What happens when ‘safe’ assets stop being safe? Infrastructure and gold are both traditionally seen as safe havens - yet recently they’ve been telling very different stories. One has quietly gathered momentum, while the other has lost its footing, despite an environment where many investors might expect both to benefit.

Why are two assets often grouped together as safe havens now behaving so differently?

This week, Jane Parry, Chief Marketing Officer, was joined by Leah Bramwell, Head of Tailored Investment Solutions, to discuss:

• Why infrastructure has evolved beyond a purely defensive role
• How AI-driven investment is feeding through into utilities and energy networks
• Why gold hasn’t behaved as expected despite inflation and geopolitical uncertainty
• What the divergence between traditional safe havens tells us about today’s market dynamics.

This episode is a reminder that labels like ‘safe haven’ can hide very different underlying drivers.

If you have any feedback on this episode, the podcast overall or questions regarding future topics, please email coffeebreak@canaccord.com. We’d love to hear from you.

Investment involves risk. The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and you may not get back the amount originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

The information provided is not to be treated as specific advice. It has no regard for the specific investment objectives, financial situation or needs of any specific person or entity. It is accurate at the time of recording and is subject to change.

Canaccord Wealth is the trading name of Canaccord Genuity Wealth Limited (CGWL), CG Wealth Planning Limited (CGWPL) and Canaccord Genuity Wealth (International) Limited (CGWIL), which are all subsidiaries of Canaccord Genuity Group Inc.

CGWL and CGWPL are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (reference numbers: 194927 and 594155). CGWL and CGWPL are registered in England & Wales at 88 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7QR (numbers 03739694 and 08284862).

CGWIL is licensed and regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority and the Jersey Financial Services Commission. CGWIL is registered in Guernsey no. 22761. Registered office: Dorey Court, Elizabeth Avenue, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 2HT.

After the wobbles of March and domination of geopolitics on headlines, global equity markets surged in April, delivering their strongest month since late 2020. The key question for investors is why that rally was so powerful and what it means for long‑term returns from here.

Is this simply excitement and momentum at work, or something more fundamental?

Canaccord Coffee Break podcast – 7 May 2026

This week, Jane Parry, Chief Marketing Officer, was again joined by Tom Hibbert, Chief Investment Strategist, to discuss:

• Why markets looked past recent shocks and refocused on fundamentals
• How strong earnings - particularly in the US - powered April’s rally
• What the latest results from the big US tech stocks tell us about AI, costs and profitability
• Why central banks stayed quiet despite a busy week of meetings and what that signals for interest rates.

April’s rally wasn’t driven by hope alone. Robust earnings, record margins and improving corporate discipline have played a central role - raising an important question about how much of that strength is already priced into today’s markets.

If you have any feedback on this episode, the podcast overall or questions regarding future topics, please email coffeebreak@canaccord.com. We’d love to hear from you.

Investment involves risk. The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and you may not get back the amount originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

The information provided is not to be treated as specific advice. It has no regard for the specific investment objectives, financial situation or needs of any specific person or entity. It is accurate at the time of recording and is subject to change.

Canaccord Wealth is the trading name of Canaccord Genuity Wealth Limited (CGWL), CG Wealth Planning Limited (CGWPL) and Canaccord Genuity Wealth (International) Limited (CGWIL), which are all subsidiaries of Canaccord Genuity Group Inc.

CGWL and CGWPL are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (reference numbers: 194927 and 594155). CGWL and CGWPL are registered in England & Wales at 88 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7QR (numbers 03739694 and 08284862).

CGWIL is licensed and regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority and the Jersey Financial Services Commission. CGWIL is registered in Guernsey no. 22761. Registered office: Dorey Court, Elizabeth Avenue, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 2HT.

Oil prices have been volatile recently, surging from around US$60 to US$100 a barrel, yet markets have remained surprisingly calm. Unlike past energy shocks, this move has so far looked contained rather than disorderly - even with the conflict in the Middle East unresolved.

What’s different this time and why should investors be paying attention?

This week, Jane Parry, Chief Marketing Officer, speaks with Tom Hibbert, Chief Investment Strategist about:

• Why today’s oil shock looks very different from past crises
• How markets have adapted through alternative supply routes and strategic reserves
• Why inflation is the key risk and what would make it more concerning
• What higher oil prices mean for central banks and interest rate expectations.

Oil prices may be higher, but the real risk lies in what happens next: if energy costs start feeding into wages, prices and expectations more broadly.

If you have any feedback on this episode, the podcast overall or questions regarding future topics, please email coffeebreak@canaccord.com. We’d love to hear from you.

Investment involves risk. The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and you may not get back the amount originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

The information provided is not to be treated as specific advice. It has no regard for the specific investment objectives, financial situation or needs of any specific person or entity. It is accurate at the time of recording and is subject to change.

Canaccord Wealth is the trading name of Canaccord Genuity Wealth Limited (CGWL), CG Wealth Planning Limited (CGWPL) and Canaccord Genuity Wealth (International) Limited (CGWIL), which are all subsidiaries of Canaccord Genuity Group Inc.

CGWL and CGWPL are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (reference numbers: 194927 and 594155). CGWL and CGWPL are registered in England & Wales at 88 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7QR (numbers 03739694 and 08284862).

CGWIL is licensed and regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority and the Jersey Financial Services Commission. CGWIL is registered in Guernsey no. 22761. Registered office: Dorey Court, Elizabeth Avenue, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 2HT.