Fidelity Sound Bites

Hosted by Fidelity Australia

Business Investing

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

EN-AU

About the show

Your direct connection to some of Fidelity Australia's leading portfolio managers. Listen in every month as they tell you what’s on their mind when it comes to markets and, their portfolios, as well as special topical bonus episodes.

Listen to episodes

53 recent

May 26, 202619 min

Diversification hasn’t disappeared. It’s evolving.

Diversification has long relied on bonds offsetting equity risk. That relationship is proving less reliable, with recent shocks exposing how quickly correlations can move together. These periods tend to emerge when inflation is more volatile, as it is today. At the same time, markets are being driven by a different force, an investment-led cycle tied to AI and infrastructure, which is supporting earnings despite the noise. In this episode, Matt Quaife sits down with Lukasz to discuss why diversification is behaving differently, what this means for portfolio construction, and why these periods are among the most challenging, but also the most important, for long-term outcomes. Topics covered: The market impact of the Iran conflict and energy shock Why bonds and equities are moving together What’s driving the current investment-led cycle How to think about diversification in a higher inflation world Where opportunities are emerging across regions and sectors Portfolio construction when correlations break down For more information on Fidelity visit fidelity.com.au.Read our full disclaimer. This episode was recorded 19 May 2026See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 15, 202620 min

It’s uncomfortable to be in quality right now

Quality hasn’t failed. It’s cyclical. Over the past 40 years, quality investing has delivered strong long‑term outcomes, yet it has underperformed roughly a third of the time. The current episode stands out: nearly two years in length and around 30% of relative underperformance. History shows quality tends to lag during ‘melt‑ups’, early‑cycle recoveries and strongly risk‑on environments, the very conditions markets have experienced amid AI optimism, capex booms and improving growth indicators. Are we at the end of the underperformance cycle, or is there further to go? In this month’s podcast, Maroun Younes, Co-Portfolio Manager for the Fidelity Global Future Leaders Fund sits down with Lukasz to explore why quality strategies fall behind at certain points in the cycle, how unusual the current drawdown really is and why periods like this are often the most behaviourally challenging but also the most consequential. Learn more about how we uncover these insights with our Research Advantage. For more information on Fidelity visit fidelity.com.au.Read our full disclaimer. This episode was recorded 16 April 2026See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

March 26, 202617 min

What the growing IPO pipeline in Asia is telling investors

IPO activity in Asia is picking up, but the real story starts well before companies reach the market. Strong pipelines often reflect confidence from founders and improving conditions beneath the surface. That can create opportunities for investors willing to look ahead. Portfolio Manager for the Fidelity Special Situations and Asia Pre-IPO Strategies, Dale Nicholls and Investment Director for Private Markets, Tony Liu talk through the current IPO environment in Asia and what it reveals about private company activity. Drawing on their experience across the region, they explain how pre‑IPO investing fits into the broader opportunity set and how they think about risk, timing and growth.   Learn more about Fidelity www.fidelity.com.au We’d love to hear from you! Email us at PodcastsAustralia@fil.com with suggestions for episodes or guests. For more information on Fidelity visit fidelity.com.au. Read our full disclaimer. This episode was recorded 23 March 2026See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

February 16, 202622 min

Navigating a multipolar world

Geopolitics, policy and markets are colliding, but what does a multipolar world mean for portfolios, and why should investors be looking to true, multi‑dimensional diversification in this regime? In this episode, Salman Ahmed, Fidelity's Global Head of Macro and SAA joins Lukasz de Pourbaix to step back from the noise to frame the big forces: shifting power blocs, policy trade‑offs and changing market structures, translating them into a practical way of thinking about portfolio resilience. Expect a focus on reducing concentration risk, building durability across regimes, and using diversification to handle correlation shifts and macro surprises.  Discover what to watch, how to weigh trade‑offs, and where diversification can do the heavy lifting -whether recession risk materialises or not. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn more about Fidelity's Global Macro Outlook for 2026. We’d love to hear from you! Email us at PodcastsAustralia@fil.com with suggestions for episodes or guests. For more information on Fidelity visit fidelity.com.au. Read our full disclaimer. This episode was recorded 10 January 2026. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

December 16, 202530 min

2026 Outlook: Rotations, resources and re-ratings

Will sector rotations and AI themes reshape global markets in 2026? And how will valuation shifts and re-ratings influence where investors find growth and opportunity? In this episode of Fidelity Sound Bites, Paul Taylor, Zara Lyons, and James Abela explore the forces set to define the year ahead - from the momentum in resources and small caps to evolving valuation dynamics across sectors. They also dive into productivity trends, the implications for Australian equities, and share bold predictions for what could be a year of broader market dispersion and fresh opportunities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 12, 202519 min

Open AI, Amazon, NVIDIA: Bubble or breakthrough?

Everyone’s calling this the bubble before it bursts - and that’s a first. In this episode, Maroun Younes joins Lukasz de Pourbaix to unpack the AI boom led by mega-cap giants. Are we witnessing a historic overreach or the early innings of a structural revolution? Tune in for a candid look at valuations, capex, and the physics behind the hype and how investors can tackle this next tech era. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Explore our insights on the AI Boom and how investors can navigate this next tech era. Learn more about the Fidelity Global Future Leaders Fund and Active ETF We’d love to hear from you! Email us at PodcastsAustralia@fil.com with suggestions for episodes or guests. For more information on Fidelity visit fidelity.com.au. Read our full disclaimer. This episode was recorded 6 November 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 3, 202526 min

Asia: From factories to tech powerhouse

Twenty years ago, Asia was the world’s factory floor. Today, it’s powering the future of EVs, semiconductors, and AI. Join Fidelity’s Gary Monaghan and Lukasz de Pourbaix as they unpack how the region has evolved, what’s stayed the same, and where the biggest opportunities lie for the years ahead. Want more? Discover the Fidelity Asia Fund and ETF We’d love to hear from you! Email us at PodcastsAustralia@fil.com with suggestions for episodes or guests. For more information on Fidelity visit fidelity.com.au. Read our full disclaimer. This episode was recorded 3 July 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 5, 202513 min

BONUS | Australia's banking giant: Why CBA continues to lead

CBA took centre stage in the 2025 reporting season and is top of mind for many Australian investors. Sell or buy more? As part of this reporting season’s recap, we’ve asked our Australian equities portfolio managers to weigh in with their views for a detailed discussion on the ASX 200’s top stock. Discover what drives CBA’s powerhouse performance, from unmatched customer loyalty and tech-forward investments like AI to overcoming the country’s most unusual credit cycle. Our experts break down why CBA stands out as a clear market leader, how it manages challenges despite premium valuations, and what investors should watch for from Australia’s financial sector titan in the year ahead. Learn more about investing in Australian Equities. We’d love to hear from you! Email us at PodcastsAustralia@fil.com with suggestions for episodes or guests. For more information on Fidelity visit fidelity.com.au. Read our full disclaimer. This episode was recorded 2 September 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 4, 202531 min

Reporting season recap: Decoding market dispersions

Results are in, and dispersion is rewriting the rules on the ASX. We’ve brought together an expert panel to unpack what’s fuelling the wild swings between winners and losers this reporting season. Discover how macro trends, AI innovation and shifting consumer confidence are reshaping valuations, sector rotations and growth prospects for Australian companies. This episode reveals what’s moving the market, who’s thriving and where opportunity (or risk) is hiding for investors right now. Learn more about investing in Australian Equities. We’d love to hear from you! Email us at PodcastsAustralia@fil.com with suggestions for episodes or guests. For more information on Fidelity visit fidelity.com.au. Read our full disclaimer. This episode was recorded 2 September 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 14, 202516 min

Beyond human bias: The systematic advantage

Systematic investing often gets lumped in with opaque, black-box quant models that seem impossible to explain. But the best strategies can be anything but mysterious. At their core, they’re about applying consistent rules, managing risk with discipline, and making decisions driven by data. So how can incorporating systematic strategies help strip out bias and improve portfolio consistency?This month Lukasz speaks with Matt Jones, Portfolio Manager for Fidelity’s Global Systematic strategies where they discuss the systematic advantage - a process that’s rules-based, risk-aware, and adaptable to multiple investment styles. Discover how they can achieve more consistent results, meet transparency demands, and better align with portfolio objectives. We’d love to hear from you! Email us at PodcastsAustralia@fil.com with suggestions for episodes or guests. For more information on Fidelity visit fidelity.com.au. Read our full disclaimer. This episode was recorded 6 August 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.