NOW Ep117: WEF2026 | What markets will be watching in Davos

Loading player...
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting is here and markets are paying attention. As leaders gather in Davos, the conversations will likely shape risk premiums, capital allocation and investor confidence in the months ahead.
In episode one of our special Davos Debrief podcast series, host Jeremy Maggs is joined by Chris Holdsworth, Chief Investment Strategist at Investec, to cut through the noise and focus on what really matters for investors.

Podcast key moments:
00:00 - Introduction
01:49 - How should investors interpret the 2026 Global Risks Report findings
02:28 - Does a shift in risk weighting change the thinking around capital allocation and diversification?
03:03 - Are investors underestimating the economic side of global risk?
04:47 - Are investment opportunities and risks in a more multipolar or contested economic order?
05:24 - Where do you see growth potential right now, both in developed economies and in emerging markets?
07:03 - How should investors balance their innovation upside with systemic risk exposure?
08:02 - How do investors think about resilience, whether for portfolios, for businesses or economies?
08:47 - What are the three signals or outcomes that you'll be watching closely at WEF2026?
10:03 - From an investment perspective, how material are positive economic signals from South Africa?
11:55 - What’s the one thing investors should be watching this week when it comes to South Africa's positioning in global portfolios?

Read more on www.investec.com/now

Hosted by seasoned broadcaster, Jeremy Maggs, the No Ordinary Wednesday podcast unpacks the latest economic, business, and political news in South Africa, with an all-star cast of investment and wealth managers, economists and financial planners from Investec. Listen in every second Wednesday for an in-depth look at what's moving markets, shaping the economy, and changing the game for your wallet and your business.
Chapters
  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:49 How should investors interpret the 2026 Global Risks Report findings
  • 02:28 Does a shift in risk weighting change the thinking around capital allocation and diversification?
  • 03:03 Are investors underestimating the economic side of global risk?
  • 04:47 Are investment opportunities and risks in a more multipolar or contested economic order?
  • 05:24 Where do you see growth potential right now, both in developed economies and in emerging markets?
  • 07:03 How should investors balance their innovation upside with systemic risk exposure?
  • 08:02 How do investors think about resilience, whether for portfolios, for businesses or economies?
  • 08:47 What are the three signals or outcomes that you'll be watching closely at WEF2026?
  • 10:03 From an investment perspective, how material are positive economic signals from South Africa?
  • 11:55 What’s the one thing investors should be watching this week when it comes to South Africa's positioning in global portfolios?
18 Jan English South Africa Business · Investing

Other recent episodes

Macro Monday Ep124: AI capex and competition concerns weigh on stock markets

Increased competition among LLMs and uncertainty about the return on investment on AI capex are all weighing on the market performance on momentum stocks, such as semiconductor firms. Chris Holdsworth, Global Chief Investment Officer, Investec Investment Management, looks at some of the dynamics in global stock markets.
20 Jul 8 min

NOW Ep 131: South Africa’s consumer crunch

Are South African consumers past the worst of the fuel shock? Household budgets have been hit by higher fuel prices, rising inflation and pressure on real wages. But fuel prices are starting to fall. The risk is timing. Will relief arrive before households are forced to cut back further? Host…
14 Jul 24 min

Everything Counts | Episode 51: Managing global travel disruption

In this episode of Everything Counts, we unpack the real-world impact of geopolitical tension on global travel, from grounded flights and closed airspace to the human stories behind stranded passengers. What happens behind the scenes when airlines, advisors, and entire systems are forced to respond in real time? Host Motheo…
14 Jul 29 min

Macro Monday Ep123: Headwinds and tailwinds for global growth

Global GDP growth looks set to be around 3% this year, as the global economy deals with headwinds from a supply shock because of the war with Iran and tailwinds from artificial intelligence spending, says Chris Holdsworth, Chief Investment Strategist, at Investec Wealth & Investment International. While US and Chinese…
13 Jul 9 min

Macro Monday Ep122: Markets have a good first half of the year

Despite the war in the Gulf, the last six months have been good for global equities. While the US market’s performance has been in line with the overall global performance, the standout has been South Korea, which, says Chris Holdsworth, Chief Investment Strategist, at Investec Wealth & Investment International, has…
6 Jul 9 min