Welcome to Disruptive Forces in Investing, a podcast series featuring Neuberger's seasoned investors who discuss trends that are transforming the investment industry and beyond.
Japanese equities have undergone one of the most significant re-ratings in the developed world — but the story is evolving. The early phase was about leaner balance sheets and better capital management. Now, under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the focus has shifted to earnings growth itself, and markets have responded in turn. Yet foreign inflows remain well below the Abenomics era peak,…
At the end of last year, Neuberger's investment leaders laid out five themes to guide investors through 2026. Since then, a regional war in the Middle East and a global oil shock have reshaped the macro landscape — testing some calls while reinforcing others. Policy divergence has exploded wider. The AI buildout has accelerated beyond expectations. And markets are navigating a frothier, more…
US equities have proven remarkably resilient this year. Despite the Middle East conflict, energy price pressures, and an uneven global backdrop, the market has powered higher on AI enthusiasm and broad-based earnings growth. But beneath the headline numbers, the questions that matter most are about durability, valuations, and what investors actually own. On this episode of Disruptive Forces, host…
Hyperscalers are spending more than $750 billion a year on AI infrastructure, and much of it is for physical hardware that needs financing. That's creating a compelling opportunity for asset-based lenders who can underwrite real collateral and contracts rather than picking technology winners. On this episode of Disruptive Forces, host Anu Rajakumar speaks with Sean Hinze of Neuberger's Specialty…
Private credit headlines have been anxiety-inducing — but not all corners of private markets face the same pressures. Roughly $4 trillion in equity investments remain inside private equity funds awaiting exits, many acquired at elevated valuations during the low-rate era. For providers of scaled, flexible capital that sits between traditional debt and equity, that pressure creates opportunity. On…
Beyond Macro: A Value Lens on Emerging Markets Equity Most investors approach emerging markets top-down: country-level macro calls, currency bets, commodity cycles. But what if those assumptions are exactly what gets in the way of potential returns? What if the single most important variable isn't the macro backdrop, but the price you pay? On this episode of Disruptive Forces, host Anu Rajakumar…
Capital markets are pricing in geopolitical uncertainty. AI is reshaping how asset managers compete. And investors are asking harder questions about who they trust with their capital. George Walker, Neuberger's Chairman and CEO, sits down with Disruptive Forces host Anu Rajakumar to share how he's thinking about all of it — straight from the themes driving his annual letter to stakeholders. On…
For years, some of the most consequential companies in technology have stayed private far longer than historical norms — growing to public-company scale without ever listing a share. Now, a significant pipeline of mega-cap private companies appears headed toward public markets, potentially reshaping the equity landscape when they arrive. The sheer scale of what may be coming is unprecedented: some…
Credit index spreads have been largely unchanged this year — but the calm surface belies a more complex picture underneath. Rising dispersion, AI-driven disruption fears, widening BDC spreads, and the military conflict in the Middle East are reshaping the risk landscape for fixed income investors — without much additional compensation showing up at the credit index level. On this episode of…
Global bond markets are starting to diverge again. After years of moving in near lockstep, correlations are breaking down as political and fiscal paths split across regions. The balance for investors is pursuing income, diversification, and flexibility without making an all-or-nothing "sell the U.S." call. On this episode of Disruptive Forces , host Anu Rajakumar speaks with Paul Grainger, Senior…