This week on The Art of Investing, Sophie Cocker steps in as host alongside Mark “Spice” Holden and Chris “CJ” Fellingham. Special guest, Claire Flynn Levy, author of “Stock Market Maestro’s” explores what truly separates top investors, and why behaviour, not stock picking, often drives long-term success.

The team use their extensive experience across wealth and hedge fund management to unpack another strong week for global markets, even as oil rises, geopolitical tensions linger and macro signals remain mixed.

US equities continue to push higher, with the S&P 500, NASDAQ and small caps all hitting fresh highs. Meanwhile, emerging markets and Japan are also gaining momentum, raising the question: is this still the AI-driven rally, or something more structural?

This Week’s Highlights:

🧠 Investor Behaviour Matters, From The Book ‘Stock Market Maestro’s’

Why managing losses and position sizing often matters more than picking winners.

📈 Markets Defy Expectations

US equities hit new highs despite rising oil prices and ongoing uncertainty.

💻 Tech & AI Still Leading

Magnificent Seven strength continues, with AI-driven productivity shaping markets.

🌏 Global Markets Broadening Out

Emerging markets and Japan rally, suggesting gains are spreading beyond mega caps.

🇬🇧 UK & Europe Lag

Weakness persists amid rate pressure, political uncertainty and slower AI adoption.

Portfolio Snapshot - Week 36:

No changes were made to the portfolio this week.

Weekly performance: +1.3%

Total return since inception: +19.07%

Top Performers

🥇 VanEck Crypto & Blockchain Innovators ETF: +8.55%

🥈 iShares Russell 2000 ETF: +2.77%

🥉 iShares Core MSCI EM IMI ETF: +2.26%

Underperformers

📉 BlackRock World Mining Trust: –1.55%

📉 iShares Core FTSE 100 ETF: –0.89%

📉 Invesco Stoxx Euro 600 ETF: –0.52%

Portfolio Positioning:

The portfolio remains tilted toward growth and global diversification, with:

• Strong exposure to US equities and AI beneficiaries

• Positions in emerging markets and Japan

• Commodities exposure alongside defensive assets

The team maintain conviction but acknowledge increasing uncertainty around what’s driving markets.

Big Questions This Week:

• Is this still the AI trade, or something else?

• Why are markets rising despite macro headwinds?

• Are investors underestimating US strength?

• When should you act, and when should you stay patient?

What You’ll Learn

✔️ Why you don’t need to be right more than 50% of the time

✔️ How top investors manage winners vs losers

✔️ Why cutting losses is critical to long-term returns

✔️ How AI is already impacting markets and productivity

✔️ Why behaviour often matters more than stock picking

📈 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.

Beat The Street Competition:

More Info here: https://bts.ig.com/uk/beat-the-street/home

📋T&Cs: The “Beat the Street” competition is open to UK legal residents aged 18+ and there’s a limit of one registration per person. The promoter is IG Trading and Investments Ltd and you can enter and find full T&C’s at ig.com/uk/beat-the-street.

Forget Stock Picking. What Makes a Great Investor?

The Art of Investing