Market Matters: Featuring Alexandra Jackson from Rathbones

Market Matters is a monthly podcast from Kepler Trust Intelligence that delivers big-picture insights from leading investment specialists, exploring the opportunities, challenges, and risks shaping investors’ portfolios. This month, we are joined by Alexandra Jackson, manager of the Rathbone UK Opportunities fund, which invests in UK mid-cap companies. In this episode, Alexandra talks us through her route to becoming a fund manager, in which sector she thinks the UK stock market's stardust resides, why the picture for UK plc and our economy isn't as bad as some think, and riding the highs and lows of her best and worst investment. 00:00 Introduction 00:58 Background to becoming a fund manager 04:42 What's surprised Alexandra most about the stock market this year 06:46 Reasons why the UK outperformed in 2025 and will performance broaden in 2026? 11:37 How the dividend yield of UK mid caps could draw 'tourist' investors into the market 12:45 Views on the health of the UK stock market 15:25 What more the government could do to reinvigorate the UK stock market 17:06 Painting a positive picture of the UK economy 20:08 Winners and losers from the artificial intelligence boom 21:37 Parts of the UK stock market to be wary of 22:13 The UK stock market's stardust sector 24:05 Alexandra's best and worst investments and the lessons learned from them 26:01 Best piece of investment advice 27:13 Further information 27:31 Risk warning Please note that this podcast was recorded on 28 January 2026. Our latest market insights: https://www.trustintelligence.co.uk/investor/articles More information on the Rathbone UK Opportunities fund: https://www.rathbones.com/en-gb/asset-management/financial-intermediary/equities/rathbone-uk-opportunities-fund