Jonathan Pain

Global Economics Expert & Keynote Speaker

A regular on CNBC and Sky Business TV, Jonathan engages audiences worldwide with plain-speaking, entertaining, and highly insightful perspectives on markets and global economics.

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Jonathan Pain has 42 years of international investment experience having led investment teams in London, Bahrain and Australia.

Jonathan holds a joint honours degree in Economics and Politics from Keele University and a master’s degree in finance from Exeter University.

He is the author and publisher of a widely read investment newsletter, The Weekly Pain Report and is a regular guest on CNBC TV.

In one of his most contrarian calls he predicted Donald Trump would win the 2016 US election. He then predicted Biden would win in 2020, and that Trump would win a clean sweep in 2024.

On Monday 24 February 2020, in a CNBC TV interview, he warned of an imminent 20-25% crash in global equity markets saying the financial markets were far too complacent about the COVID outbreak. He was wrong they fell 35%.

Through 2021 he warned that central banks had kept interest rates too low for too long and had lost control of inflation. In November 2021 he issued a stark warning that interest rates would have to rise sharply.

Just prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he said the world was seeing the emergence of ‘An Axis of Autocracy’, comprised of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. This, Jonathan believes, signifies a tectonic shift in the geopolitical landscape.

Jonathan lived in Bahrain for 9 years, first moving there in 1986, and has had a 40-year passion and fascination for the Middle East. He is regularly asked to share his knowledge of the region, and what it means for energy markets and the global economy.

Jonathan sees the world as a giant jigsaw puzzle, with new pieces arriving every day. Each piece contains a clue and a hint of what the future might look like.

Having been born in South Africa and lived in Lesotho, Swaziland, England and Bahrain, Jonathan now calls Australia home.

Jonathan always focuses my mind on the important conclusions and ramifications of events, which are sometimes hard to see. Always invite him to speak. FPA Queensland State Conference
We have received excellent feedback from our clients and many said it was the best talk that they have heard for a long time. Your contribution is greatly appreciated and I am sure it will also add to our clients’ perception of Rothschild as a fund manager. Worley Securities
Congratulations on a professional presentation which was without doubt, the best of the conference. Accolades continue to roll in… Australian Financial Services Limited
You were ranked the most popular speaker on our conference evaluation forms…generating comments such as first class, thought provoking, great passion, intelligent and relevant. Macquarie Investment Services
Feedback from the delegates indicate that your presentation at the conference was once again rated the very best overall…Congratulations. Australian Investors Association
Cuts through the issues in a language we can follow … excellent and superb, very inspiring …Jonathan put all facts in a perspective that no other economists have done. Lifespan Financial Planning
The feedback to Jonathan’s session was a thought provoking, engaging but above all entertaining presentation. Members from our audience stated they would happily have stayed another hour to listen to Jonathan and pepper him with questions. His perspective certainly allows some food for thought. tph Insolvency
Excellent – one of the best responses we have had from our delegates on an external speaker. Would highly recommend – informative, so engaging and gave a priceless and relevant analysis on today’s economic and political climate. Fiducian Portfolio Services Limited