The Moses and Methuselah Podcast

by Jonathan Davis & Peter Seilern

A weekly discussion on developments in the financial markets, and what they mean for governments, investors and tax payers. Hosted by Jonathan Davis and Peter Seilern.

Podcast episodes

  • Season 3

  • Goldilocks or a bull trap?

    Goldilocks or a bull trap?

    Summary Peter and Jonathan take stock of the financial markets after the Federal Reserve raises interest rates yet again and debate the possible impact of artificial intelligence in the short and longer term. 00:32 - Nearing the end of the rate hike cycle? 02:54 - Indicators of a soft landing 06:43 - Increasing optimism 08:12 - The bond market in a soft landing 13:18 - A change in global financial conditions 17:21 - AI mania 22:39 - Positive real interest rates 24:54 - Close About Your Hosts Jonathan Davis started his career as a financial journalist on UK national newspapers, including The Times and The Economist, before qualifying as a professional investor and moving into a new portfolio career as an author, columnist (for The Independent and Financial Times), publisher and investment strategist. He is currently the editor of the annual Investment Trusts Handbook. You can find his newsletter and weekly investment trust podcast on his Money-Makers website. Apart from family, his chief recreation is playing bridge at a high level. Peter Seilern began his career in financial services in October 1973, which coincided with the first oil shock and was followed by a brutal bear market and an explosion in inflation. After gaining experience in all aspects of the banking industry in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, he founded his own investment management business in 1989, today called Seilern Investment Management, based in London. Born in Trieste, Italy, in 1952, his background is quintessentially pan-European and he deeply believes in the necessity for European nations to continue to strive for ever closer political, economic and monetary union. He has been married for almost thirty-nine years and has three adult children. His hobbies include making and listening to music and reading.Buy Peter’s book Only the Best Will Do, master investor Peter Seilern reveals everything you need to know to practise the art of quality growth investing: finding the companies that can reliably deliver steady and strong growth for the long term.

  • Mr Market Versus Central Banks

    Mr Market Versus Central Banks

    Summary As central banks wrestle with the "trilemma" of balancing the risks of inflation, recession and financial stability, Jonathan and Peter debate whether the bond market is giving us an accurate taste of what is to come. 00:32 - The first six months of the year 03:33 - Pundits predicting the market 10:25 - Getting inflation wrong 15:53 - Bond market signals 19:51 - Pricing in a trilemma 24:37 - Close About Your Hosts Jonathan Davis started his career as a financial journalist on UK national newspapers, including The Times and The Economist, before qualifying as a professional investor and moving into a new portfolio career as an author, columnist (for The Independent and Financial Times), publisher and investment strategist. He is currently the editor of the annual Investment Trusts Handbook. You can find his newsletter and weekly investment trust podcast on his Money-Makers website. Apart from family, his chief recreation is playing bridge at a high level. Peter Seilern began his career in financial services in October 1973, which coincided with the first oil shock and was followed by a brutal bear market and an explosion in inflation. After gaining experience in all aspects of the banking industry in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, he founded his own investment management business in 1989, today called Seilern Investment Management, based in London. Born in Trieste, Italy, in 1952, his background is quintessentially pan-European and he deeply believes in the necessity for European nations to continue to strive for ever closer political, economic and monetary union. He has been married for almost thirty-nine years and has three adult children. His hobbies include making and listening to music and reading.Buy Peter’s book Only the Best Will Do, master investor Peter Seilern reveals everything you need to know to practise the art of quality growth investing: finding the companies that can reliably deliver steady and strong growth for the long term.

  • Corporate Governance Within Private Companies

    Corporate Governance Within Private Companies

    Summary The collapse of Odey Asset Management, a high profile London hedge fund business, following allegations about the behaviour of its founder Crispin Odey, raises a number of important questions - about the management of private firms, the treatment of women in the workplace and the role of the media and regulator in financial services. Peter and Jonathan talk through the issues in our latest episode. 00:31 - Welcome back 02:33 - Reaction to the Odey Asset Management story 06:04 - Employee grievance procedures 12:57 - Evaluating who is a fit and proper person 18:47 - Additional regulation on hedge funds 22:07 - The increasing role of women in top jobs 25:51 - Close About Your Hosts Jonathan Davis started his career as a financial journalist on UK national newspapers, including The Times and The Economist, before qualifying as a professional investor and moving into a new portfolio career as an author, columnist (for The Independent and Financial Times), publisher and investment strategist. He is currently the editor of the annual Investment Trusts Handbook. You can find his newsletter and weekly investment trust podcast on his Money-Makers website. Apart from family, his chief recreation is playing bridge at a high level. Peter Seilern began his career in financial services in October 1973, which coincided with the first oil shock and was followed by a brutal bear market and an explosion in inflation. After gaining experience in all aspects of the banking industry in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, he founded his own investment management business in 1989, today called Seilern Investment Management, based in London. Born in Trieste, Italy, in 1952, his background is quintessentially pan-European and he deeply believes in the necessity for European nations to continue to strive for ever closer political, economic and monetary union. He has been married for almost thirty-nine years and has three adult children. His hobbies include making and listening to music and reading.Buy Peter’s book Only the Best Will Do, master investor Peter Seilern reveals everything you need to know to practise the art of quality growth investing: finding the companies that can reliably deliver steady and strong growth for the long term.

  • Is Brexit Working?

    Is Brexit Working?

    Summary We return to the issue of Brexit - what impact has it had on the UK and the EU, both economically and politically? We compare our different perspectives, one UK-based, the other Eurocentric. 00:32 - Welcome back 06:32 - UK and European cultural differences 10:58 - Trends in the UK since Brexit 16:53 - The need for reform in the UK's political system 20:45 - Migration 25:13 - A new referendum on the EU? About Your Hosts Jonathan Davis started his career as a financial journalist on UK national newspapers, including The Times and The Economist, before qualifying as a professional investor and moving into a new portfolio career as an author, columnist (for The Independent and Financial Times), publisher and investment strategist. He is currently the editor of the annual Investment Trusts Handbook. You can find his newsletter and weekly investment trust podcast on his Money-Makers website. Apart from family, his chief recreation is playing bridge at a high level. Peter Seilern began his career in financial services in October 1973, which coincided with the first oil shock and was followed by a brutal bear market and an explosion in inflation. After gaining experience in all aspects of the banking industry in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, he founded his own investment management business in 1989, today called Seilern Investment Management, based in London. Born in Trieste, Italy, in 1952, his background is quintessentially pan-European and he deeply believes in the necessity for European nations to continue to strive for ever closer political, economic and monetary union. He has been married for almost thirty-nine years and has three adult children. His hobbies include making and listening to music and reading.Buy Peter’s book Only the Best Will Do, master investor Peter Seilern reveals everything you need to know to practise the art of quality growth investing: finding the companies that can reliably deliver steady and strong growth for the long term.

  • Of Credit Crunches and Debt Defaults

    Of Credit Crunches and Debt Defaults

    Summary In our latest edition Peter and Jonathan discuss the likely impact on the bond market of tighter credit conditions and the potential failure of Congress and the Biden administration to agree to an increase in the Federal debt ceiling in the United States. Are these issues in the price already? 00:32 - Welcome back 01:19 - Credit conditions 05:53 - Bond yields and recession 08:24 - Commercial real estate 14:52 -The Federal debt ceiling 22:05 - Close About Your Hosts Jonathan Davis started his career as a financial journalist on UK national newspapers, including The Times and The Economist, before qualifying as a professional investor and moving into a new portfolio career as an author, columnist (for The Independent and Financial Times), publisher and investment strategist. He is currently the editor of the annual Investment Trusts Handbook. You can find his newsletter and weekly investment trust podcast on his Money-Makers website. Apart from family, his chief recreation is playing bridge at a high level. Peter Seilern began his career in financial services in October 1973, which coincided with the first oil shock and was followed by a brutal bear market and an explosion in inflation. After gaining experience in all aspects of the banking industry in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, he founded his own investment management business in 1989, today called Seilern Investment Management, based in London. Born in Trieste, Italy, in 1952, his background is quintessentially pan-European and he deeply believes in the necessity for European nations to continue to strive for ever closer political, economic and monetary union. He has been married for almost thirty-nine years and has three adult children. His hobbies include making and listening to music and reading.Buy Peter’s book Only the Best Will Do, master investor Peter Seilern reveals everything you need to know to practise the art of quality growth investing: finding the companies that can reliably deliver steady and strong growth for the long term.