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This week on The Art of Investing, Rich McDonald, Mark “Spice” Holden and Chris Fellingham break down one of the most dramatic weeks since the portfolio launched – a UK Budget that surprised market and confused economists.

With the FTSE wobbling, the pound drifting, and US markets powering ahead, the team get into a heated (and very funny) debate about what the UK actually needs…and why investors are quietly moving their money elsewhere.

Expect strong views, deeper macro insight than ever, and the biggest disagreement we’ve had on the show.

This Week’s Highlights

• 💥 Budget Blowback: Long-dated gilts jump, the pound slips and the market’s verdict is… not good.
• 🇺🇸 US Market Strength: S&P and Nasdaq continue pushing upwards as US data surprises on growth.
• 📉 Crypto Volatility: Bitcoin chops sideways after last week’s selloff.
• 💷 UK in the Hot Seat: Does this Budget help growth or just recycle old problems?
• 📈 Santa Rally Setup: Why the team thinks US equities could accelerate into year-end (despite the noise).
• 🥊 The Big Argument: Rich and CJ clash on whether the UK is investable right now.

Special Segment - The Budget Deep Dive

The team unpack the biggest Budget talking points:

• 📊 Growth Forecast Confusion: Why the OBR and Treasury can’t agree on the 2026/27 outlook.
• 💸 Tax Tangle: Freezes, thresholds, and the hidden hikes no one talks about.
• 🏛️ Credibility Check: Why gilt markets reacted sharply — and why it matters.
• 🏠 Housing Impact: Stamp duty chatter, ISA tweaks and who actually benefits.
• ⚠️ Is the UK Becoming a Value Trap? The debate gets lively.

Portfolio Snapshot

Weekly performance: +1.8%

Total return since inception: +9%

Top Performers:

• 🥇 iShares Russell 2000 ETF: +5.82%
• 🥈 VanEck Crypto & Blockchain Innovators ETF: +4.8%
• 🥉 iShares S&P 500 GBP Hedged ETF: +2.92%

Underperformers:

• 🇮🇳 iShares MSCI India ETF: –1.58%
• 🌏 iShares Core MSCI EM IMI ETF: –0.27%
• 💷 Cash: +0.08%

Actions Taken:

• –5% Vanguard FTSE 250 ETF

• +2.5% FTSE 100

• +2.5% S&P 500 Hedged

​

What You’ll Learn

• How markets really price a Budget within minutes
• Why gilt yields are the UK’s “truth serum”
• Why higher taxes don’t always mean more revenue
• How sentiment flips between global markets
• Why the Santa Rally is a real thing (and when it fails)
• Why discipline, not prediction, drives portfolio returns

📈 Download the full Portfolio Performance Slides

View the portfolio breakdown: here

📧 Get in touch: [email protected]

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Disclaimer

This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented is not intended as personal investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular securities or investments. All discussions regarding the model portfolio are illustrative and for educational purposes.

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