After a miserable year for living standards, Brits are feeling much better about their lives and their futures. But how much will that move the dial for retail spending and economic growth?

Our Rathbone Global Opportunities Fund manager James Thomson celebrates a phenomenal 20 years at the helm this November. He looks back and wonders about his youthful exuberance.

The team cast their minds back to the days before we knew what COVID was and when inflation was considered conquered to review an investment report they published in 2019 called Ditch the Models. Which of these models the team suggested ditching panned out the way they expected? And are there any others that could do with being ditched today? The swiftly growing animal health sector is the final topic as the team discuss how to avoid the dogs in the space and hopefully end up as the cats who got the cream.

With an array of UK retailers struggling and the housing market slump deepening, the team discuss managing exposure to the UK and why they are keeping an eye on the escalating government clampdown on Airbnb. Also, in recognition of National Inclusion Week, the team share how they think about diversity when investing and why Nike, one of the few consumer stocks they hold, is one company that has navigated this area successfully.

The team discuss the very different approaches to government investment in the US and UK and how this impacts the relative attractiveness of those economies. Next-generation weight loss drugs have grabbed the headlines of late, but unpicking the long-term impacts of these treatments on businesses is fraught with difficulty. Then, in the interests of balance, the team turn to alcohol and burgers as they discuss their recent switch from drinks giant Diageo to fast-food behemoth McDonalds.

Is US President Joe Biden’s huge infrastructure stimulus bending the US Treasury yield curve more than Beckham at the dead ball? Moderating inflation hasn’t stopped long-term US Treasury bond yields from whipping higher (and therefore prices falling sharply) in the past couple of months – could it be worries around government spending and the much larger amount of bonds being sold at auction? Meanwhile, earnings season has dominated stock markets recently, so the team discuss the winners and losers this time round and why. Lastly, they share why US landfill and recycling business Waste Management is more exciting than you may first think.

Watch Stuart Chilvers, Fund Manager and other panellists work through some of the UK's latest challenges from inflation to interest rates, and how those have affected Fixed Income.  

Join David Coombs, Head of Multi-Asset Investments along with three industry experts for an exclusive Masterclass discussing multi-asset investing.

Watch Alexandra Jackson, Fund Manager of Rathbones UK Opportunities Fund, alongside a panel of specialists, discuss whether it's time to start talking about the UK again, withdrawals and liquidity issues in the UK market and reforming the stock market.