SI399: AI, Inflation and the Portfolio That Refuses to Sit Still ft. Alan Dunne

Today, Niels and Alan examine a market shaped by two forces pulling in opposite directions: AI’s promise of higher productivity and the inflationary pressure of geopolitical stress. From distorted economic data and shifting rate expectations to energy shocks, fiscal pressure, and the changing role of trend following, this conversation explores why traditional portfolios may need more flexibility than they once did. Alan also shares a world exclusive on the launch of his Regime Adaptive Fund, built around the idea that portfolios should not simply sit through changing regimes, but adjust as markets, inflation, and correlations evolve. A timely discussion on risk, resilience, and the limits of old playbooks.-----50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE-----Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.comAnd please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.Follow Alan on Twitter.Episode TimeStamps:00:00 - Introduction to Top Traders Unplugged00:36 - Niels welcomes Alan Dunne back to the Systematic Investor Series01:31 - How AI is distorting economic data, earnings, and construction trends06:13 - UK council elections, Reform UK, and pressure on political assumptions09:00 - Trend following update and the shift in fixed income exposure13:35 - Why recent macro shocks have created a favorable backdrop for trend followers16:45 - AI, Iran, and the collision between positive and negative supply shocks26:22 - Graham Capital’s research on macro performance across monetary regimes37:09 - AQR’s view on multi-asset portfolios, trend following, and inflation risk46:07 - Why diversification still comes with discomfort51:26 - Should trend following trade equities when stacked on equities?56:38 - Alan reveals the launch of the Regime Adaptive Fund01:05:42 - Equity market strength, hidden risks, and portfolio construction today01:08:46 - Closing thoughts and upcoming episode previewCopyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved----PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Her