In episode 3 of Inside the Markets, we’re diving into the themes we’re hearing most in client conversations - rising inflation, higher rates, and ongoing geopolitical tension.

To put today’s environment into context, we’re rewinding to the 1970s oil crisis to look at what drove the inflation spike, how policymakers responded, and what lessons still apply.

Back then, central banks lacked the independence they have today, with policy often influenced by political pressure. Combine that with loose fiscal policy and rising geopolitical tension, and you start to see some parallels with today, even if the policy backdrop itself is different.

So, while this isn’t a replay of the 1970s, it’s also not a world we can approach with old assumptions. Inflation today is being shaped by new structural forces, from supply chains to the energy transition, and may prove more persistent over the medium term.

We explore the parallels, the differences, and what it all means for policy, markets, and investors, from interest rates to diversification, and how portfolios might need to adapt.

Welcome to the first episode of Inside the Markets podcast from Progeny Asset Management. We’re focusing on how systematic investing has evolved - from its origins as a highly specialised, quant‑driven approach into something far more accessible and widely used today.

What was once a niche part of the market has become a genuinely distinct investment style, sitting alongside active and purely passive approaches. It’s now a meaningful component of mainstream portfolio construction, with advisers increasingly using systematic strategies in thoughtful and deliberate ways.

We’ll unpack how that evolution has taken shape, why it matters for investors, and how these approaches can play a role in diversified portfolios across different market environments.

Why does a narrow waterway matter to your portfolio?

In this episode, we’re talking about a place we might struggle to pinpoint on a map - but one that’s shaping markets, inflation, and investment decisions around the world. When things go wrong with the Strait of Hormuz, markets tend to notice very quickly.

We delve into the geography, ownership and history of the Strait as well as global reliance, disruption and the impact on life and markets around the world.