Episodes

  • Immigration and unemployment
    Sep 26 2024

    When discussing the economy after the interest rate cuts last week, chair of the US Federal Reserve Jay Powell made an interesting comment about jobs numbers and immigration. “If you are having millions of people come into the labour force, and you are creating 100,000 jobs, you’re going to see unemployment go up,” he said. Well, mostly. Today on the show, the entire staff of the Unhedged newsletter – Rob Armstrong and Aiden Reiter – get together to discuss how immigration might be affecting unemployment. Also, they go long and short China’s new stimulus programmes.


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer


    You can email Robert Armstrong at robert.armstrong@ft.com and Katie Martin at katie.martin@ft.com.


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    19 mins
  • The case for small- and mid-caps
    Sep 24 2024

    As the Federal Reserve starts to lower interest rates, a perennial theory has returned: that small- and mid-caps will, for a time, grow more quickly than the S&P 500. Today on the show, Katie Martin, Rob Armstrong, and Aiden Reiter discuss whether that is good, or even true. Also, as the seasons change, we go long and short knitwear.


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer


    You can email Robert Armstrong at robert.armstrong@ft.com and Katie Martin at katie.martin@ft.com.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    22 mins
  • Federal Reserve puts on enormous party hat
    Sep 19 2024

    In a massive surprise on Wednesday, one of Rob Armstrong’s predictions turned out to be right. The Fed did indeed cut interest rates by half a percentage point. A cut this big is deeply unusual, and normally happens in a crisis. But there are a lot of reasons to think we’re not in a crisis at all. Today on the show, Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong talk about what the Fed just did, and where the central bank is headed. Also, we go long European merger drama and short well-being at big banks.


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer


    You can email Robert Armstrong at robert.armstrong@ft.com and Katie Martin at katie.martin@ft.com.


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    18 mins
  • What is Apollo, anyway?
    Sep 17 2024

    Apollo Global Management is publicly traded and one of the largest alternative asset managers in the world. But what does it really do? Today on the show, Rob Armstrong asks reporters Sujeet Indap and Eric Platt to describe the parts that make up Apollo. Also they go long Boeing and long News Corp.


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer


    You can email Robert Armstrong at robert.armstrong@ft.com and Katie Martin at katie.martin@ft.com.


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    22 mins
  • How Ireland got too much money
    Sep 12 2024

    Forty years ago Ireland had a high number of emigrants and very few multinational corporations. Then it became a tax haven. Today, the country is the headquarters for the European arms of companies such as Apple, Google and Intel. The country also has an €8bn surplus, and is about to get €13bn more following a court ruling with the iPhone maker. Today on the show, Katie Martin and Irish economist David McWilliams try to figure out what Ireland should do with all this extra cash. Also they go short Trump Media and long the Netflix series, The Perfect Couple.


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer


    You can email Robert Armstrong at robert.armstrong@ft.com and Katie Martin at katie.martin@ft.com.


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    22 mins
  • The Fed: will it be 25 or 50?
    Sep 10 2024

    Will the US central bank lower interest rates by 25 or 50 basis points? Fed chair Jay Powell has hinted rates are coming down, but not by how much. Today on the show, Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong take sides and argue the case for the expected 25 basis point cut, and a larger 50 basis point cut. Also we short Apple’s new phone, and go long the amazing technology of the veterinarian.


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer


    You can email Robert Armstrong at robert.armstrong@ft.com and Katie Martin at katie.martin@ft.com.


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    21 mins
  • How to fix the housing market
    Sep 5 2024

    By many measures, the US housing market is broken. High demand is causing high prices, and yet, year after year, new supply fails to arrive. What’s behind the mismatch? And is there any way to solve it? Today on the show, Robert Armstrong and Aiden Reiter discuss proposals from the two US presidential candidates, and other ideas. Also, we go short Turkey and short the yield curve.


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer


    You can email Robert Armstrong at robert.armstrong@ft.com and Katie Martin at katie.martin@ft.com.


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    23 mins
  • Boring but sexy (stocks)
    Sep 3 2024

    The run-up in the markets over the past year or so has been largely driven by tech companies with outsized returns. But that seems to be changing. Names such as Walmart, Berkshire Hathaway and UnitedHealthCare have been performing strongly while the once-hot tech sector seems to lag. Today on the show, Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong ask if this is a sign of an era shift in the market. Also we ask if Jerome Powell was lucky or good.


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer


    You can email Robert Armstrong at robert.armstrong@ft.com and Katie Martin at katie.martin@ft.com.


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    18 mins