Bryce and Ren bring in someone who lives in the data every day: David Bassanese, Chief Economist at Betashares, to help cut through what matters (and what doesn’t) for investors heading into 2026.They unpack five big macro themes dominating markets including inflation, AI, commodities, Trump/tariffs, and China.In this episode:00:34 Making sense of macro noise with David Bassanese01:39 Why the outlook is still constructive heading into 202603:26 Inflation update: trimmed mean, housing pressure & RBA risk07:26 AI boom vs bubble: where are we in the cycle?10:18 Commodities: gold, copper, uranium and what’s really driving prices12:54 Trump, tariffs & the US economy: what’s priced in now18:58 China, Japan & the “Great Rotation” beyond the US32:45 Sleep-at-night investing: portfolio positioning for the long termWin a $500 Visa Digital eGift Card by completing the 2026 Equity Mates Media Community Survey! The Community Survey helps us understand how we can continue to improve our content to help you on your money and investing journey. You can either complete the five compulsory questions, or take 10 minutes to give us a bit more feedback: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WRWDVTV Stocks & ETFs mentioned: BHP Group (ASX:BHP), Fortescue (ASX:FMG), REA Group (ASX:REA), Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), Alibaba (NYSE:BABA), Tencent (HKEX:0700), Betashares Japan Currency Hedged ETF (ASX:HJPN), BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX:NDQ).———Want to get involved in the podcast? Record a voice note or send us a message And come and join the conversation in the Equity Mates Facebook Discussion Group.———Want more Equity Mates? Across books, podcasts, video and email, however you want to learn about investing – we’ve got you covered.Keep up with the news moving markets with our daily newsletter and podcast (Apple | Spotify)———Looking for some of our favourite research tools?Download our free Basics of ETF handbook Or our free 4-step stock checklist Find company information on TIKR Screen the market with GuruFocus Track your portfolio with Sharesight———In the spirit of reconciliation, Equity Mates Media and the hosts of Equity Mates Investing acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. ———Equity Mates Investing is a product of Equity Mates Media. This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes. Any advice is general advice only, and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances, needs or objectives. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement. And if you are unsure, please speak to a financial professional. Equity Mates Media operates under Australian Financial Services Licence 540697. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.