Relative Return: The case for cash in a changing market

In the latest episode of Relative Return, journalist Olivia Grace-Curran speaks with Ben Samuel and Ky Van Tang from First Sentier Investors Group about the shifting macro landscape, the outlook for rates, and why investors are increasingly revisiting cash strategies. The discussion begins with an overview of the business, the scale of the team, and the firm's approach to managing cash and income portfolios in a higher-rate environment. Samuel and Van Tang then unpack some of the biggest themes shaping markets today, including the Reserve Bank of Australia's inflation-growth balancing act, how geopolitical tensions are complicating policy decisions, and what investors should be watching ahead of the next RBA meeting. The episode also explores: Risks emerging across the banking sector AI-driven layoffs and loan quality concerns Whether issues around underwriting standards and loan fraud are systemic Why cash is becoming increasingly attractive in portfolios The different avenues investors are using to gain exposure, including TDs, cash accounts, ETFs and managed funds The evolution of cash investing and First Sentier Investors Group's upcoming ETF launch