Markets, Multipolarity, and the Next Cycle

About this episode

The episode discusses the changing dynamics of global investment, focusing on geopolitical tensions and the potential decline of U.S. exceptionalism.

For more than a decade, investors have been rewarded for a simple strategy: buy U.S. stocks, own big technology companies, and trust that American exceptionalism would continue to drive markets higher. But what if that playbook is beginning to change? In this episode of the Global Thinking Podcast, Rob Duncan sits down with Sébastien Mc Mahon, Chief Economist at iA Financial Group, to discuss the forces reshaping the global investment landscape. From geopolitical tensions and energy markets to AI-driven productivity gains and the resurgence of international equities, they explore why the next phase of the market cycle may look very different from the last. Rob and Seb discuss: Why markets continue to climb despite geopolitical uncertainty Whether U.S. exceptionalism is beginning to fade The growing case for international diversification Canada's productivity challenge and economic outlook AI, capital spending, and the future of global growth The biggest mistakes investors are making today As investors grapple with shifting narratives, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: the world is becoming more multipolar, and portfolios may need to evolve alongside it. Episode Timestamps…

People in this episode

Host: Rob Duncan

Guest: Sébastien Mc Mahon

Topics covered

• market cycles
• geopolitical tensions
• international diversification
• U.S. exceptionalism
• AI-driven productivity
• energy markets

Keywords

• investing
• markets
• multipolarity
• international equities
• productivity
• capital spending
• geopolitics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: iA Financial Group

Places: Canada

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