The Modern Investor

Bond yields are climbing to levels not seen in decades. 

That matters well beyond the bond market – particularly when so much of the US economy is riding on an AI investment boom.

This week on Market Open, Finimize CEO Carl Hazeley joins Reda to unpack what’s driving the sell-off in government bonds, why inflation and mounting debt are making investors nervous, and how higher borrowing costs could put pressure on the AI trade.

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Nvidia just delivered another huge quarter, with revenue growth expected to accelerate next year. Yet after everything that’s happened to the stock, its valuation is starting to look surprisingly modest.

This week on Market Open, Reda and Russ digest Nvidia’s latest numbers, and discuss whether some of its biggest beneficiaries might actually be cheap.

They also turn to America’s growing debt problem. With US national debt now above $40 trillion and borrowing costs rising, why is fixing it so politically difficult?

Plus, the increasingly awkward choice facing the Fed as inflation remain...

China is spending roughly one dollar on AI for every eight spent by America. But for investors, having less money to spend doesn’t necessarily mean fewer opportunities.

In the second week of our summer hiatus, we’re giving you another preview of Research Drops – investment research normally available exclusively to Finimize Pro members.

Finimize analyst Theodora Lee Joseph looks beyond China’s biggest tech names to follow where the country’s AI spending is actually going…and where the winners are. 

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The best investors aren’t always the ones making the smartest calls. Sometimes, they’re simply the ones making fewer costly mistakes.

Today we’re doing something a little different: giving you a taste of Research Drops - investment research normally available exclusively to Finimize Pro members.

Inspired by Barry Ritholtz’s How Not To Invest, our Head of Content Reda Farran looks at the bad ideas, bad numbers, and bad behaviors that can quietly derail a portfolio - and why accepting that you’ll sometimes be wrong might actually make you a better investor.

Head...

For years, the American consumer has been the reliable engine of the US economy. Right now, though, some of the most important spending is happening somewhere else entirely.

In this week's episode of Market Open, Reda and Russ chew through the vast sums flowing into data centers and compute, why Wall Street is finding new ways to finance it, and how long today's extraordinary demand can continue.

Plus, why Europe is starting to look like an interesting diversification play if the tech trade turns.

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Markets rebounded quickly last week. But beneath the recovery are some bigger questions about leverage, valuations, and where the AI trade goes next.

This week on Market Open, Reda and Russ unpack what's really driven the recent sell-off - from a highly leveraged hedge fund to renewed questions around AI spending and market valuations.

Plus, they run through the latest Big Tech earnings, why bond markets are questioning the Fed, and what Japan's currency intervention could mean for investors.

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Some of the world's most valuable companies are staying private for longer than ever. 

So by the time they reach the stock market, have everyday investors already missed the biggest opportunity?

In today's episode, Reda's joined by Ben Black, Co-founder of Akkadian Ventures and CIO of Powerlaw Corp, to get to brass tacks about how private markets are changing, and what that means for the average investor.

Ben also breaks down the different ways investors can gain exposure to private companies, the risks and rewards of private market investing, and why the next g...

Is the AI trade entering a new phase?

In this week's episode of Market Open, Reda and Russell unpack another eventful week for markets. They discuss SK Hynix's record-breaking US listing, why some investors are starting to question whether AI stocks have run too far, and what the latest moves in memory chips could mean for the companies building the next generation of AI.

In this episode:

Inflation may have slipped from the headlines, but is it really behind us?

This week on Market Open, Reda and Russell explore why inflation could prove more persistent than investors expect - even before this year's Middle East conflict. 

They also turn to one of the biggest shifts happening inside the AI boom: why memory chip makers are gaining pricing power, what it means for the hyperscalers pouring billions into AI infrastructure.

Plus: South Korea's volatile week, the latest on AI spending, and the key events investors should be watching in t...

Introducing Market Open: a new weekly show from The Modern Investor. 

Each week, Finimize analysts Reda Farran and Russell Burns chew over the biggest stories in markets, what they mean for investors, and what they're watching in the week ahead.

In todays episode....

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Is Bitcoin digital gold, a risk asset, or something entirely different?

In the first episode of The Modern Investor Podcast, Finimize CEO Carl Hazeley sits down with Chris Bendiksen, Head of Bitcoin Research at CoinShares, to unpack one of the most debated assets in modern investing.

They discuss Bitcoin's fundamentals, whether it can act as a safe haven during periods of market turbulence, as well as Chris's outlook on Bitcoin's long-term future.

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Higher oil prices have rippled through markets since the war in Iran began, weighing on companies exposed to fuel costs, transport disruptions, and inflation pressure.

In this episode, Finimize Analyst Russell Burns joins the pod to talk about a basket of eight stocks he believes could rebound quickly if tensions ease and the Strait of Hormuz reopens. These are businesses the market has punished during the crisis - and which may benefit disproportionately if energy prices and supply chains begin to normalize.

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AI needs chips. But it also needs cables, power lines, and infrastructure most investors rarely think about.

Finimize Analyst Theodora Lee Joseph joins the pod to talk about Prysmian, a company positioned right where two major trends collide: the AI data center boom and the global upgrade of the electricity grid.

We discuss why this quieter industrial name may still offer a compelling way to invest in the next phase of AI infrastructure growth.

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SpaceX may be heading for one of the biggest IPOs in market history - and one of the most closely watched.

In this episode, Finimize Analyst Reda Farran joins the pod  to examine the investment case behind a potential listing that could value the company at nearly $2 trillion. We look at what investors would actually be buying: a launch business, Starlink’s fast-growing satellite network, and expanding ambitions in AI.

We also explore the harder question beneath the hype: can even an extraordinary company justify an extraordinary price tag?

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Every month, we go back to the numbers.

In this episode, Finimize Analysts Reda Farran, Russell Burns, and Theodora Lee Joseph join the pod for our May Research Performance Update - a review of how the ideas inside the Finimize Portfolio have actually performed, and what we’re changing now.

Since launch in October 2024, our analysts’ picks have delivered an average return of 29%, beaten their benchmarks by 13 percentage points, and posted an 83% hit rate. We discuss a new position in Daikin, growing pressure on Nike, Intel’s exit from the portfolio, and where the next opport...

Daikin Industries makes products most people rarely think about - air conditioners, heat pumps, the systems that keep offices, homes, and factories running. But it’s become harder for investors to ignore since Elliott Management disclosed a major stake in the company.

In this episode, Finimize Analyst Russell Burns joins the pod to explore why the activist fund has turned its attention to Daikin, and what it may be seeing in one of Japan’s best-known industrial businesses. We also discuss the longer-term case, and why Russ is adding the firm to the Finimize Portfolio.

AI needs power. Lots of it. And that demand is starting to ripple far beyond data centers.

Today, Finimize Analyst Theodora Lee Joseph joins the pod to follow that ripple into a much bigger story: the global effort to upgrade and expand the electricity grid. What began as a constraint for AI is now turning into a multi-trillion-dollar investment theme, spanning everything from transmission lines to transformers.

We talk through what’s driving the surge in demand, how this builds on Theodora’s earlier data center portfolio, and - most importantly - the companies she’s usin...

What can two centuries of market data tell us about investing today? 

In this episode, Reda Farran walks through a landmark study covering 200 years and 56 economies - and the 13 lessons that consistently hold up across cycles, regimes, bubbles, crashes, and inflation. 

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Gold has pulled back. The question is whether that move signals a shift, or an opportunity.

In this episode, Finimize Analyst Russell Burns joins the pod to unpack what’s driving the recent weakness, and why the broader case for gold may still be intact. 

We look at the macro backdrop, how sentiment has changed, and why price moves don’t always tell the full story.

We also focus on how to invest in it. Rather than buying gold directly, Russell makes the case for gold miners — and the ETF he’s using to gain e...

March wasn’t easy on markets. So let’s assess the damage and make a plan.

In this episode, our analysts' cover how their investment ideas are holding up in the real world.

Since their launch in October 2024, the Finimize portfolio has delivered an average absolute annualized return of 25%, beating benchmarks by an annualized 10%, and sits at a 70% “hit rate” – meaning most of the calls made money.

So we're breaking down what worked, what didn’t, and what direction the portfolio takes from here.

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Theon International doesn't make a lot of noise – but maybe it should. 

It's a small company, worth under $3 billion, but already showing the kind of traits that rarely turn up together: strong growth, solid margins, and good visibility on future earnings. 

Add in a tailwind from rising defense budgets and some smart expansion into new product lines, and Finimize analyst Theodora Lee Joseph thinks you've got a compelling stock for patient investors.

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Healthcare investing isn't always about blockbuster drugs – sometimes the best opportunities hide in profitable niches. 

In this episode, we sit down with Finimize analyst Russell Burns to dig into Harrow, an ophthalmology pharma company whose stock has dropped 30% in recent weeks despite a still-strong growth outlook.

With shares up 400% over five years – dwarfing the S&P 500 – Russell explains why this pullback might be the entry point investors have been waiting for.

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The AI boom has a growing problem: it needs an enormous amount of power. Data centers are already pushing electricity grids to their limits, and building new ones on Earth is getting harder, slower, and more expensive.

So some of tech’s biggest names are thinking bigger - and higher. In this episode, Finimize analyst Reda Farran joins the pod to explore the idea of putting data centers in low Earth orbit. It sounds like science fiction, but the logic is gaining attention: near-limitless solar power, fewer land constraints, and a new frontier for AI infrastructure.

...

Every month, we open the books.

In this episode, the Finimize team join the pod to review how our investing ideas have actually performed. We go through the winners, the laggards, and the positions that tested our conviction - all tracked publicly, with live numbers.

Since launch in October 2024, the portfolio has delivered a 42% average absolute annualized return, beaten its benchmarks by 19% annualized, and achieved a 76% hit rate. 

But performance stats only matter if you understand what’s driving them. 

So we break down what worked, what didn’t, and where we see...

Rolls-Royce is one of those stocks that sounds like it should be tapped out by now. The shares are up more than tenfold, the turnaround story is well known - and yet, the valuation debate is only getting louder.

In this episode, Finimize Analyst Theodora Lee Joseph joins the pod. She's been rethinking her long-standing US-centric investing approach and landed on an unexpected name: Rolls-Royce Holdings. 

Not the cars - the industrial engine-maker powering aircraft, defense systems, data centers, and potentially nuclear reactors in the years ahead.

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London Stock Exchange Group isn’t a flashy name in the AI boom. It doesn’t build chips or train models. But for years, it’s quietly made money doing something far less glamorous - selling the infrastructure, data, and plumbing that global markets rely on every day.

In this episode, Finimize Analyst Russell Burns joins the pod to talk about why recent fears around AI disrupting financial data have hit London Stock Exchange Group so hard, why the selloff may have gone too far - and ultimately, why it makes the firm a scintillating opport...

Making food from air sounds futuristic, but the investment opportunity is actually...quite down to earth. 

In today's episode, Finimize Analyst Reda Farran rejoins the pod to break down his updated outlook of Solar Foods, from product launches to production plans and a key financing step forward. 

Some of the story is still about big vision and breakthrough tech. But a growing part of it is about execution, scale, and what the updated valuation says about the potential upside - and the risks - from here.

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On today's show, Guy sits down with Finimize Analysts Reda Farran, Theodora Lee Joseph, and Russell Burns - to run a proper performance check on our research picks. We’re talking winners, laggards, and the positions that are quietly setting up for their next move.

And while past returns make for nice charts, the real focus here is forward-looking: what’s changed, what still holds, and where the next opportunities might be hiding.

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Everyone’s talking about AI, automation, and whatever the next big tech breakthrough might be. But some of the most reliable returns still come from businesses doing something far simpler - and doing it exceptionally well.

Today, Finimize Analyst Reda Farran joins the pod to dig into TJX Companies, the off-price retail giant behind TJ Maxx and Marshalls.

With markets looking frothy and AI valuations stretched, we talk about why this high-quality compounder offers resilience, diversification, and a potential hedge if the hype fades.

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Korean stocks have been on a tear, and yet, they’re still flying under the radar.

Finimize Analyst Russell Burns joins the pod to break down why South Korea’s market has surged, why valuations haven’t caught up, and what’s really behind the Kospi’s jaw-dropping run.

Most importantly, we dig into the opportunity: how investors can access this notoriously closed market, and why Korea could be one of the most mispriced opportunities in global equities right now.

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Before you start thinking about new goals and fresh trades for 2026, it’s worth taking one last look back.

In this episode, Finimize Analyst Stéphane Renevier joins the pod to review the Finimize team’s 2025 investing calls - what worked, what didn’t, and why. We break down the ideas that delivered standout returns, the themes that kept showing up, and the mistakes that offered the clearest lessons.

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Alphabet’s had a big year. 

The stock’s surged, the AI fears have faded, and even regulators have eased off, turning what once looked like a risky bet into one of the market’s standout performers.

But after a 60%-plus rally, the obvious question is: what now?

Today, Finimize Analyst Russell Burns joins the pod to reassess Alphabet from the ground up.

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Trend following sounds like something only quants, hedge funds, and giant computer systems can pull off - but it doesn’t have to be. 

In this episode, Finimize Analyst Stéphane Renevier breaks down a surprisingly simple version of the strategy that anyone can run in just ten minutes a month.

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What can two centuries of market data tell us about investing today? 

In this episode, Reda Farran walks through a landmark study covering 200 years and 56 economies - and the 13 lessons that consistently hold up across cycles, regimes, bubbles, crashes, and inflation. 

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Sponsored by SurfAir Mobility.

TikTok’s parent company danced its way to a $480 billion valuation – and investors were falling over each other to get in – while India’s Nifty 50 stock market index just hit an all-time high.

Today’s stories:

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Nvidia smashed all the market’s expectations and raised its forecasts for the rest of the year, while Xiaomi’s EV unit just crossed the profit finish line – and did it faster than Tesla.

Today’s stories:

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Volatility’s back – and technical analysis might be having a moment.

In this episode, Finimize analyst Russell Burns digs into how simple tools like moving averages and MACD are helping make sense of the market’s latest zigzags.

 It’s a look at how old-school charting can offer fresh signals – and how planning your exit might just be the best entry point.

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Not every investment needs a headline-grabbing story. Some just need great economics. 

In this episode,  Finimize Analyst Theodora Lee Joseph explains why Copart - a company that makes money from totaled cars - might be one of the market’s most overlooked compounders. No hype, no buzzwords - just a scrap-heap stock with serious staying power.

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Sponsored by SurfAir Mobility.

Ray Dalio's All-Weather Portfolio is famous for its resilience, but Finimize Analyst Reda Farran's discovered how to make it smarter. 

In this episode, we break down how one trend-following tweak can turn a classic strategy into an even stronger, more consistent performer.

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Sponsored by SurfAir Mobility.

Markets are flying high...but so are the warning signs. 

In today’s episode, we bring in Finimize Analyst Stéphane Renevier to share five trades for investors who want to stay in the game - but with a safety net. 

These aren’t your classic doomsday bets: they’re pragmatic, low-cost hedges for a bubble era. 

And, sure, they’ll help if the rally rolls on. But if it doesn’t - that’s when they really shine.

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Sponsored by SurfAir Mobility.