Silicon Valley Byte Size - The Allianz Technology Trust Podcast

As technology becomes more and more ubiquitous in our daily lives, what are the major themes that are likely to drive the technology sector forward? And, how will a possible tariff regime from the new US administration impact technology, particularly in terms of supply chain? Of course, we can’t ignore valuations either. Portfolio Manager, Mike Seidenberg discusses all these topics and more, including regulation, the outlook for growth and how the team are positioning the trust for 2025.

In the 27th episode of the Silicon Valley Byte Size Podcast, Mike Seidenberg, Lead Portfolio Manager, joins host Cherry Reynard to discuss the current tech landscape, dominated by a handful of companies. Mike discusses the importance of looking beyond these giants to uncover new opportunities, sharing his insights on the key secular themes driving long-term growth in the industry. Tune in to find out where Mike and the team are finding opportunities currently.

Despite the well-established dominance of mega-cap technology companies that play a key role in IT infrastructures, Portfolio Manager Mike Seidenberg talks to Cherry Reynard about the potential of the mid- and large-cap sector for long term growth. Mike delves into the complexities and limitations of mega-cap companies, making a compelling case for shifting the focus to mid- and large-caps, where opportunities for faster growth and innovation are often more abundant.

Semiconductors are everywhere – not only in things where we would definitely expect them, but increasingly in everyday items as well as those products become more technologically advanced. That proliferation has spawned some very profitable companies – Cherry Reynard and Mike Seidenberg discuss the different types of companies in the ecosystem and where the trust is currently putting its concentration in this sector, many of which are not household names.

The technology sector that has emerged from the pandemic is different to the one that went before. And we are still seeing some of the ramifications. In this latest podcast we discuss how the sector has changed over the past two years, and how that is reflected in the portfolio. Which pandemic trends have endured, how has the higher interest rate environment dented the valuation of higher growth shares and how has the portfolio been reshaped to reflect this changing environment.Recorded and produced by Lansons.

ChatGPT has brought artificial intelligence (AI) firmly into investors’ sights in 2023. But, where are we today in terms of AI and its applications, and where are we going in the future? Cherry and Mike look at the implications and whether the initial euphoria from an investment perspective is warranted. There is no doubt that increasing use of data is an advantage for businesses, and those that fall behind in their use of AI risk being at a competitive disadvantage. On balance, is AI an opportunity or a threat?

In this latest podcast, portfolio manager Mike Seidenberg and stand-in host Jon Cronin focus in on the topic of cybersecurity. The team look at what the implications are to us all in our daily lives, but also how this impacts businesses, corporations, and governments. With huge criminal enterprises emerging and nation states weaponising cyber-attacks, just how big is the problem?

Picking up where the previous podcast episode left off, portfolio manager Mike Seidenberg and host Jon Cronin dive a little deeper on the topic of cybersecurity. Which companies are championing the fight-back, what should investors be thinking about in that sector, and how does cyber security stack up alongside other areas within tech?