UBS Global Research Pod Hub

Fertility is falling, workforces are ageing and some populations are heading into decline. UBS Research’s Reinhard Cluse and Cora Neumann discuss what this means for growth, public finances and the political choices ahead, and whether productivity, immigration and the emerging silver economy can change the equation.

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From climate shocks, including the effects of El Niño, and rising labour costs to changing welfare standards and technological innovation, food prices may be entering a new structural regime. In this episode, Heidi Richardson and Sreedhar Mahamkali from UBS Research discuss the forces driving this shift, the potential role of technology as a counterbalance, and what a structurally higher food inflation environment could mean for consumers, businesses and markets. *(This information is subject to a disclaimer at the end of this podcast. Please ensure that you listen to the disclaimer and go to www.ubs.com for further information about UBS).

As organizations move beyond AI experimentation and focus on measurable returns, cost efficiency is becoming an increasingly important factor in deployment decisions. UBS Research's Caroline Li and Wei Xiong explore AI adoption trends, declining inference costs, and what China's AI ecosystem may reveal about the next phase of AI competition.

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What turns a sporting moment into long-term brand value? UBS analysts Jay Sole and Michael Lasser explore how consumer companies are tapping into fan passion, cultural moments and shifting participation trends to create lasting growth opportunities. From the business impact of major sporting events to the strategies brands use to stay relevant long after the final whistle, they unpack the forces shaping consumer engagement today.

Quantum computing has long promised to transform how we solve complex problems - but how close are we today?

In this episode, Paul Winter, UBS Head of Quant Research, sits down with Professor Elena Ynduráin to explore where the technology stands, what “quantum advantage” really means, and how its convergence with AI could shape the future of innovation.

While quantum computing is still primarily in testing phases today, the conversation highlights how advances in AI may help unlock its potential over time.

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After understanding what’s inside the battery, the next question is how it’s used. This episode shifts the focus to battery energy storage - where falling costs, policy support, and grid dynamics are combining to drive rapid deployment. UBS analysts Jon Windham and Tim Bush discuss why storage is becoming critical to energy systems and where the biggest opportunities are emerging.

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What really powers the electric vehicle (EV) revolution? Autos Analyst Patrick Hummel speaks with Sascha Vogelsang from automotive benchmarking and engineering firm A2MAC1. Together, they unpack the latest battery teardown - literally stripping EV batteries down to their core - to reveal the true costs, hidden innovations, and why “triple parity” could mark a tipping point for global EV adoption.

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Sunil Tirumalai, Head of Emerging Markets and Asia Equity Strategy, sits down with Lei Meng, China Equity Strategist, for a high-level introduction to China’s onshore A‑share market - and how it differs from offshore H‑shares. They break down why two equity markets exist, and why A‑shares have historically traded at a valuation premium versus H‑shares.

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Andrew Garthwaite, UBS Chief Global Equity Strategist, and Elroy Dimson, Professor of Finance at Cambridge Business School and co‑author of the UBS Global Investment Returns Yearbook, distil over 100 years of market history into the insights that matter most - and keep repeating.

From how to think about market “bubbles”, to why diversification can surprise investors, and why staying invested has mattered so much over time.

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Equity research isn’t just spreadsheets and models. Paul Schneider speaks with Tommaso Aquilante and Jamie Dorricott from UBS’s Empirical Scientific Approaches team about how parameters, prompts, and the scientific method are changing what “good analysis” really looks like - and what skills aspiring analysts should focus on, in a machine‑assisted world.

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As banks invest in AI capabilities, the focus is shifting from hype to delivery. This episode examines where AI is already improving operations, why trust remains banking’s core strength, and why execution will select the winners. With insights from Jason Napier, European Banks Analyst at UBS, and Paul Schneider, Head of Markets Focus.

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Reflecting on China’s recent National People’s Congress (NPC), Robin Xu, Head of China Research at UBS, sits down with Yu Song, Chief China Economist to break down the key takeaways from the congress, the growth trajectory, and what this ultimately mean for China's economic outlook.

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Charles Eden, European Chemicals Analyst at UBS Investment Bank, joins Paul Schneider, Head of Markets Focus, to unpack the forces transforming the global food system and the shift toward personalised nutrition. (This information is subject to a disclaimer at the end of this podcast. Please ensure that you listen to the disclaimer and go to www.ubs.com for further information about UBS).

In part 2 of our series on Quantum Computing, Paul Schneider sits back down with Madeleine Jenkins to look ahead at what could be. They explain why investors have taken such an interest in this topic, and the practical road towards implementation which could potentially reshape technology, markets, and industries alike.

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In part one of this two-part series, Paul Schneider sits down with Madeleine Jenkins, Tech Hardware analyst, to discuss the mechanics of Quantum Computing and how it works. They explore the risks and opportunities, and why it's relatively low costs could mean the start of the next tech revolution.

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With drug pricing cuts easing, investor interest is returning, driven by fresh innovation, active M&A, and rotation into a long undervalued sector. Dimiter Tassev, UBS Healthcare Advisory Sales Specialist, speaks with Michael Yee, Global Head of Biotechnology Research at UBS investment Bank, about the outlook for US biopharma.

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Amid New Year resolutions and Dry January, we discuss how and why consumers are taking better care of themselves. We touch on the growth of exercise, how innovation is impacting health & wellness, and why Gen Z is drinking less than older generations. Hosted by Arpiné Kocharyan, US Fitness & Leisure Analyst, with Jay Sole, US Softlines Analyst, and Peter Grom, US Household & Personal Care Analyst. (00:37) Key emerging trends in health & wellness that are impacting consumer behavior (01:57) Why has health & wellness been such a strong trend, and will it continue? (04:33) What are the key drivers of the health & wellness trend? (06:22) Which Softlines categories are best positioned? (07:31) How are younger consumers impacting beverage alcohol consumption? (09:58) Why are younger consumers less interested in alcohol than prior generations? (11:38) What impact does Dry January have on alcohol consumption? *(This information is subject to a disclaimer at the end of this podcast. Please ensure that you listen to the disclaimer and go to www.ubs.com for further information about UBS).

In this episode, Christopher Clarke sits down with Josh Stone, Head of Energy at UBS, to discuss how analysts use data, and how the value of data is changing in 2026 and beyond.

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Paul Schneider speaks with Vicki Kalb, Global Head of ESG and Sustainability Research, about the critical role of data centres in powering AI. From power and water constraints to the accelerating energy transition and nuclear’s potential role, they explore what this means for markets and investor portfolios.

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In this episode of the Global Research Pod Hub, Bhanu Baweja, Chief Strategist at UBS, sits down with Arend Kapteyn, Chief Economist for UBS, to break down the annual Outlook for the year ahead. They look at the key economic themes for 2026-2027 and market investment ideas.