This week marks a first: our debut guest, Charles Hall, Head of Research at Peel Hunt, joins Sophie (making her own debut as host) alongside Chris Fellingham and Mark “Spice” Holden. Together, they tackle one of the hottest topics in finance right now: what happened to the UK stock market, and can it make a comeback?

From pensions and regulation to stamp duty and sovereign wealth funds, this episode dives into the structural challenges holding the UK back – and the changes needed to make London a top-tier market again.

What’s Hot This Episode

Global Markets: S&P 500, NASDAQ, Dow Jones and Nikkei all hitting new highs
China Stimulus Hopes: Hong Kong and EMs at multi-year highs
Gold & Silver: Back at record levels (14-year high for silver)
Non-Farm Payrolls: Data issues, Trump drama, and what it means for Fed policy
OPEC Moves: Supply increase offsets Middle East tensions

Guest Spotlight: Charles Hall

Why UK pensions stopped funding UK equities
How regulation, taxation, and passive investing reshaped the market
The shrinking pool of UK-listed companies – and why that matters
Steps that could make Britain investable again: regulation reform, tax incentives, and financial education
The case for a British sovereign wealth fund

Portfolio Update

Performance: +2.59% since launch (up 1.5% this week)
Winners: VanEck Blockchain ETF +6.3%, BlackRock World Mining +4.7%, Japan +4%
Laggards: Copper -0.6%, DAX -0.3%
Debate of the Week: Should the team take profits on gold after a 40% run, or hold on?

❓ Listener Takeaways

Why all-time highs are normal – not a sell signal
Cash ISAs vs Stocks & Shares ISAs – what’s better for long-term wealth
Why UK investors are (unknowingly) funding the US economy
How better financial education could change investment behaviour

📄 Download the Portfolio ETFs List here

📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com

Disclaimer:

This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice, financial planning guidance, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any securities. All portfolio discussions are for educational purposes only. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Your capital is at risk.

FTSE vs Wall Street: Can the UK compete?

The Art of Investing