Robeco Asset Management Podcast

Investing is evolving fast, and next-gen signals are at the forefront of that evolution. But what arethey? In the sixth episode of this new series on quant investing, Iman Honarvar Gheysary returns to unpack these developments for us.

The first 100 days of Donald Trump’s return to the White House have been marked by sweeping change: executive actions, heightened trade tensions, and growing uncertainty seem to be the new normal. In this episode, we evaluate how these early policy moves by the new US administration are reshaping the global economic landscape, and what it all means for investors.

‘In times of turmoil you see where the crowded trades are’, says strategist Martin van Vliet. He explains what happened on the bond market that made Trump blink, and discusses where safe havens can be found when US Treasuries crumble.

Delve into the exciting intersection of AI and quant investing! Discover how recent advancements are reshaping the landscape, from enhancing report writing to analyzing risk factors. Explore the balance between innovative AI applications and the challenges of building robust infrastructure. The discussion also touches on the historical impact of technology on finance jobs, revealing both challenges and new opportunities arising from this digital evolution.

President Trump blinked and markets worldwide rally. Is this an opportunity to take risk off the table or are we back in ‘risk on territory’? China faces even higher tariffs, while the historically rock-solid safe-haven status of the US dollar starts to show some cracks.

In this episode we cover five of the key questions clients have dropped with us over the past few days when Trump’s tariffs wreaked havoc on financial markets.

Joshua Crabb, the Head of Asian Equities at Robeco, shares his insights on the recent turmoil in global markets stemming from US tariff hikes. He discusses the paradox of watching a significant market event unfold that many anticipated. Crabb emphasizes the impact of these tariffs on investment strategies and the resulting anxiety over technology valuations. He also highlights the importance of strategic patience and proactive portfolio adjustments to navigate this volatility, while identifying opportunities in resilient companies.

Colin Graham, Co-head of Investment Solutions at Robeco, shares his expertise on current market challenges from London. He discusses the indiscriminate selling trends among hedge funds and how this fuels market volatility. Graham highlights the impact of recent U.S. tariff hikes and the plummeting effectiveness of traditional investment strategies. He emphasizes the shift toward safer assets like bonds and the need for strategic diversification. Additionally, he touches on navigating commodity markets and the value of maintaining a long-term investment focus during downturns.

Broad factor groups help explain long-term returns and, indeed, form the framework for quantitative stock selection models. In the fourth of this new series on Quant Investing we meet again with Matthais Hanauer, researcher and director at Robeco, to find out more about the perfect quant stock

Global markets are reeling from unpredictable US policy shifts – from tariff wars to geopolitical moves – all of which has left emerging market equity investors on edge. Positioning portfolios for 2025 and beyond demands a clear grasp of regional, country, and sector dynamics. Investors are looking for alternatives to US Big Tech companies and start adding regions with more attractive valuations and decent prospects.