Markets Explained

Oil, the Fed and Starmer

Another busy week ahead as investors continue to digest the outlook for oil prices and broader markets following prospects of a deal between the US and Iran. New Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh ruffled US Treasury market feathers with his first meeting, and now the UK faces its seventh prime minister in 10 years. Tune in to hear what Karen and Hugh expect to dominate the market narrative this week. 

What the US-Iran deal means for markets

In this episode Karen is joined by Iain Stealey, International CIO, Global Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities, to discuss the deal between the US and Iran and explore why, despite the apparent resilience of markets in recent weeks, this development is still likely to generate significant moves.

Maybe the US is too hot for Kevin Warsh to handle: Inflation, interest rates and the Fed

In this podcast, Karen and Hugh outline why the US payrolls report was looking a bit too hot last week and why this week’s inflation print will be critical ahead of the Fed meeting next week. They also discuss why the upcoming US tech IPOs are unlikely to rattle markets short-term but that they will add a vital piece of information to help us assess how to invest in the companies bringing AI to the world.

A goldilocks US jobs report expected

While a concrete deal between the US and Iran remains elusive, the market is hopeful that the Strait will at least partially re-open while talks continue. Investors will also have to focus on ‘payrolls week’ with a flurry of information about the US labour market. Will the labour market heat up and put pressure on the Fed to hike this year or will the labour market stay relatively weak despite a booming economy? Is AI doing all the work? And will this week’s inflation data set the ECB up for making a policy error? These are some of the issues Karen and Hugh discuss this week. 

Hopes of a deal in Iran calms bond markets

In this week’s podcast Karen and Hugh discuss the latest developments in the negotiations between the US and Iran, some feedback from J. P. Morgan Asset Management’s global shipping team about how quickly energy markets could normalise when the Strait reopens, and why we all need to keep an eye on developments in Japan.

Market jitters build

In this week’s podcast Karen and Hugh discuss how markets are getting more jittery about a prolonged conflict in Iran, how the summit between Xi and Trump fits into the narrative, and what the latest uncertainty in UK politics means for the Gilt market.

Middle East, inflation and UK politics

On this week’s podcast Karen and Hugh discuss whether markets are looking through the Middle East conflict, what higher oil prices might mean for US inflation due out this week and what the gilt market makes of the latest developments in UK politics.

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New Podcast launching 11 May: Markets Explained

In this increasingly tumultuous world, what should investors see as a signal? And what should they dismiss as noise? In this weekly podcast Karen and Hugh do exactly that – they digest the newsflow and work out what it means for global investors.