This week on The Art of Investing, Rich McDonald, Mark “Spice” Holden and Chris “CJ” Fellingham bring over 100 years of combined experience across wealth and hedge fund management to unpack a dramatic rebound across markets, as a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East sends oil lower, rate expectations ease, and risk assets rally hard.

With bonds recovering, equities surging and some of the hardest-hit areas snapping back sharply, the team ask whether this is the start of a more durable recovery, or simply relief after weeks of pressure.

They also revisit the case for the US, Japan and bonds, debate whether the portfolio should add more risk here, and answer listener questions on how to think about positioning in fast-moving markets.

As always, the key theme remains: when markets move fast, discipline matters more than drama.

This Week’s Highlights:

🕊️ Ceasefire Relief Rally

A two-week ceasefire helps trigger a broad rebound in risk assets and a sharp fall in oil.

⛽ Oil Price Drops Back

A 15% fall in oil eases inflation fears and takes pressure off rate expectations.

🏦 Bond Markets Recover

Gilts and treasuries bounce as markets scale back the chance of further rate hikes.

🇺🇸 US Back in Focus

The team revisit whether the S&P 500 now offers better value after recent derating.

🇯🇵 Japan Rebounds Strongly

Japanese equities rally as lower energy prices improve the outlook.

🧠 Discipline Over Noise

Why the best response to volatile headlines is often patience, not panic.

Portfolio Snapshot - Week 34:

Weekly performance: +5.1%

Total return since inception: +16.2%

Top Performers

🥇 VanEck Crypto and Blockchain Innovators ETF: +11.9%

🥈 BlackRock World Mining Trust PLC: +10.8%

🥉 iShares Nikkei 225 ETF: +8.0%

Underperformers

📉 Cash: +0.1%

📉 iShares $ Treasury Bond 7–10 yr UCITS ETF: +0.5%

📉 iShares UK Gilts 0–5yr ETF: +0.6%

Portfolio Positioning:

The portfolio remains diversified across:

• Commodities and real assets

• Global equities (US, UK, Europe, EM)

• Small and mid-cap exposure

• Bonds and cash as stabilisers

This week’s move shows how quickly leadership can reverse when macro pressure starts to ease.

Big Questions This Week:

• Will the ceasefire hold long enough for markets to keep recovering?

• Is the US starting to look attractive again?

• Are bonds still worth holding versus equities?

• When should investors add risk back in?

What You’ll Learn:

✔️ Why oil matters so much for inflation and rate expectations

✔️ How quickly markets can reprice when fear fades

✔️ Why bonds don’t always outperform during stress

✔️ How to think about adding risk after a sharp rebound

📈 Download the full Portfolio Performance Slides

View the portfolio breakdown: here

📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com

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Disclaimer:

This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments. All discussions regarding the model portfolio are illustrative and for educational purposes.

Your capital is at risk. The value of shares, ETFs and ETCs can fall as well as rise, which could mean getting back less than you originally put in.

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