When Geopolitics Moves Markets, Most Portfolios Aren't Ready

East Coast Capital Management

March 2026

3-minute read

Funds operated by this manager:

ECCM Systematic Trend Fund

Beyond scale: rethinking the engine room of European infrastructure

abrdn

February 2026

(4-minute read)

Funds operated by this manager:

abrdn Sustainable Asian Opportunities Fund , abrdn Emerging Opportunities Fund , abrdn Sustainable International Equities Fund , abrdn Global Corporate Bond Fund (Class A)

1. Gigawatt hours
2. Carbon dioxide equivalent
3. Terawatt hours

Ben McVicar discusses the data centre effect

Magellan Investment Partners

February 2026

(6-minute read)

Power demand is rising again. And this time, it is not a short-term cycle.

Ben McVicar, Co-Head of Infrastructure and Portfolio Manager at Magellan, sees a decisive shift underway.

"There's an upswing in power demand that is data centre related."

After more than a decade where electricity demand barely moved, data centres are changing the equation. Systems that once operated in a world of flat consumption are now under pressure to expand capacity and fund the next wave of build-out.

That shift matters.

In this Q&A, McVicar explains where he believes the market is misreading the landscape, how supply constraints are shaping investment decisions, and why patience remains a competitive advantage. 

What's your most recent investment and why?

We operate a low-turnover portfolio, but one of the more substantial positions we have entered of late is Cellnex (BME: CLNX). The business is the largest mobile tower company in Europe. 

Which investment did you add to your watchlist this week?

We have a universe of about 130-140 companies. It's a tightly defined list, so not a lot falls in and out often. These are all high-grade infrastructure companies that have met the quality thresholds we require. 

So the watch list doesn't change too much. But things move up and down on our radar. The companies highest on our radar are the mobile phone tower companies like Cellnex, but also its peers across the Atlantic. 

What is the most recent investment you have trimmed or sold and what drove this decision?

We have trimmed our position in Italgas (BIT: IG) after a very strong run. This is a gas utility in Italy that is run by a very strong management team. They acquired the second-largest gas network in Italy and expect to create significant synergies from the combined company. But as the price has gone up, the opportunity has narrowed. 

What's your favourite chart or data point from this week?

This shows the levelised cost of energy estimates. There's an upswing in power demand that is data centre related. This is a change from the 2005-2020 experience, where power demand growth was limited. This is leading to pressure to develop new power capacity. 

Gas generation is viable but constrained by supply chain bottlenecks. 

This makes renewables the most cost-effective and available source of new power. Combined with national and corporate carbon targets, this explains the ongoing investment we're seeing in the technologies. 

What was your weekly high - a standout market moment or highlight

Vinci (EPA: DG), a French infrastructure and contracting business, went up almost double-digit on its results. This is a long-standing position, and we've added to it during dips caused by French political turmoil. It's good to see the market focused on the robust fundamentals of this business. 

What was your weekly low - a market disappointment or challenge?

Customer power prices have gone up as demand has gone up in many regions. In the US utilities, we're diving into the risks and opportunities that come from the outlook of customer rate affordability and the impacts of an election year in many states. 

What first drew you to markets and what continues to keep you inspired today?

I knew I wanted to be an investor before I even started uni. The craft of investing, finding opportunity and building a portfolio to take advantage of these opportunities while managing risk is an endlessly interesting job to be in.

What's one piece of advice you'd give to new investors?

Be patient, don't overestimate your abilities and wait for the opportunity that jumps off the page at you. You'll know it when you see it.

How do you unwind when you're not thinking about the market?

Why would you do that? But seriously, exercise. I find I need active 'rest' to stop me thinking about different opportunities or problems I'm focused on in markets.

Rapid fire! 

Favourite investing book?

Snowball by Alice Schroeder.

Favourite investing or finance/markets-related podcast?

I enjoy listening to learn new ideas - the Knowledge Project Podcast (Shane Parish).

The first thing you read each morning?

I check how the portfolio is trading and then get onto the international press (FT, etc.).

Favourite restaurant?

Continental Deli - Newtown.

Something people are surprised to learn about you?

I first started dating my (now) wife when I was 16 and she was 15. I get the impression it's unusual for my generation!

Funds operated by this manager:

Magellan Global Fund (Open Class Units) ASX:MGOC , Magellan Infrastructure Fund , Magellan Global Opportunities Fund No.2 , Magellan Infrastructure Fund (Unhedged) , Magellan Global Fund (Hedged) , Magellan Core Infrastructure Fund , Magellan Global Opportunities Fund Active ETF (ASX:OPPT)

Important Information: This material has been delivered to you by Magellan Asset Management Limited ABN 31 120 593 946 AFS Licence No. 304 301 trading as Magellan Investment Partners ('Magellan Investment Partners') and has been prepared for general information purposes only and must not be construed as investment advice or as an investment recommendation.  This material does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. This material does not constitute an offer or inducement to engage in an investment activity nor does it form part of any offer documentation, offer or invitation to purchase, sell or subscribe for interests in any type of investment product or service. You should obtain and consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement ('PDS') and Target Market Determination ('TMD') and consider obtaining professional investment advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making a decision about whether to acquire, or continue to hold, the relevant financial product. A copy of the relevant PDS and TMD relating to a Magellan Investment Partners financial product may be obtained by calling +61 2 9235 4888 or by visiting www.magellaninvestmentpartners.com

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results and no person guarantees the future performance of any financial product or service, the amount or timing of any return from it, that asset allocations will be met, that it will be able to implement its investment strategy or that its investment objectives will be achieved. This material may contain 'forward-looking statements'. Actual events or results or the actual performance of a Magellan Investment Partners financial product or service may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements.

This material may include data, research and other information from third party sources. No guarantee is made that such information is accurate, complete or timely and no warranty is given regarding results obtained from its use. This information is subject to change at any time and no person has any responsibility to update any of the information provided in this material.  Statements contained in this material that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs of Magellan Investment Partners or the third party responsible for making those statements (as relevant). Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. No representation or warranty is made with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any of the information contained in this material. Magellan Investment Partners will not be responsible or liable for any losses arising from your use or reliance upon any part of the information contained in this material.

Any third-party trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners and Magellan Investment Partners claims no ownership in, nor any affiliation with, such trademarks.   Any third-party trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners, are used for information purposes and only to identify the company names or brands of their respective owners, and no affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement should be inferred from such use. This material and the information contained within it may not be reproduced, or disclosed, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Magellan Investment Partners. (080825-#W17)

Chris Gosselin, CEO of FundMonitors.com, spoke with Dean Fergie, Director & Portfolio Manager at Cyan Investment Management and Martin Pretty, Director at Equitable Investors.

They discussed the sharp market volatility during the latest reporting season, driven by elevated expectations around AI, shifting investor sentiment, and significant valuation resets across industrial stocks. The conversation also explored how changing money flows, speculation, and indexing influenced portfolio management and highlighted the importance of diversification in an increasingly volatile investment environment.

Chris Gosselin, CEO of FundMonitors.com, spoke with Dean Fergie, Director & Portfolio Manager at Cyan Investment Management and Martin Pretty, Director at Equitable Investors.

They discussed the sharp market volatility during the latest reporting season, driven by elevated expectations around AI, shifting investor sentiment, and significant valuation resets across industrial stocks. The conversation also explored how changing money flows, speculation, and indexing influenced portfolio management and highlighted the importance of diversification in an increasingly volatile investment environment.

How to get the most from Fundmonitors 

Webinar Recording

FundMonitors.com

04 August 2025

To help you get a better understanding of the www.fundmonitors.com database, watch this webinar recording to help you learn to navigate the database and get the most out of its powerful fund analytics. 

The webinar covered the following:

• Accessing the site
• Selecting and comparing funds
• Peer group analysis
• Building and managing a watchlist
• Creating a portfolio
• FACTORS Research

If you like to see just 1 aspect of the webinar feel free to jump to the relevant timestamp:

Chris Gosselin, CEO of FundMonitors.com, speaks with Simone Haslinger, Chief Executive Officer at East Coast Capital Management.

They discuss ECCM's systematic global trend-following strategy, recent strong performance driven by broad trends across commodities, currencies, and equity markets, and how disciplined risk management supports consistent results. The interview also highlights the importance of diversification and the role trend-following strategies can play in strengthening portfolios amid changing market conditions.

Funds operated by this manager: ECCM Systematic Trend Fund

Magellan Global Equities Quarterly update January 2026

Magellan Investment Partners

January 2026

(Viewing time: 14 mins)

Against a backdrop of elevated market volatility, shifting monetary policy and divergent market dynamics, Portfolio Managers Alan Pullen and Casey McLean share their latest quarterly update on the Magellan Global Equities strategy. They discuss the impact of diverging interest-rate paths, the maturing AI trade and signs of a rotation in global equity markets. They also reflect on company earnings, broader market conditions and where they see opportunities. Looking ahead, Alan and Casey share their outlook and how the portfolio is positioned.

Funds operated by this manager:

Magellan Global Fund (Open Class Units) ASX:MGOC , Magellan Infrastructure Fund , Magellan Global Opportunities Fund No.2 , Magellan Infrastructure Fund (Unhedged) , Magellan Global Fund (Hedged) , Magellan Core Infrastructure Fund , Magellan Global Opportunities Fund Active ETF (ASX:OPPT)

Important Information: This material has been delivered to you by Magellan Asset Management Limited ABN 31 120 593 946 AFS Licence No. 304 301 trading as Magellan Investment Partners ('Magellan Investment Partners') and has been prepared for general information purposes only and must not be construed as investment advice or as an investment recommendation.  This material does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. This material does not constitute an offer or inducement to engage in an investment activity nor does it form part of any offer documentation, offer or invitation to purchase, sell or subscribe for interests in any type of investment product or service. You should obtain and consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement ('PDS') and Target Market Determination ('TMD') and consider obtaining professional investment advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making a decision about whether to acquire, or continue to hold, the relevant financial product. A copy of the relevant PDS and TMD relating to a Magellan Investment Partners financial product may be obtained by calling +61 2 9235 4888 or by visiting www.magellaninvestmentpartners.com

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results and no person guarantees the future performance of any financial product or service, the amount or timing of any return from it, that asset allocations will be met, that it will be able to implement its investment strategy or that its investment objectives will be achieved. This material may contain 'forward-looking statements'. Actual events or results or the actual performance of a Magellan Investment Partners financial product or service may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements.

This material may include data, research and other information from third party sources. No guarantee is made that such information is accurate, complete or timely and no warranty is given regarding results obtained from its use. This information is subject to change at any time and no person has any responsibility to update any of the information provided in this material.  Statements contained in this material that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs of Magellan Investment Partners or the third party responsible for making those statements (as relevant). Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. No representation or warranty is made with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any of the information contained in this material. Magellan Investment Partners will not be responsible or liable for any losses arising from your use or reliance upon any part of the information contained in this material.

Any third-party trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners and Magellan Investment Partners claims no ownership in, nor any affiliation with, such trademarks.   Any third-party trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners, are used for information purposes and only to identify the company names or brands of their respective owners, and no affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement should be inferred from such use. This material and the information contained within it may not be reproduced, or disclosed, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Magellan Investment Partners. (080825-#W17)

Expert Analysis of the RBA's February 03 Rate Decision

FundMonitors.com

February 2026

Chris Gosselin, CEO of FundMonitors.com, speaks with Nicholas Chaplin, Director and Portfolio Manager at Seed Funds Management, and Renny Ellis, Director & Head of Portfolio Management at Arculus Funds Management.

The discussion examines the Reserve Bank of Australia's latest rate hike, with both guests arguing the RBA misjudged conditions by cutting rates last year and is now reacting too heavily to short-term data. They highlight the role of policy lags, the strengthening Australian dollar, and bond market signals, warning that further tightening risks overshooting and undermining economic stability.

Magellan Infrastructure Quarterly Update January 2026

Magellan Investment Partners

January 2026

(Viewing time: 15 mins)

Following a strong year for listed infrastructure assets, Co-Heads of Infrastructure and Portfolio Managers Ofer Karliner and Ben McVicar provide an overview of performance drivers and the outlook for the sector. They reflect on companies that performed well during the final quarter of 2025, as well as areas that lagged. They also discuss the key risks and opportunities facing the infrastructure sector in 2026 and outline how the portfolio is positioned to manage these risks while remaining exposed to long-term structural growth themes across global infrastructure.

Funds operated by this manager:

Magellan Global Fund (Open Class Units) ASX:MGOC , Magellan Infrastructure Fund , Magellan Global Opportunities Fund No.2 , Magellan Infrastructure Fund (Unhedged) , Magellan Global Fund (Hedged) , Magellan Core Infrastructure Fund , Magellan Global Opportunities Fund Active ETF (ASX:OPPT)

Important Information: This material has been delivered to you by Magellan Asset Management Limited ABN 31 120 593 946 AFS Licence No. 304 301 trading as Magellan Investment Partners ('Magellan Investment Partners') and has been prepared for general information purposes only and must not be construed as investment advice or as an investment recommendation.  This material does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. This material does not constitute an offer or inducement to engage in an investment activity nor does it form part of any offer documentation, offer or invitation to purchase, sell or subscribe for interests in any type of investment product or service. You should obtain and consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement ('PDS') and Target Market Determination ('TMD') and consider obtaining professional investment advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making a decision about whether to acquire, or continue to hold, the relevant financial product. A copy of the relevant PDS and TMD relating to a Magellan Investment Partners financial product may be obtained by calling +61 2 9235 4888 or by visiting www.magellaninvestmentpartners.com

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results and no person guarantees the future performance of any financial product or service, the amount or timing of any return from it, that asset allocations will be met, that it will be able to implement its investment strategy or that its investment objectives will be achieved. This material may contain 'forward-looking statements'. Actual events or results or the actual performance of a Magellan Investment Partners financial product or service may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements.

This material may include data, research and other information from third party sources. No guarantee is made that such information is accurate, complete or timely and no warranty is given regarding results obtained from its use. This information is subject to change at any time and no person has any responsibility to update any of the information provided in this material.  Statements contained in this material that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs of Magellan Investment Partners or the third party responsible for making those statements (as relevant). Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. No representation or warranty is made with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any of the information contained in this material. Magellan Investment Partners will not be responsible or liable for any losses arising from your use or reliance upon any part of the information contained in this material.

Any third-party trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners and Magellan Investment Partners claims no ownership in, nor any affiliation with, such trademarks.   Any third-party trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners, are used for information purposes and only to identify the company names or brands of their respective owners, and no affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement should be inferred from such use. This material and the information contained within it may not be reproduced, or disclosed, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Magellan Investment Partners. (080825-#W17)

Expert Analysis of the RBA's December 9 Rate Decision

FundMonitors.com

December 2025

Chris Gosselin, CEO of FundMonitors.com, speaks with Nicholas Chaplin, Director and Portfolio Manager at Seed Funds Management, and Renny Ellis, Director & Head of Portfolio Management at Arculus Funds Management.

In this discussion, they share their perspectives on the RBA's recent rate decisions, whether cuts came too early, and how inflation dynamics, subsidies, and employment data are shaping economic expectations. They also explore the likelihood of future rate movements and what investors should watch heading into 2026.

Chris Gosselin speaks with Alan Pullen from Magellan Investment Partners about the philosophy behind the Magellan Global Opportunities Fund. Alan explains how the team focuses on high-quality global businesses, disciplined valuation, and long-term investing-especially important amid today's AI-driven market volatility.

Funds operated by this manager:

Magellan Global Fund (Open Class Units) ASX:MGOC , Magellan Infrastructure Fund , Magellan Global Opportunities Fund No.2 , Magellan Infrastructure Fund (Unhedged) , Magellan Global Fund (Hedged) , Magellan Core Infrastructure Fund , Magellan Global Opportunities Fund Active ETF (ASX:OPPT)

What Really Causes a Market Crash

Marcus Today

October 2025

4-minute read

What could tip the market over? Well, let me ask you this question - what caused the 1987 crash?

Don't know? No, you don't know because there wasn't one specific reason for the 1987 crash.

When the dam cracks, you don't go looking at the first drop that came through the first crack and analyse it to find out why it cracked. Because the reason the dam cracked is that, in the year and a half prior to the 1987 crash, the Australian market went up over 100%.

What cracked the dam and caused the crash was a build-up of pressure over a long period of time, which eventually broke. Analysing the first drop - why it happened - was irrelevant.

We were sitting in Buckmaster & Moore in the UK, and we had one guy on the desk who was a young bloke.

He had a client in the US, and doing a few tickets in those days was meaningful because the commissions were about 1.6%, and they went up if the order was larger. Anyway, this young guy started ripping off red tickets - red ticket, red ticket - writing out another one, couldn't write fast enough.

He was on the direct line to the dealer at one particular institution - red ticket, another red ticket, another order, another order.

By lunchtime, the partners, who sat on the plinth higher than everybody else (such was the hierarchy in those days), took us all out to lunch at the Mithras Bar for pints of Pimm's to celebrate how much business he'd done.

We came back from lunch, and he started writing more red tickets - more and more. The hilarity and joy turned to concern. The partners started ringing up people in the industry to check whether these orders were legitimate.

They rang the bosses of the dealer at the fund manager, and they said, "Yes, it's okay - keep doing the orders. They're legitimate. He's not a rogue trader."

So, the first thing the partners did was start selling their own shares. Then they started ringing their best clients and saying, "This fund manager's selling - you need to start selling, because the market is way up there."

And this big institutional fund manager started to sell.

Before you knew where you were, everybody was trying to get ahead of everybody else selling.

It turned out that these partners had rung other brokers to ask, "Are you, by any chance, getting a particular institution selling a lot of stock?" And they said yes. It turned out that this institution, which was US-based, had sat in its ivory tower in New York and decided it was going to reduce its equity exposures across the world.

That meant, in the UK, it had so many billion pounds of stock to sell. It passed the order to the UK office, and the UK office, in order to get it done, had to go to every broker and give them a whole load of orders - and everything cascaded from there.

That's what starts a sell-off - a big institution, part of the herd, takes the lead and starts selling.

So, what we have to watch out for when the market's up here - and we're not in a bubble at the moment, but we're certainly elevated - is this:

For some reason, and it won't necessarily be logical or obvious (and the guy who writes the morning report in the newspaper won't know, but he'll make something up), someone is going to sit in an asset allocation meeting in New York or Singapore or Sydney and decide that their funds management group, which is running hundreds of billions, is going to start exiting Big Tech or exiting equities.

And before you know it, you're going to see sell orders coming into the market.

The moment the herd - already sensitive to a top - hears that, it'll join in, and the market will cascade.

It may not need a catalyst. There may be no headline that day. It'll just start.

If it hasn't really got a catalyst, it probably won't last long - it'll probably come back pretty quickly. But it can happen when the market's under pressure, as it is now, with this year's performance and the benefit of the doubt still being given to Big Tech earnings.

All the Big Tech stocks are priced for perfection - and many others as well. We're vulnerable to some big fund manager deciding to sell.

And everybody will chase them.

We're doing 200 miles an hour with our hair on fire. Fund managers aren't stupid - they know one of them will change their mind.

Look out for that day.

DISCLAIMER: This content is for general information purposes only and does not constitute personal financial advice. Please consider your own circumstances or seek professional advice before making investment decisions.

Funds operated by this manager:

Marcus Today Equity Income SMA , Marcus Today Growth SMA

Magellan Global Quarterly Update

Magellan Asset Management

October 2025

(Viewing time: 17 mins)

Head of Global Equities Arvid Streimann and Portfolio Manager Casey McLean provide an update on the Magellan Global Fund, reflecting on a quarter dominated by strong equity market performance and heightened investor focus on AI and semiconductor companies.

Funds operated by this manager:

Magellan Global Fund (Open Class Units) ASX:MGOC , Magellan Infrastructure Fund , Magellan Global Opportunities Fund No.2 , Magellan Infrastructure Fund (Unhedged) , Magellan Global Fund (Hedged) , Magellan Core Infrastructure Fund , Magellan Global Opportunities Fund Active ETF (ASX:OPPT)

Important Information: This material has been delivered to you by Magellan Asset Management Limited ABN 31 120 593 946 AFS Licence No. 304 301 trading as Magellan Investment Partners ('Magellan Investment Partners') and has been prepared for general information purposes only and must not be construed as investment advice or as an investment recommendation.  This material does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. This material does not constitute an offer or inducement to engage in an investment activity nor does it form part of any offer documentation, offer or invitation to purchase, sell or subscribe for interests in any type of investment product or service. You should obtain and consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement ('PDS') and Target Market Determination ('TMD') and consider obtaining professional investment advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making a decision about whether to acquire, or continue to hold, the relevant financial product. A copy of the relevant PDS and TMD relating to a Magellan Investment Partners financial product may be obtained by calling +61 2 9235 4888 or by visiting www.magellaninvestmentpartners.com

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results and no person guarantees the future performance of any financial product or service, the amount or timing of any return from it, that asset allocations will be met, that it will be able to implement its investment strategy or that its investment objectives will be achieved. This material may contain 'forward-looking statements'. Actual events or results or the actual performance of a Magellan Investment Partners financial product or service may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements.

This material may include data, research and other information from third party sources. No guarantee is made that such information is accurate, complete or timely and no warranty is given regarding results obtained from its use. This information is subject to change at any time and no person has any responsibility to update any of the information provided in this material.  Statements contained in this material that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs of Magellan Investment Partners or the third party responsible for making those statements (as relevant). Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. No representation or warranty is made with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any of the information contained in this material. Magellan Investment Partners will not be responsible or liable for any losses arising from your use or reliance upon any part of the information contained in this material.

Any third-party trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners and Magellan Investment Partners claims no ownership in, nor any affiliation with, such trademarks.   Any third-party trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners, are used for information purposes and only to identify the company names or brands of their respective owners, and no affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement should be inferred from such use. This material and the information contained within it may not be reproduced, or disclosed, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Magellan Investment Partners. (080825-#W17)