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What Japan’s weekend vote means for markets

What Japan’s weekend vote means for markets

10m 41s

Japan will hold Upper House elections this Sunday. While Japanese politics may seem distant, the implications could ripple far beyond Tokyo—especially through the Japanese yen, carry trades, and global risk appetite. With the Bank of Japan (BoJ) in the midst of policy normalization and Japanese yields on the rise, the outcome of Sunday’s vote could shift global asset flows. In this episode, we explore two key election scenarios—whether the ruling LDP keeps its majority or loses it—and what each could mean for Japanese equities, government bonds, and the yen. We also look at the potential for wider global market moves,...

The Cost of Chaos

The Cost of Chaos

11m 8s

Trump’s rumoured plan to fire Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell sent markets into a frenzy — a sharp selloff followed by a sudden rebound. The dollar tanked, yields dropped, and traders braced for impact before Trump walked it all back, saying he was only ‘discussing it in concept.’ But the damage is long done: questions about Fed independence, market credibility, and policy chaos are back on the table. In this episode, we unpack the political drama shaking the markets, why the Fed’s credibility matters more than ever, and what could be next for the dollar, Treasuries, and risk assets....

Too much risk being ignored?

Too much risk being ignored?

10m 45s

Markets are holding steady despite a weekend full of warning signs: fresh tariff threats from the US, retaliation plans from the EU, and a sharp spike in global bond yields. While investors are banking on negotiations to smooth over the tension — and Nvidia’s China news adds a bit of optimism — cracks are starting to show. Japan’s 30-year yield hit multi-year highs, and US and European yields are climbing too, hinting at rising borrowing costs just as Q2 earnings season kicks off.
Are markets ignoring too many risks? From inflation pressures to currency mismatches and corporate margin squeezes, the...

US dollar eases on tariffs, silver & Bitcoin extend rally

US dollar eases on tariffs, silver & Bitcoin extend rally

10m 25s

Donald Trump threatened the EU and Mexico with 30% US tariffs over the weekend — triple what the Europeans expected. While the UK appears to have secured a ‘privileged’ 10% rate, weak UK growth data and fresh trade uncertainty are pressuring sterling.
In Asia, the USDJPY rises despite soft dollar sentiment as Japan’s elections and fiscal expectations push yields higher. China posts better-than-expected export data, but tensions with Europe are rising as pricing wars escalate.
Silver outshines gold, Bitcoin pushes past $120K, and earnings season kicks off with major banks and Netflix.
Listen to find out more!

Tariffs, debt risks evaporate, equities march on

Tariffs, debt risks evaporate, equities march on

10m 11s

Markets shrugged off a wave of new US tariffs this week — including eye-popping 50% duties on copper and Brazilian goods — with major indices like the S&P 500 hitting fresh all-time highs. From strong airline earnings to a boost in AI enthusiasm led by Nvidia, investor optimism stayed intact despite growing geopolitical and economic headwinds. We also look at how the US dollar is reacting to shifting debt and tariff expectations, what’s driving Japanese government bonds ahead of the Upper House elections, and why oil prices remain under pressure even with rising Red Sea tensions and fresh threats of...

Nvidia: $4 trillion and more to go

Nvidia: $4 trillion and more to go

11m 9s

Tariff headlines keep rolling in — from 50% levies on Brazilian exports to a pending decision on the EU — but markets remain resilient. European equities gained, and the Nasdaq reached new highs, helped by a sharp intraday rally in Nvidia. The company briefly rose over 2%, becoming the world’s first to hit a $4 trillion valuation.
Elsewhere, Amazon’s Prime Day started stronger than expected, Federal Reserve (Fed) minutes showed diverging views on the inflationary impact of tariffs, and the US dollar softened as rate-cut bets gained traction. Crude oil tests the 200-DMA resistance while the gap between US copper...

Let’s get moving to inflation hedges!

Let’s get moving to inflation hedges!

10m 27s

European markets are on edge as rising US tariffs collide with hopeful trade negotiations with the EU. But optimism elsewhere fade as the latest tariff pause expires and President Trump threatens no extensions beyond August 1. Meanwhile, a surprise 50% levy on copper has sent COMEX futures to record highs even as prices on India’s MCX pull back. With inflationary pressures mounting—fed by both tariffs and unexpected mass deportations that could subtract a full percentage point from GDP and nudge prices up by 0.16–0.21 points—the Federal Reserve (Fed) faces a critical dilemma in the second half of 2025. Discover which sectors and...

Tariffs, inflation, debt risks are everywhere – but markets don’t blink

Tariffs, inflation, debt risks are everywhere – but markets don’t blink

11m 15s

Markets are brushing off 25–40% tariffs like they’re just minor annoyances. But the US is back to tariff warfare, inflation is knocking, repatriation risks from Japan are rising — and yet, equities barely flinch. The S&P 500 is near ATH levels, the Nikkei rebounds, and the Stoxx 600 marches on. The new negotiation deadline is pushed to August 1st, but somehow that’s good news? Businesses can’t hold prices down forever, and consumers may soon feel the pinch. The Federal Reserve (Fed) is stuck between rising inflation and slowing growth. But sure — let’s keep buying risk. It must be unicorns...