Former AFL champion turned macro investor Chris Judd returns to unpack the biggest forces shaping markets right now. From the Iran conflict and energy security to the AI arms race, US interest rates, gold and Australia’s productivity problem, Chris explains where he thinks consensus is getting it wrong and how he's positioning the Cerutty Macro Fund to take advantage of the next wave of macro trends. In this episode: 00:00 – Chris changes his view on Australian small caps 03:24 – Iran, the Strait of Hormuz and why energy matters 08:07 – Is Australia at the top of the rate cycle? 09:24 – Why Chris disagrees with consensus on US rates 13:54 – The real bubble is in bonds 19:17 – Will AI create a productivity boom? 24:07 – Positioning the portfolio for the AI race 31:23 – Australia's gas tax and energy policy debate 35:51 – Gold, central banks and sovereign reserves 41:23 – The most overlooked investment themes 43:47 – The best business Chris has ever seen: Tether 45:33 – Why Claude is his investing tool of choice 46:19 – Final investing advice: know your game ETFs & stocks mentioned: Gold, Oil, Natural Gas, Copper, Uranium, Helium, Sulphur, Bitcoin, Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU), Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), OpenAI, Anthropic, SpaceX, Zoom Communications (NASDAQ: ZM), SK Telecom (NYSE: SKM), Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC), Santos (ASX: STO), BHP Group (ASX: BHP), Ramelius Resources (ASX: RMS), Tether, US Treasuries, US Dollar For Flowpower, go to flowpower.com.au/residential/equitymates and use code EM50 to score an extra $50 welcome credit when you sign up to Flow Power. T&Cs apply. ——— 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) We’re particularly excited to share our latest show: Basis Points Listen to the podcast (Apple | Spotify) Watch on YouTube Read the monthly email ——— 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 Research reports from Good Research Track your portfolio with Sharesight——— This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes only. Any advice is general advice and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs. If unsure, speak to a financial professional. The host of this podcast and their guests may have positions in the companies mentioned. Equity Mates Media is part of the Betashares Group but maintains editorial independence and operates under Australian Financial Services licence 540697. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.