1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: The information provided in this program is of a general 2 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: nature and is not intended to be personalized financial advice. 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: We encourage you to seek appropriate advice from a qualified 4 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: professional to suit your individual circumstances. Equity markets are euphoric, 5 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: with the Nasdaq notching new all time highs this month, 6 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: But is the optimism overdone and are we on course 7 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: for a come down soon? 8 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:23,439 Speaker 2: GIF way you cut it, the US market does look 9 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 2: very expensive. You have a Magnificent seven or a seven 10 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:31,159 Speaker 2: Horsemen of the Apocalypse, whichever way you're whichever way you 11 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:33,479 Speaker 2: choose to view them. You know, I have really been 12 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 2: the key driver. 13 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:45,240 Speaker 3: The Magnificent seven. 14 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: Unknown mystery techtocs like Apple and Nvidia, the semiconductor superhero, 15 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: have sent UIs equity markets soaring, the Nazak setting a record, 16 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: the S and P five hundred, we're still waiting for 17 00:00:57,320 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: that to settle out, but it looks like we may 18 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: have got in a record there as well. The headline 19 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: numbers look strong, but it's really only driven by a 20 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: handful of companies involved in artificial intelligence, and they. 21 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 3: Took a bit of a hit last week. 22 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: Recent research from Morgan Stanley said S and P five 23 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 1: hundred concentration is at an historical extreme, which it warns 24 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 1: increases its vulnerability to a steep correction. 25 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 3: The chance of ten percent correction is highly likely sometime 26 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 3: between now and the election. 27 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: The US is just entering its earning season, where companies 28 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 1: will reveal if they're actually expanding in this economic cycle. 29 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: Expectations are high, as are valuations. The current price to 30 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: earning's ratio of the SMP is sitting at twenty six 31 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: times according to fact Set and CMC Markets. That's above 32 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: the ten year average of twenty one times. Salt Fund's 33 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 1: management's Matt Goodson is in the slightly bearish camp. In 34 00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: this interview, he explains why concentration could be cause for concern. Well, Matt, 35 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: thank you so much for doing this. I really appreciate it. Well, 36 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: pleasure good to be in here. 37 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 3: Let's start talking by US equities. 38 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: Pretty incredible US equity markets, but surely unattainable. 39 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 3: What do you think? 40 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 2: Look, the US market as a whole has done eighteen 41 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:21,279 Speaker 2: nineteen percent this year, but the S and P equated 42 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 2: index has done about four percent, so it's been a 43 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 2: rarely narrow concentrated advance. You have a magnificent seven or 44 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 2: seven Horsemen of the apocalypse, whichever way you are, whichever 45 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 2: way you choose to view them. I have raally been 46 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 2: the key driver and narrow leadership. It's not unusual. You 47 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 2: look back to pass booms, the leadership does get pretty narrow, 48 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 2: but this time around it rarely is concentrated. 49 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: If we've heard of instances like the nifty to fifty 50 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: and previous market cycles, how narrow does the Magnificent seven 51 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: compare to previous eighs? 52 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 2: From the stats I've seen, this is more narrow than 53 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 2: that episode in the sixties and early seventies, and more 54 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,799 Speaker 2: narrow than the Nasdaq boom in the late nineties. So 55 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,359 Speaker 2: evis is as narrow as it has been? 56 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:09,919 Speaker 3: That begs the question, then I must you pretty fragile? 57 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 2: Possibly it really depends on is artificial intelligence the Internet, 58 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:24,359 Speaker 2: in which case it's not, or is artificial intelligence blockchain 59 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 2: or the metaverse, in which case it most certainly is 60 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 2: very fragile. And those of the questions which lots of 61 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 2: very smart people are grappling with and have varying views on. 62 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 2: Over Market's views pretty clear? 63 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 3: Have you got an answer? 64 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 2: No clear answer, But I think what we're just starting 65 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 2: to see the beginnings of a little bit of skepticism 66 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 2: because the question is you're seeing a trillion dollars plus 67 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 2: invested in the infrastructure for artificial intelligence, and you're just 68 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 2: starting to see the question be raised, i think this 69 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 2: week by albans and City Group in the US, whatever returns, 70 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 2: what's the use case for all of US investment? Are 71 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 2: you going to get a ten percent return on capital 72 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 2: out of US? And that's a tough question. Some of 73 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 2: the builders of all of US infrastructure going to get 74 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 2: those returns. So if you look at say in for 75 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 2: ATILL and CDC, if I've locked in very long term 76 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 2: contracts with big, deep pocketed counterparties, so they'll be fine, 77 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 2: I'll get the return, it's just the counterparty who's in 78 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 2: the data center of it. Maybe they will in five 79 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 2: years time, maybe they won't. And that's a difficult question. 80 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 1: How much of it do you think so far to 81 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: date has actually been driven by earnings? Obviously in Vidia 82 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: has outperformed, but from now on, the expectations to continue 83 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: to outperform on top of that just get higher. So 84 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 1: how much is earning's been part of this play in 85 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:47,159 Speaker 1: thematic so far? 86 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 3: And how much of it do you think it will 87 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 3: be going forwards. 88 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 2: Earnings matter, but there's been tremendous multiple expansion and also 89 00:04:55,920 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 2: in this phase your earnings quality perhaps you're just a 90 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 2: little bit questionable. So for for example, where the company 91 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 2: buys a whole lot of in vidio GPUs, they will 92 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:15,679 Speaker 2: know that will be a capital investment by them which 93 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,679 Speaker 2: they have a depreciate over many years. Where's in video 94 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 2: reports all the earnings obviously in the in the year, 95 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 2: but they sell over GPUs, I mean, which is fine, 96 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 2: that's the way it is. But when you're in this 97 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 2: rapid growth phase, that can tend to goose the earnings a. 98 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 4: Little bit of the of the key providers. 99 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 2: So it's partly earnings, partly earnings momentum. For example, we've 100 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 2: seen Tesla rally forty forty five percent in the last 101 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 2: few weeks on less bad than expected quarterly guidance. 102 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: That's not good guidance. There's just less poor right exactly. 103 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 2: So earnings has something to do with it, but there's 104 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:00,920 Speaker 2: a lot of hype as well. A lot of hype 105 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 2: and a lot of them meantum and a lot of 106 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 2: current money. 107 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 4: They are driving it too. 108 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: You work with Morgan Stanley, they take care of your 109 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 1: global equity for shares funds. Mike Wilson, the head of 110 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:13,359 Speaker 1: US Equity Strategy, has suggested that we could be on 111 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,919 Speaker 1: course for a comedown, that a correction in the double 112 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:18,600 Speaker 1: digits in the US markets is not unlikely ahead of 113 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 1: the U S election. 114 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 3: You and that by with them, do you. 115 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 4: Agree it's a perfectly reasonable call. 116 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 2: There's two parts to the US market, right There's magnificent 117 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 2: seven and that could keep going or it could fall 118 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 2: away very quickly. 119 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 4: We all know when we're older. 120 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 2: It's picking the end of what maybe abobble was incredibly hard, 121 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 2: so it could keep running for some time. And then 122 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 2: there's the rest of the US market, where via economy 123 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 2: is now unequivocally slowing as the impact of FED rate 124 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 2: hikes in the past are finally taking effect. I've been 125 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 2: sheltered for a long time by recklessly lose fiscal policy 126 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 2: over there, but now it's really starting to feed through 127 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 2: to verr economy. So areas, for example, like a home 128 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 2: building are really starting to come quite quickly off for 129 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 2: boil in parts of retail in the US are really 130 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 2: slow and quite quickly as well. 131 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: This is a really interesting point, Matt, because if you 132 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 1: look on the face of it, if you look at 133 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: market returns, they look incredible, right, Obviously we know that 134 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: that is narrowly driven by a few magnificent stocks. But 135 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 1: it's not actually a story of economic expansion, is it. 136 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: So what it looks like on the tin is not 137 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: actually what's happening underneath, right. 138 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 2: Well, it depends where we're into with what the magnificent 139 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 2: seven are doing. So, for example, with artificial intelligence, if 140 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 2: we can find the use cases and costs can rapidly 141 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 2: scale and come down, then it will ultimately be a 142 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 2: story of economic expansion. But that's the question, and we're 143 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 2: just starting to see some people ask it for the 144 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 2: first time. Really, Rather than just roll with the flow 145 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 2: the insnet, it was a lot simpler. When the Internet 146 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 2: became fast enough, was incredibly disruptive to existing business models, 147 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 2: dramatically lower the cost of doing business. There use cases galore. 148 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 2: With AI, it's you know, it's just a little bit 149 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 2: more of an open question at this point. So it 150 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 2: could spark rapid future growth, but can it lift productivity 151 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 2: in a manner it's cost effective, And that's the open question. Well, 152 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 2: I think ultimately determine how you do from investing in 153 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 2: Nvidia and some of those other stocks at this level, 154 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 2: you know, and similarly Tesla you'd have to stave at. 155 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:34,839 Speaker 2: Electric cars have sparked a lot of growth, but it's 156 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:37,839 Speaker 2: fascinating the share prices really so sharply at a time 157 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 2: an electric car sales are falling off a cliff, and 158 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 2: it's hard, it's only really hot. It's partly a cycle, 159 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,959 Speaker 2: and it's partly the fact that hybrids have become the 160 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 2: go to. 161 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: But isn't that because investors now will least some believe 162 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: that that Tesla could be a strong AI play. 163 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:58,320 Speaker 2: Possibly it's a very interesting but yeah, but that's not there. 164 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:02,719 Speaker 2: Their core current business is the building of cars and 165 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 2: the building of batteries. 166 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:05,839 Speaker 1: Believe or not, I actually am an optimist, even though 167 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: I sound very much like a cynic in this conversation Matt. 168 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:11,079 Speaker 1: But I think it's an important question that we ask 169 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 1: who's holding the bag if. 170 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 3: This does all go wrong for US markets. 171 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: We know that retail investors, the so called dumb money 172 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:19,959 Speaker 1: I hate that term, but it is a term has 173 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 1: piled into Nvidia, especially this year. I know someonstos that 174 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 1: are shorting it. I also know some that along but 175 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 1: I certainly know some that are shorting it. So if 176 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 1: this does all go sideways, who's going to be holding 177 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 1: that bag? 178 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 4: Yeah? Well, I don't know. 179 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 2: If it there's too many who's shorten it who are 180 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 2: still going to be alive. That's a very hard road. 181 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 4: Look. 182 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 2: In the US, institutional investors are a large, much larger 183 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 2: proportion of a market than they are in New Zealand. 184 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 2: The US is a massive domestic market, so domestic US 185 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:56,320 Speaker 2: institutions are a huge proportion passive. Obviously they have to 186 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 2: own a proportion of the index and do and a 187 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 2: significant amount a very light footed quant money and some 188 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 2: a range of active funds which have positions all over 189 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 2: the map, and then obviously retail. It's one of the 190 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 2: other fascinating themes outside the Magnificent seven is despite money 191 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 2: getting a lot tired of, has been this meme stock 192 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:25,479 Speaker 2: resurgence this year in names that have no fundamental basis whatsoever. 193 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 2: Everyone knows are a Pyramids game, but people have been 194 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 2: willing to play it. 195 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 1: You're not buying game stop, then you're not buying game stoping. 196 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:35,199 Speaker 4: No, but certainly not shorten it either. 197 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: Just don't play that game. I get it. It's a 198 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:42,200 Speaker 1: dangerous rule watch from a distance from the sidelines. We 199 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: were talking about this a little earlier on what I 200 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: think has really been shown this year is also this highlighting, 201 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 1: this picking winner strategy because the people who would have 202 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: been an nvidio early would have made absolute bank. 203 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 3: What do you think this has done for that whole? 204 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 1: This year has done for that whole active versus passive movement? 205 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 1: And if things don't work out with this magnificent seven, 206 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 1: could that mean that active is over? 207 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 2: By and large It's been tricky for active. A lot 208 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:12,599 Speaker 2: of traditional active managers I think have been caught a 209 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 2: little bit by the extent to which these stocks have 210 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 2: gone as passives obviously just owned it and more momentum 211 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 2: based money's done pretty well out of jumping on the theme. 212 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:25,719 Speaker 2: The question will be, though, is when the tide does 213 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 2: go out, and it will one day, who's naked? And 214 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 2: that I think will be the real acid test for 215 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 2: the active versus passive debate, because if active can't add 216 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 2: value when things do change, that's when it will be 217 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 2: quite tricky for it, I think as a thematic versus 218 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:47,600 Speaker 2: passive or as an investment. 219 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: Style rather so, really the real test for active managers 220 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 1: will be if this doesn't work out and if things 221 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 1: start falling. 222 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:57,319 Speaker 2: Exactly when things get choppier, when we have a decent pullback, 223 00:11:57,559 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 2: which will happen at some point, it's been a long 224 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:03,840 Speaker 2: time since last ten percent plus pullback, that'll be I 225 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 2: think the acid test for active you'd better hope it 226 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:07,720 Speaker 2: not average it outperformancen. 227 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:11,079 Speaker 1: What could trigger a double digit downturn? You've said there 228 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: that you don't think that's outside of reality. Would it 229 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: be a US election, Would it be an oil crisis? 230 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: What if anything could cause that? 231 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 4: There's probably three key things. 232 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 2: One is, for US economy slows even faster and is 233 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 2: generally expected right now, and you start seeing really disappointing 234 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 2: earnings outcomes obviously outside the magnificent seven, they could certainly 235 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 2: trigger it. 236 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 4: Secondly, if rate cuts disappoint. 237 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 2: The fair does look poised to potentially cut rates, but 238 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 2: they've got the problem of Donald Trump looks likely to 239 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 2: assume the presidency, and if Republicans get both houses, you 240 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 2: could have a massive negative supply side shock for the 241 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 2: US economy via significant. 242 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 4: Immigration curves, big tower. 243 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 2: Big tariff, So they will be some highly inflationary which 244 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:09,080 Speaker 2: puts you an incredibly difficult position as the FED, as 245 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 2: it makes it very hard to cut into a slowing economy. 246 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 2: So that I think is going to be quite a 247 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:18,320 Speaker 2: tricky point in the macro for the US market in 248 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 2: the next few months. So the politics are almost going 249 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 2: to matter as much as the economics. There's also I 250 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 2: think significant risk around the US fiscal position. They are 251 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 2: running a cyclically adjusted deficit of six seven percent of GDP. 252 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 2: That deficit will only grow if there's every decent recession 253 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 2: in the US as reckless fiscal policy, which navarating agencies 254 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 2: who have downgraded the US have said, part of reason 255 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 2: I've done so as there's no institutional capability to run 256 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:51,959 Speaker 2: that fiscal policy in So that's a danger in time, 257 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 2: so you'd probably see longer term bondyrds rise in that scenario. 258 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 2: And probably the other thing is purely on Magnificent seven. 259 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 2: We're just starting to see these questions asked, what is 260 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 2: the use case whatever returns to the investment. On the 261 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 2: other hand, if a video comes out with a far 262 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 2: better chip, it's far faster, then no one can only think, 263 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 2: you know, we might share price go then, so you know, 264 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 2: you never want to underestimate technological process it's very easy 265 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 2: to look at the multiples get or bearish and not 266 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 2: understand that, you know, just the rapidity of a tech 267 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 2: progress that can be made and the use cases that 268 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 2: develop from it. So while we sort of look at 269 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 2: it and scratch your head, you just you have to 270 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 2: be a little bit careful and think about what could 271 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 2: be if things go right. 272 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 3: Of course, there's the pricing in the market. 273 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 1: Then there's the actually the actual underlying business that you 274 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:50,000 Speaker 1: will need to take into account as well. Everything you've 275 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 1: just listed off there, though, those are all questions of 276 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 1: play in the market, and investors hate uncertainty. How are 277 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 1: prices and valuations where they are now when there's all 278 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 1: of those enormous questions political questions at play. 279 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, it's a very good question. Whichever way you 280 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 2: cut it. The US market does look very expensive, whether 281 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 2: it's on various valuation ratios. One indicator people will occasionally 282 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 2: look at as the so called buffet indicator, which is 283 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 2: total US market cap to GDP. It's just set a 284 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 2: new all time record. However, and when interest rates with 285 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 2: zero now, part of that's because the market's dere part 286 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 2: of that's because more of the US business sector is 287 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 2: listed than. 288 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 4: It used to be. 289 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 2: But you make of that what you Well, the multipools 290 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 2: are up there. People are believing in good case outcomes. 291 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 2: Maybe they will come about. But if they don't, that's 292 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 2: where the risk lies. 293 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 1: On the spectrum of bull to bear and Matt, we're 294 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 1: are you sitting currently square in the middle? Oh, you're 295 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 1: allowed to be if you could lean one way. 296 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 2: It depends on by market. I think for the US 297 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 2: markets moderately bearish, but I certainly have to say from 298 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 2: here where's Conversely, for the much benighted Kiwi market, which 299 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 2: has struggled for years, have to say moderately bullish from 300 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 2: here as we enter a finally enter a rate cut cycle. 301 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 4: So yeah, quite a divergence. 302 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 1: Well perfect, because I was going to ask you about 303 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 1: our market just while I have you chicily, when do 304 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 1: you think the Reserve Bank may actually cut rates? Are 305 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 1: you in the November camp? Do you think earlier as 306 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:36,239 Speaker 1: a possibility. 307 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 4: Yeah? It's interesting, isn't it. 308 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 2: They're quite material in their decision making, being surprisingly hawkish 309 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 2: in may to giving a speech walking that back partially 310 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 2: last month and now walking it back further yesterday. What 311 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 2: we think they should do as a first cut in August. 312 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 2: What I'll probably do is really set the groundwork for 313 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 2: it in August and then possibly even do fifty in November. 314 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 2: Certainly twenty five, recive the market's pricing about sixty by 315 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 2: November with fifty percent chance of a cut in August, 316 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 2: as we have a market's pricing it this morning now. 317 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 2: And what's changed is we've seen the economy slowing for 318 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 2: quite some time, but inflation has been really sticky. Finally, 319 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 2: over the last few weeks, I've started to see some 320 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:24,199 Speaker 2: evidence that inflation's finally coming down, So I mean, have 321 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:25,720 Speaker 2: a medicine's finally doing its job. 322 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 1: So you think they're going to signal pretty hard over 323 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 1: the next few months and then we'll see something if 324 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 1: we do. 325 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 3: When of what size are you talking about? 326 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:34,920 Speaker 2: I would hope they do twenty five and twenty five. 327 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:38,359 Speaker 2: I suspect what may happen is fifty in November. But 328 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 2: it's going to be data dependent. There's going to be 329 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,160 Speaker 2: a lot more data to come out, and are clearly 330 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 2: paying attention to things like you know, a monthly AM 331 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 2: their Business Outlook survey, have a messy university GDP and 332 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 2: inflation now data those sorts of things so now, which 333 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:55,880 Speaker 2: is good. You never made a mistake in May. It's 334 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:57,959 Speaker 2: good they haven't dug themselves a whole. I've looked at 335 00:17:57,960 --> 00:17:59,680 Speaker 2: the evidence and they've changed their view. 336 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 1: A fifty basis point cut, on the face of it 337 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 1: could be quite shocking, but the market's already pricing it, 338 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 1: so it would unlocks be unlikely to change anything. 339 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 4: If they don't do fifty. 340 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 2: If we see a surprisingly higher inflation outcome, you know, 341 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 2: that's yeah, that's where things change again, you know. And 342 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:19,359 Speaker 2: the market's pricing mid hundreds over the next twelve to 343 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 2: eighteen months, what does it take us back to sort 344 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 2: of a four to low fours for the ocr What. 345 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: Does it say to you the fact that the market 346 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:28,399 Speaker 1: for months has been pricing rate cuts and way ahead 347 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: of what the Reserve Bank itself has been forecasting. 348 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:33,439 Speaker 2: If the market is an excellent wayne machine at times, 349 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 2: and I think on this time, this occasion, the market's. 350 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:36,360 Speaker 4: Got it right. 351 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 2: And fortunately of the Reserve Bank, while they had it wrong, 352 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 2: has seen the evidence and changed your view. So at 353 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:46,680 Speaker 2: one point it's frustrating and sort of puzzling at VMA's 354 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:49,679 Speaker 2: statement and just what economic models we are using. 355 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:53,160 Speaker 4: But thankfully I've looked at the evidence and changed your view. 356 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 1: Now I do just want to go back to the 357 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 1: New Zealand equity market, because before I came down here, Matt, 358 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 1: I just had a quick look at the latest on 359 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,640 Speaker 1: your long short funds. Your largest long position is on 360 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:07,439 Speaker 1: our insurance company, Tower, and I've just released an insurance episode, 361 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: so my head is still full of all of the 362 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:13,919 Speaker 1: complexities of insurance. Please give us your brief bullcase for Tower. 363 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:17,639 Speaker 2: Yeah, we were right a bit early on it. 364 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 4: It has fair to say it hasn't always on you 365 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 4: forgetting that well, but it's. 366 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:26,120 Speaker 2: Been a phenomenal performer the last few months. Look, insurance 367 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 2: is a classic cycle, and they were caught by rapidly 368 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 2: rising claims cost inflation. And you can only reprice for 369 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 2: that gradually as your policies roll over over the course 370 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:41,160 Speaker 2: of the year and revery. Insurance costs went through the roof, 371 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 2: and they had a whole series of events. Crime was 372 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 2: significantly higher in their assumptions, so both it wasn't just 373 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:50,440 Speaker 2: the cost of the claims, it was the quantity of 374 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 2: the claims. Is way higher than I'd expected when the 375 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:54,160 Speaker 2: insurance was priced. 376 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 3: None of this is sizing up to a billcase man. 377 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:00,880 Speaker 2: But of course, what's finally happened, if you could look 378 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:03,120 Speaker 2: forward twelve to eighteen months and see it in slow motion, 379 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 2: is that they've been able to reprice for the cost inflation. 380 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 2: I've been able to reprice for the greater quantity of 381 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 2: claims and for the higher reinsurance costs. And just as 382 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:19,359 Speaker 2: I've gone through repricing all of that, suddenly have a 383 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 2: reinsurance costs starting to not go up as quickly, for 384 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 2: quantity of claims has stopped rising, and claims cost inflation 385 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 2: isn't as nasty as it was. And then the cherry 386 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 2: on top is after several years where we had a 387 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 2: series of catastrophes, this year have been none, so they 388 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:43,119 Speaker 2: have a very significant retained deductible that they pay a 389 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 2: first hit on major earthquakes, floods, what have you. So 390 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 2: there could be a very significant profit instrument as well. 391 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:54,880 Speaker 2: So yeah, in our view, it still looks very interesting. 392 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 2: But it is a classic cyclical, and it's finally gotten 393 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:01,439 Speaker 2: on to the right part of a cycle. It's not 394 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:04,399 Speaker 2: widely followed, so I don't think people sort of just 395 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 2: really cut it onto the earnings power. You know that 396 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 2: they're going to have for the share in the next 397 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 2: couple of years. 398 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 1: Focusing on the same fund, but looking at the flip side, 399 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:15,280 Speaker 1: you're shortening the likes of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. 400 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 1: But also interestingly wes Farmers, which owns Bunnings and km Art, 401 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:24,120 Speaker 1: they've had pretty incredible times worth spending given that they 402 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 1: are cheaply priced. So what makes you not like that stuff. 403 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 2: We's Farmers is a great business. Camart's a great business. 404 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:31,119 Speaker 2: My wife loves it. 405 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 3: I find that's a signal to her to stop spending. 406 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:37,919 Speaker 4: There now she can spend there as much as you are. 407 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 4: It's so cheap. 408 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 3: Very true that. 409 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:45,400 Speaker 2: The issue is bunning. The Australian economy is a bit 410 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:49,720 Speaker 2: behind us. The RBA was slow to titan, probably even 411 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 2: has to tighten forever even as we ease. Bunnings has 412 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:56,160 Speaker 2: gone ex grift for at least several years, and that's 413 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 2: by far the biggest business of wes Farmers. And at 414 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:01,920 Speaker 2: the same time time, weez Farmers is at load of 415 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,399 Speaker 2: mid thirties pe multiples, way more expensive than it was 416 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 2: even when bond yards were zero. 417 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:11,359 Speaker 4: So it's a great business and it's growing, but it's still. 418 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:13,919 Speaker 2: Relatively small in the whole, and they've also invested a 419 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 2: significant amount in a liftium business, and it's a good 420 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 2: liftium business, but lithium's lithium is a very abundant element 421 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:22,679 Speaker 2: in the UF's crust and all of those people who 422 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 2: are bullished on lithium and now finding that out, so 423 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:26,880 Speaker 2: it's going to be very hard to make money out 424 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 2: of that. 425 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 1: So shortening Weeze Farmers kind of speaks to that whole 426 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 1: conversation we've just had about the fact that it may 427 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 1: be a great business and people are still spending there, 428 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 1: but its price is ultimately unattractive right now, Oh. 429 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 2: That's right, Yeah, that's right, and possibly a little bit 430 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:46,160 Speaker 2: of earn intersk as the Australian cycle slows down at 431 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:48,199 Speaker 2: a time when it's an all time record multiples. So 432 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:52,119 Speaker 2: it's certainly sometimes when you short things, you look for 433 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 2: high multiples and downgrade risk and it fits into that camp. 434 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:59,200 Speaker 2: And other times you look for busted businesses which could 435 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 2: potentially go to zero, although you have to be very 436 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:04,480 Speaker 2: careful of because if you get that wrong, they can 437 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:06,320 Speaker 2: rise very significantly as well. 438 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:08,440 Speaker 1: We may have to do another future episode and buster 439 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 1: businesses that'd be awesome. Thank you so much your time 440 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 1: that I really appreciate it. 441 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 4: Thanks for coming in