Monocle 24: The Bulletin With Ubs

The second of two specials focused on breaking barriers in economics and finance, brought to you by UBS and Monocle’s sister publication, ‘Konfekt’. This show features insights from Addition Wealth founder, Ana Mahony, and business leader Rania Anderson. Thanks to the partnership with UBS, you can read more about Mahony and Anderson in ‘Konfekt’s’ winter issue, available on newsstands now.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UBS’s head of fixed income and co-lead of the bank’s ElectionWatch report series, Kurt Reiman, joins the show to reflect on Donald Trump’s US presidential election success. In a conversation recorded as Trump finalised appointments to his cabinet, Reiman discusses the likely direction of travel for the US economy under Trump 2.0.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first of two special editions focused on investing in women and breaking economic barriers, brought to you by UBS and ‘Konfekt’, the sister publication of ‘Monocle’. Featuring insights from one of the extraordinary cohort of economists that shapes the UBS worldview: 2023 Nobel laureate Claudia Goldin. Goldin discusses the importance of fostering economic equality and empowering financial futures for all. Thanks to the partnership with UBS, you can read more about Goldin’s work in the winter issue of ‘Konfekt’, available on newsstands now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The largest survey of its kind to date, the report reveals insights into buyer behaviours and the transfer of wealth between generations of high-net-worth individuals against a backdrop of challenging economic conditions. This year’s edition gathered responses from more than 3,500 such collectors across 14 global markets, including new additions Switzerland, Mexico and Indonesia. The report’s author, cultural economist Dr Clare McAndrew, is joined by Paul Donovan, chief economist in UBS Global Wealth Management, and Art Basel CEO Noah Horowitz. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Nations Biodiversity Conference recently concluded in Cali, Colombia. On today’s programme, we discuss both the event and the theme of biodiversity more generally with two leaders in the field from UBS: lead for advocacy and nature in the chief sustainability office, Judson Berkey; and global head of sustainable and impact investing for the UBS CIO, Andrew Lee. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UBS International Pension Gap Index compares retirement systems across 25 markets based on the voluntary savings required from its participants. Its authors, James Mazeau and Elisabeth Beusch, explain why private savings are crucial to maintain an accustomed lifestyle in retirement. They explain how the index demonstrates the importance of planning and how investments can help close pension gaps. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ulrike Hoffmann-Burchardi, head CIO for equities in UBS Global Wealth Management, joins the show to discuss whether the current hype around AI technology and its adoption is justified. As capex and technical innovation continue apace, we’ll hear more about UBS’s investment framework to identify AI opportunities, shed some light on how AI actually works and highlight its implications for everything from the global economy to sustainable development.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report from the UBS Sustainability and Impact Institute explores whether key climate technologies are breaking through at the scale and pace required to address the climate crisis. William Nicolle, the author of the report, explains that despite climate tech’s vast potential for emissions reduction, there remains a tricky road ahead as most of these technologies are economically uncompetitive or as yet too immature to easily scale. We’ll hear how processes might be improved to better understand complex dependencies, and also to better inform strategic policy, investment and organisational decisions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geopolitical upheaval and increasing economic pressure have led to a rethink of the EU’s main priorities. Former ECB president Mario Draghi’s long-awaited report on the future of European competitiveness offers a blueprint for change – but can the EU shift its economic priorities and set a fresh course for growth? We’re joined by Sam Adams, economist in the UBS Global Wealth Management CIO, to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore the annual report providing an up-to-date take on global urban-housing markets and gauges the ‘bubble risk’ in residential property markets in 25 major cities worldwide. The 2024 edition charts a second successive year of slightly declining risk. We are joined from UBS by the report’s editor in chief, Matthias Holzhey, and also by Fahd Iqbal for a focus on Dubai.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our panel reflects on the US Federal Reserve decision to cut interest rates for the first time since March 2020. Paul Donovan, chief economist in UBS Global Wealth Management and Kiran Ganesh, managing director in the UBS Chief Investment Office, discuss the 50 basis-point reduction, consider the macro picture and explain what this week’s move means for investors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Paul Romer won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his work integrating technological innovations into long-run macroeconomic analysis. In May, Romer spoke to Monocle Radio on the margins of the UBS Asian Investment Conference in Hong Kong. In the latest in a series in which luminaries of economics share their unique perspectives, Romer explains the effect of human capital, innovation and knowledge on economic growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the yellow metal having rallied sharply to hit new highs, our panel explains whether they think gold will keep its hold on investors. Giovanni Staunovo and Wayne Gordon from UBS explain why the policy and risk environment, and structural demand, are combining to point to continued medium-term upturn in the price. Plus: why geopolitical fears and election-related risks continue to justify holding gold as a portfolio hedge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thomas McLaughlin, managing director at the UBS Chief Investment Office, joins the show to reflect on the recently concluded Democratic National Convention in Chicago. We discuss the broader context of Kamala Harris’s truncated campaign and consider what the latest polling tells us about November’s vote.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The final part of our special series exploring the meaning of craft in today’s world. Craft is not just about what you do but also how you go about doing it, and in this series, Monocle and UBS have been interrogating how this idea comes to life across different industries. Part three features the globally minded, Zürich-based designer, architect and educator Charles O Job.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The next in our special series exploring the meaning of craft in today’s world. Craft is not just about what you do but also how you go about doing it, and in this series, Monocle and UBS are interrogating how this idea comes to life across different industries. Parttwo features Kathryn Sargent, the first woman to earn the title of “master tailor” on London’s Savile Row; and Lowie Vermeersch, founder and creative director of the car design and mobility research firm, Granstudio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first in a special series exploring the meaning of craft in today’s world. Craft is not just about what you do but also how you go about doing it: the ability to gaze both backwards and forwards; to recognise heritage and skill, and combine it with a compelling vision. In this series, Monocle and UBS are interrogating how these tenets come to life across different industries. Part one features Paul Donovan, chief economist of UBS Global Wealth Management, and Monocle’s editor, Josh Fehnert, discussing how craft can shape everything from banking to storytelling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘The Red Thread’ publication by UBS Asset Management is released bi-annually and tackles topics from different angles to help readers find common threads and make sense of important trends. We focus on a chapter from the recent Disruption edition of ‘The Red Thread’ unpacking the history – and looking to the future – of lending disruption. Featuring John Popp, Joe Sciortino and Rodrigo Trelles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss the effect of Joe Biden’s decision not to stand for re-election and throw his support behind vice-president Kamala Harris. What does the move mean for the race? And what does that mean for investors as we head towards November’s vote? Joining the show are Tom McLoughlin, UBS senior fixed income strategist, and David Lefkowitz, UBS head of US equities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look ahead at H2 2024 and, more specifically, towards November’s US presidential election. With the US deciding its next leader, AI continuing to advance and interest rates likely to be cut, there is much for investors to focus on as they consider their options this year and beyond. Looking ahead for us on the show are Kiran Ganesh, Dominic Schnider and Nadia Lovell of UBS.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.