Linda Gruendken: Cycling in Cambridge and the randomness of markets

I chat with Linda, the lead scientist from GAM Systematic CANTAB, and recently named as one of the top 50 women in the hedge fund industry. We have a fascinating conversation about the difference between quant and systematic approaches, and the vast uncertainty of financial markets. We talk about the usefulness of machine learning models and the critical role that investment horizon plays.

Nothing on this podcast is to be considered investment advice or a recommendation. No investment decision or activity should be undertaken without first seeking qualified and professional advice.

Sponsored Content

Leave a Comment

Aware Super maps AI exposure as it sharpens whole-of-portfolio risk focus

Aware Super maps AI exposure as it sharpens whole-of-portfolio risk focus

Australia’s third-largest pension fund Aware Super is taking stock of its investment exposure to AI and the initial analysis suggests at least 15 per cent of the fund’s assets are exposed to the thematic. In a project deep dive, head of investment strategy Michael Winchester says finding the portfolio's true concentration around AI will require looking beyond simple dollar aggregation.

Sort content by

Funds SA cuts active risk as CIO puts stable beta first

Australia’s $36 billion Funds SA has slashed tracking error in its equities book and is reorienting its philosophy around stable beta, as chief investment officer Con Michalakis argues the role of alpha in a multi-asset portfolio needs a fundamental rethink.

CalPERS, NY pensions challenge SpaceX’s ‘unfireable’ CEO provision ahead of mammoth IPO

Three of the largest US pension funds, managing a combined $1 trillion in assets, have demanded a meeting with SpaceX executives ahead of its speculated blockbuster IPO warning that its proposed corporate plan could be “the most management-favourable governance structure ever brought to the US public markets”.

Australian allocators revisit China as AI race heats up

Top Australian allocators have conceded it is time to rethink the underweight positions to China which have characterised their portfolios, as the Asian superpower’s intensifying AI race with the US creates attractive opportunities.

La Caisse’s oil exit pays off as renewables portfolio pulls ahead of fossil fuels

Divesting from the oil sector has been a boon for La Caisse’s performance, as the Canadian pension giant says its energy investments have earned billions in value-add compared to the benchmark since the inception of its climate strategy. Head of sustainability Bertrand Millot unpacks the fund’s approach in an interview with Top1000funds.com.

Falling dollar dents Canadian pension returns; triggers hedging rethink

A weakening US dollar has eaten into the returns of Canada’s largest pension funds as annual reports revealed the currency shock forced a fundamental rethink from some investors around hedging practices. OMERS has pivoted from a policy hedging target to a more flexible approach fulfilling multiple objectives, while OTPP more than halved its US dollar exposure in 2025.

OPTrust: hiking rates because of the oil shock is a mistake

To navigate rates and inflation uncertainty, OPTrust is leaning into dynamic portfolio construction, actively managed options, and a total portfolio approach supporting the belief that inflation resilience is built into how portfolios are constructed not an individual asset or exposure.

Previous