailers may be different. In a post-pandemic world where time-starved consumers face surging living costs, the battle for market share requires a balance between pricing, quality and convenience. Portfolio managers Siphesihle Zwane, Jithen Pillay and Kamal Govan discuss the thinking behind the retail exposure in the Allan Gray funds. They also delve into the performance drivers for Spar, Shoprite, Pick n Pay and Woolworths and explore key themes influencing the sector.

21. How the great election year has shaped financial markets 18.09.2024 50min

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 heat up as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump increase their efforts to return to the White House. In this conversation, portfolio managers Thalia Petousis and Sean Munsie join Product Development manager Vuyo Mroxiso to explore the impact of the great election year on financial markets and explain how political change is reshaping the opportunity set for long-term investors.

20. Two-pot: How to achieve better retirement outcomes 05.08.2024 40min

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 Development, to explore what the new rules mean for investors and their retirement planning. In this conversation, they explain the complexities, clear up common misconceptions and highlight the missteps investors should avoid to achieve better results.

19. Building multi-asset portfolios in an uncertain world 26.06.2024 54min

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 higher risk-free rates. With key national elections across the globe, the transition to green energy and the rise of artificial intelligence increasing the noise, long-term investors must consider a host of additional variables as they pursue meaningful returns. In conversation with Orbis portfolio manager Alec Cutler, Nshalati Hlungwane, a manager in our Institutional Clients team, explores the global investment universe and finds out how Orbis is thinking about its multi-asset strategies in the current environment.

18. Investment notes from the frontier 17.05.2024 50min

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, portfolio managers Rory Kutisker-Jacobson and Varshan Maharaj discuss the themes shaping frontier markets and explain how they navigate the risks as they pursue long-term returns.

17. Trends shaping the future of investment management 05.04.2024 41min

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, artificial intelligence and increasing geopolitical tension, are shaping the future of asset management and financial advice. They explore how a handful of trends are challenging the status quo and presenting opportunities for those willing to embrace change.

16. Timeless lessons on risk, opportunity and living a good life – with Morgan Housel 12.02.2024 53min

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 author Morgan Housel. In the conversation, Morgan explores many of the behavioural biases that erode wealth during periods of heightened risk and explains how we can improve our long-term investment outcomes by focusing our efforts on the things that stay the same, rather than the variables that are out of our control.

15. Holding steady when global markets are in flux 12.12.2023 51min

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 interest rate hikes. But in 2023, things snapped back. Bond yields have risen sharply, while the areas that tend to be most vulnerable to rising rates, such as technology, have counter-intuitively also continued to rise. In this episode, Radhesen Naidoo, Allan Gray’s joint head of Institutional Clients and the client-servicing lead for Orbis in South Africa, hosts Orbis portfolio managers Alec Cutler and Ben Preston. As they move through world markets, they highlight many of the exciting opportunities for patient investors and explain how Orbis’s Global Equity and Global Balanced strategies differ in their approaches.