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This week on The Art of Investing, Rich McDonald, Mark “Spice” Holden and Chris “CJ” Fellingham unpack a quietly powerful week in markets.While headlines remain focused on AI, tariffs and geopolitics, European markets are breaking higher, bonds are behaving, and liquidity is quietly driving asset prices.The team explores why risk assets continue to rally despite macro uncertainty, and why the bond market remains the ultimate signal to watch.Plus: a deep dive into portfolio volatility using AI, the silver short squeeze debate, and what could finally derail this bull run.This Week’s Highlights:📈 Europe Leads AgainFTSE 100 hits fresh highs, the DAX continues to climb, and the Euro Stoxx 600 builds momentum.🏦 Bonds BehavingUS 10-year yields hit 12-month lows. No panic. No inflation scare. Why does it matter?🤖 AI = Disinflation?Is productivity from AI quietly suppressing inflation expectations?🪙 Silver Squeeze TalkIs there really a conspiracy in silver, or just classic retail momentum?🌍 Emerging Markets BuildPortfolio exposure increases as global growth expectations strengthen.📊 AI Analyses the PortfolioCJ uses AI to calculate portfolio volatility in minutes, and the results may surprise you.Portfolio Snapshot - Week 27:Weekly performance: +0.5%Total return since inception: +17.3%Top Performers🥇 iShares Core FTSE 100 ETF: +2.4%🥈 Invesco Stoxx Europe 600 ETF: +2.0%🥉 Xtrackers DAX ETF: +1.9%Underperformers📉 VanEck Crypto & Blockchain Innovators ETF: –0.5%📉 Nikkei 225 ETF: 0.0%📉 Cash: +0.1%Portfolio Positioning:The portfolio remains tilted toward:• European equities• Emerging markets• US small and mid-caps• Commodities exposureCash and bonds remain limited (~20% combined), keeping overall volatility aligned with the S&P 500, but with broader geographic diversification.Big Themes This Week:• Liquidity is still abundant• AI may be structurally disinflationary• Bond markets are calm, for now• Cyclical exposure remains the key risk• Dollar weakness would benefit positioningThe central question:As long as bonds behave, does this rally have further to run?What You’ll Learn:✔️ Why bond yields are the most important signal in markets✔️ How AI could structurally lower inflation✔️ Why European markets are outperforming the US✔️ How to measure portfolio volatility properly✔️ Why silver squeezes rarely end well📈 Download the full Portfolio Performance SlidesView the portfolio breakdown: here📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.comSubscribe for weekly investing insight and to follow the live portfolio in real time.DisclaimerThis 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.February IncentiveGet up to £3000 when you transfer your ISA to IG.Earn 1% cashback up to £300k when you transfer your ISA before 5th April.Use Promo Code ISAPODCASTNew share dealing customers only. Offer available 31st Jan to 5th April 26. T&Cs apply.📋T&Cs :www.ig.com/uk/transfer-1-percent-cashback-feb-26
This week on The Art of Investing, Rich McDonald, Mark “Spice” Holden and Chris “CJ” Fellingham unpack a quietly powerful week in markets.
While headlines remain focused on AI, tariffs and geopolitics, European markets are breaking higher, bonds are behaving, and liquidity is quietly driving asset prices.
The team explores why risk assets continue to rally despite macro uncertainty, and why the bond market remains the ultimate signal to watch.
Plus: a deep dive into portfolio volatility using AI, the silver short squeeze debate, and what could finally derail this bull run.
📈 Europe Leads Again
FTSE 100 hits fresh highs, the DAX continues to climb, and the Euro Stoxx 600 builds momentum.
🏦 Bonds Behaving
US 10-year yields hit 12-month lows. No panic. No inflation scare. Why does it matter?
🤖 AI = Disinflation?
Is productivity from AI quietly suppressing inflation expectations?
🪙 Silver Squeeze Talk
Is there really a conspiracy in silver, or just classic retail momentum?
🌍 Emerging Markets Build
Portfolio exposure increases as global growth expectations strengthen.
📊 AI Analyses the Portfolio
CJ uses AI to calculate portfolio volatility in minutes, and the results may surprise you.
Weekly performance: +0.5%
Total return since inception: +17.3%
🥇 iShares Core FTSE 100 ETF: +2.4%
🥈 Invesco Stoxx Europe 600 ETF: +2.0%
🥉 Xtrackers DAX ETF: +1.9%
📉 VanEck Crypto & Blockchain Innovators ETF: –0.5%
📉 Nikkei 225 ETF: 0.0%
📉 Cash: +0.1%
The portfolio remains tilted toward:
• European equities
• Emerging markets
• US small and mid-caps
• Commodities exposure
Cash and bonds remain limited (~20% combined), keeping overall volatility aligned with the S&P 500, but with broader geographic diversification.
• Liquidity is still abundant
• AI may be structurally disinflationary
• Bond markets are calm, for now
• Cyclical exposure remains the key risk
• Dollar weakness would benefit positioning
The central question:
As long as bonds behave, does this rally have further to run?
✔️ Why bond yields are the most important signal in markets
✔️ How AI could structurally lower inflation
✔️ Why European markets are outperforming the US
✔️ How to measure portfolio volatility properly
✔️ Why silver squeezes rarely end well
📈 Download the full Portfolio Performance Slides
View the portfolio breakdown: here
📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com
Subscribe for weekly investing insight and to follow the live portfolio in real time.
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.
February Incentive
Get up to £3000 when you transfer your ISA to IG.
Earn 1% cashback up to £300k when you transfer your ISA before 5th April.
Use Promo Code ISAPODCAST
New share dealing customers only. Offer available 31st Jan to 5th April 26. T&Cs apply.
Looking to turn Market Chaos into Investing Clarity?
Welcome to The Art of Investing - a brand new podcast that transforms market noise into clear investing strategies. Brought to you by IG, global investing platform, FTSE 250 and over 50 years in the markets.
This isn't your typical finance show.
Whether you're taking your first steps into the investment world or you're a seasoned investor looking to sharpen your edge, you've found your new secret weapon.
Every Friday, join hosts Rich McDonald, Mark Holden & Chris Fellingham – three investing legends bringing you a combined century of market wisdom. They'll decode the week's biggest moves, reveal the hot topics that could make or break a portfolio, and share the insights that separate winners from wishful thinkers.
But here's where we blow every other podcast out of the water:
Introducing our live Model Portfolio. With IG's access to thousands of global markets, you'll watch our strategy unfold in real-time, unfiltered investment action, that you can follow.
Every week, we'll pull back the curtain on exactly how the portfolio is performing. The wins, the losses, the lessons learned – it's all here. This is investing education with skin in the game.
Are you ready to master the art of investing?
This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice, financial planning guidance, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments. All discussions regarding the model portfolio are for educational purposes only. Past performance is not an indication of future results. 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.