Investec Focus Radio SA

AI agents have entered the workplace, robots are edging closer to our homes and billions continue to flow into the infrastructure powering artificial intelligence. But as technology advances, are the returns keeping pace with expectations?

In this episode of No Ordinary Wednesday, Investec Global Equity analysts David Smith and Zane Bezuidenhout join Jeremy Maggs to examine the year's defining technology trends, the debate over an AI bubble and the companies best placed to benefit. From the future of work to the economics of AI, they unpack what 2026 has taught investors and what to watch in 2027 and beyond. Investec Focus Radio SA

Global equities continue to advance, while US corporate earnings continue to beat expectations. Taking into account these ongoing beats, notes Global Chief Investment Officer Chris Holdsworth, the overall US market now trades at just under 20 times earnings, which is not excessive by historical standards. Investec Focus Radio SA

The US economy continues to grow, thanks to ongoing investment into AI, and despite federal government indebtedness and higher inflation because of rising fuel prices. One area where the strain is showing though, says Global Chief Investment Officer Chris Holdsworth, is in the housing market, where mortgage rates are climbing and applications are falling. Should weaker house prices follow, this will be a headwind for consumer spending. Investec Focus Radio SA

AI investment is supporting growth, but its wider benefits remain uneven. Where will global capital go next, and what will businesses pay to access it?

In this special edition of No Ordinary Wednesday, Cumesh Moodliar, CEO of Investec South Africa, and Andrew Lillywhite, head of bank funding group at Investec UK, share first-hand insights from their time at the 2026 IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok. Drawing on conversations at the meetings, they examine the forces shaping global investment. They also identify signals that could support investment, from more stable long-term interest rates to the potential impact of a stronger South African credit rating. Investec Focus Radio SA

The war in the Middle East continues to weigh on markets and the economy, with second round effects showing up in US inflation numbers, notes Investment Strategist at Investec Investment Management Osagyefo Mazwai. The tech sector was the biggest loser in the days following the US inflation print. Investec Focus Radio SA