Investec Focus Radio UK
Investec Focus Radio UK features conversations between leading minds and other experts on economics, investments, business and working culture and topical issues beyond wealth.
Middle East conflict: Counting the cost of disruption
Markets are sending a surprisingly calm signal in the face of escalating conflict with Iran. Oil prices are rising, supply chains are under pressure, and recession risks are quietly ticking higher, yet equities remain relatively steady. In the latest episode of No Ordinary Wednesday, Jeremy Maggs is joined by Investec…
S04 Ep25 Energy Market Update: Brent surges toward $120 before volatile retreat
Oil markets experienced extreme volatility last week as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East created significant uncertainty around global supply. Brent crude briefly surged toward $120/b, its highest level since 2022, as it became clear the conflict in the region could be prolonged. Prices later fell sharply, briefly nearing…
S04 Ep24 Energy Market Update: Brent surges past $100 amid escalating Gulf tensions
With no sign of the Strait of Hormuz reopening, energy markets are facing an extraordinary supply shock. Around 20% of global oil supply has effectively become unavailable, pushing Brent crude above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022. While an emergency G7 meeting to discuss a coordinated reserves…
S04 Ep23 Energy Market Update: Strait of Hormuz in focus: What escalation means for global oil
Brent crude surged above $80 per barrel, after escalating conflict in the Middle East sharply increased fears of disruption through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes. Just days earlier, Brent had been trading near $73, with markets broadly assuming that US-Iran negotiations would…
S04 Ep22 Energy Market Update: Crude climbs while Europe’s energy prices advance
Oil reached a fresh yearly high as US-Iran tensions intensified, with Washington boosting military presence while leaving room for negotiations. Markets rallied after Trump suggested a 10–15 day window for a deal, though speculative positioning remains measured, with strong demand for high-strike call options signaling limited expectations of a major…
S04 Ep21 Energy Market Update: Oil swings as U.S.–Iran talks keep markets on edge
Oil markets continue to gyrate as shifting signals from Washington and Tehran fuel uncertainty ahead of the next round of nuclear talks in Oman. Mixed rhetoric from both sides has left Brent caught between easing risk premium and renewed geopolitical tension, with traders closely watching for clearer direction. Please note:…
S04 Ep20 Energy Market Update: Oil eases after U.S.–Iran talks, but risks remain
Oil prices softened into the end of last week following talks between the U.S. and Iran, which were described by both sides as constructive. While the meeting has eased immediate fears and pushed Brent back to around $67/b from recent highs near $70/b, markets remain cautious given the long road…
S04 Ep19 Energy Market Update: Brent retreats after Iran fears ease
Brent surged above $70/b last week, nearing $72/b, as markets priced in the risk of U.S. military action against Iran. Sentiment has since cooled after confirmation that talks are under way, with prices easing back toward $65/b. While the immediate risk premium has faded, uncertainty around the outcome of negotiations…
S04 Ep18 Energy Market Update: Brent pushes above $66/b on renewed supply risks
Brent crude has climbed above $66/b this morning, its highest level since Iran-related tensions peaked earlier this month. The rally reflects renewed geopolitical nervousness and a series of supply-side disruptions, prompting markets to price in a higher short-term risk premium. Please note: this podcast is provided for information purposes only…
S01 E14 What next? Leadership conversations for a better future: Bridging the trust gap
In this episode, we examine the erosion of trust between institutions and communities, and why rebuilding legitimacy depends on place-based, locally led approaches Mike Kenny and Jacinta Koolmatrie. The views in this podcast are those of the contributors, and don’t necessarily represent those of CISL, the University of Cambridge, or…
S01 E13 What next? Leadership conversations for a better future: Making the investable:
We are joined by Helena Norrman (SSAB), Sang-Hyup Kim (GGGI) and Marina Grossi (CEBDS – Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development). Together, we focus on how leaders can accelerate clean and green growth by tackling real execution challenges. The views in this podcast are those of the contributors, and don’t…
S04 Ep17 Energy Market Update: Iran-related volatility drives oil higher
Oil markets were volatile last week as tensions around Iran pushed Brent close to $67/b before easing back below $64/b after fears of imminent U.S. military action subsided. While the immediate risk premium has faded, prices remain elevated compared with earlier this year, reflecting ongoing concerns over potential disruptions to…
S01 E012 What next? Leadership conversations for a better future: Reclaiming the future
How can we harness AI to deliver human progress, not just corporate profits? Listen today to gain a clearer idea of how the promise of AI’s excites with possibilities. We speak to Vilas Dhar, President of Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and philanthropist, technologist and advocate for human-centred AI, to discuss…
S01 E011 What next? Leadership conversations for a better future: Changing minds, changing markets
Michael Liebreich and Rory Sutherland lift the lid on how to shift behaviour at scale to achieve the energy transition. Marc Khan and Lidnsey Hooper interview the pair on the sociopolitical backlash we have seen in some sectors with regard to climate action. The views in this podcast are those…
S04 Ep16 Energy Market Update: Geopolitics Back in focus ahead of 2026 hedging discussion
Before turning to our 2026 Hedging Considerations note circulated on Friday, markets are digesting developments in Iran over the weekend. Rising tensions and the risk of broader regional instability have added a fresh geopolitical premium to oil prices, with Brent firming as investors assess the potential implications for supply and…
S04 Ep15 Energy Market Update: Where do things stand after the US action?
Political uncertainty in Venezuela has resurfaced as a risk factor for oil markets, with US intervention and mixed signals around a leadership transition driving short-term price volatility. Despite this, Venezuela’s constrained and sanctioned production limits its immediate impact on global supply. Please note: this podcast is provided for information purposes…
S01 E010 What next? Leadership conversations for a better future: How philanthropy can fuel economic transformation
We sit down with two leaders reshaping philanthropy, Peter Bennett and Leslie Johnson. Philanthropy funds much of the world’s high-risk innovation, early-stage ideas and new economic thinking - often long before markets or governments are able to act. So what role can it play in driving systemic change? The views…
S01 E09 What next? Leadership conversations for a better future: Rewiring finance for a better future
In this episode, we sit with guests, former Group Chairman of Standard Chartered, José Viñals, Sarah Kemmitt, former lead of the UN Net Zero Banking Alliance, and Dr. Nina Seeger, Director, CISL Centre for Sustainable Finance, to explore how finance can accelerate sustainable development more effectively. From addressing the mispricing…
S01 E08 What next? Leadership conversations for a better future: Bridging political fault-lines
Gillian Tett and Professor Bob Eccles join us as we examine how anti-ESG sentiment and political tensions are reshaping climate policy, corporate behaviour, and markets, and what leaders can do to navigate this landscape. The views in this podcast are those of the contributors, and don’t necessarily represent those of…
S01 E07 What next? Leadership conversations for a better future: The meaning deficit
We examine what many describe as a growing ‘meaning deficit’ in society. Along with Sudhanshu Palsule, Gillian Secrett, and Richard Springer, they explore how fragmentation, consumerism and polarisation erode our sense of purpose, and discuss how leaders can help rebuild meaning. The views in this podcast are those of the…