This week, the team face a packed agenda: a looming US government shutdown, soaring global markets, and the first part of their quarterly portfolio review. Rich McDonald, Chris Fellingham, and Mark “Spice” Holden dig into everything from pharma stocks to sovereign wealth funds - before voting on whether the Chairman should keep his crown for another quarter.

• Best September since 2020: Global equities up 4% despite seasonal headwinds.
• All-Time Highs Everywhere: S&P 500, Nasdaq, Russell 2000, and FTSE 100 all setting new records.
• Gold Breakout: Precious metals hit multi-year highs.
• Biggest Buyout in History: $55bn leveraged buyout of Electronic Arts.
• Trump’s Busy Week: From drug price deals with Pfizer to a new sovereign wealth fund push.
• Europe’s Inflation Relief: Eurozone inflation hits 2.2%, while the UK lags at 3.8%.
• ADP Jobs Shock: Weak data spooks markets but fuels optimism for more Fed cuts.
• Shutdown Showdown: 800,000 US government workers furloughed, and markets asking: how long will it last?

• Performance to Date: Portfolio up +5.3% since inception.

• Star Performers:
• VanEck Blockchain ETF +32%
• Gold +13%
• Copper +7%
• BlackRock World Mining Trust +19%

• Laggards: DAX the weakest, India softens.

• Debates:
• Should winners like gold and crypto carry bigger weightings?
• Is 25% in cash too cautious or smart optionality?
• Risk appetite vs. sensible allocation.

📊 Quarterly Performance Slides:

We’ve pulled together the full set of portfolio performance slides so you can see exactly how the model portfolio has done over the past quarter - winners, laggards, and everything in between.

👉 View the Quarterly Performance Slides here

• How to think about quarterly reviews: scoring holdings A–E.
• The role of risk appetite in portfolio sizing.
• Why gold remains the “ultimate scarce asset.”
• What the US shutdown means (and doesn’t mean) for investors.
• Early signs of rotation: are US small caps finally worth a look?

📄 Download the Portfolio ETFs list: here

📄 Download the Portfolio Quarterly Review list: here

📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com

Disclaimer:

This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice, financial planning guidance, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any securities. All portfolio discussions are for educational purposes only. Past performance is not a reliable indicator 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.

October Free Share Bundle:

Grow your portfolio with IG. Invest £50 with IG and get a free share bundle worth between £40 and £200.*

*New customers only. Make your first investment of at least £50 into an ISA, GIA, or SIPP account by 30 October 2025. Must remain invested until 31 November 2025. Other fees may apply.

T&Cs found here: https://www.ig.com/uk/autumn-welcome-share-promotion-terms-sep-25

Rich McDonald, Chris Fellingham and Mark “Spice” Holden get their hands dirty with a deep dive into mining and metals - from copper powering AI data centres to uranium’s surprising comeback. Along the way, they tackle your big questions: is long-term investing really just about “time in the market,” or can timing it make all the difference?

This week’s market action:

• Rate cuts + record highs: S&P 500, Nasdaq, Dow, and Russell all at fresh peaks
• Gold shines: hits new all-time highs, silver not far behind
• AI arms race: Nvidia pours $100bn into OpenAI, while Apple’s iPhone 17 defies the critics
• EV shake-up: Porsche pivots back to petrol after weak electric sales
• TikTok deal drama: Oracle, Dell and Murdoch in the mix for control in the US
• Debt ceiling déjà vu: the US faces another potential government shutdown

Special Topic - Metals & Mining Deep Dive:

• Why copper is king in the AI era
• Uranium’s revival as a “clean” energy play for data centres
• How China still calls the shots on global commodities
• BlackRock World Mining Trust breakdown: exposure to Rio, BHP, Glencore, Anglo American & more
• The wild world of mining IPOs - and why some deals age better than others

Portfolio Action:

• Up 5.04% after seven weeks
• Taking some profits: trimming Nasdaq and gold holdings, parking 10% in cash (earning 4%)
• Strategy check: balancing “time in the market” with smart top-slicing

Your Questions Answered:

• Timing vs. Time in the Market: which really wins in the long run?
• Portfolio review habits: how often should you really check your investments?
• Why we prefer “quarterly check-ups” to over-trading

📄 Download the Portfolio ETFs list: here

📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com

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.

September Free Share Bundle:

Grow your portfolio with IG. Invest £50 with IG and get a free share bundle worth between £40 and £200.*

*New customers only. Make your first investment of at least £50 into an ISA, GIA, or SIPP account by 30 September 2025. Must remain invested until 31 October 2025. Other fees may apply. T&Cs found here.

For more info: IG Investment Campaign

This week, it’s all about monetary policy madness. With the Fed cutting rates for the first time in a year, the Bank of England holding fire, and central banks from Canada to Japan making moves, Rich McDonald, Chris Fellingham and Mark “Spice” Holden dive into what interest rate decisions really mean for markets.

From Fed independence under Trump to the risks of policy mistakes, the team debate whether we’re seeing the start of a full rate-cutting cycle, or just an insurance tweak. Plus: Elon Musk regains the top spot as the world’s richest man, Alphabet joins the $3 trillion club, and TikTok gets a last-minute reprieve in the US.

• Fed Cuts Rates: First move since Dec 2024 – is it the start of a cycle?
• Bank of England Watch: Inflation keeps UK policymakers on edge
• Elon Musk Strikes Back: Tesla up 30% after a $1bn buy-in
• Alphabet Joins $3 Trillion Club: Only the fourth company ever to do it
• TikTok Survives: What it means for US tech giants
• Policy Mistakes Through History: From the Great Depression to the GFC

• Performance: +3.46% in six weeks (vs 10% annual target)
• Big Winner: VanEck Blockchain ETF up 25% since purchase (but is it time to take profits?)
• Other Moves: Nikkei +1.9%, India +1.55%, S&P 500 (GBP-hedged) +1%
• Laggard: DAX down 3% since initiation

• When to Take Profits: How the team think about trimming winners
• Fragile vs Anti-Fragile Assets: Why diversification matters more than ever
• Currency Risk: Hedged vs unhedged ETFs explained in plain English
• Is Monetary Policy Broken? Why rate cuts might not hit the economy like they used to

📄 Download the Portfolio ETFs List: here

📧 Get in touch: theartofinvesting@ig.com

Disclaimer:

This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice, financial planning guidance, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any securities. All portfolio discussions are for educational purposes only. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Your capital is at risk.

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.

September Free Share Bundle

Grow your portfolio with IG. Invest £50 with IG and get a free share bundle worth between £40 and £200.*

*New customers only. Make your first investment of at least £50 into an ISA,
GIA or SIPP account by 30 September 2025. Must remain invested until 31 October 2025. Other fees may apply. T&Cs found here - https://www.ig.com/uk/autumn-welcome-share-promotion-terms-sep-25

For more info: https://www.ig.com/uk/invest-campaign