Tom Sparke of GDIM is still getting used to pandemic-era etiquette for in-person work meetings, but is doing most fund manager meetings face-to-face.
What has been your top fund pick during the year?
The GS India fund has been excellent for us – we have a long-held India overweight position and this has really helped to add to performance in 2021
How do you expect the Santa rally to play out this year?
I’m hoping that the Omicron variant is manageable and that some of the enormous weight of cash on the sidelines gets put to work by investors
What are your biggest over and underweights heading into 2022?
Overweights include smaller companies, especially those with potential to benefit from a return to ‘normality’ and those with pricing power. Also Asia as there are many positive tailwinds for the region.
How much have you been meeting fund managers face-to-face this year compared to last?
Certainly a bit more, but the Zooms are still the preferred way. I think many people have realised how much more efficient a virtual meeting can be.
How have in-person meetings changed compared to pre-pandemic times?
There’s an awkward ‘shall or shan’t we’ where the usual protocol was to shake hands, but otherwise not too much I would say.
Are you going to have an office Christmas party this year?
This will officially be in January but we may find time for some informal celebrations too.
How different are your Christmas plans going to be in 2021 compared to last year?
There will (hopefully) be a bit more wider family involvement.
What’s on your Christmas wish list?
That Santa Claus rally, please!
