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Unhedged
Looking at 2025
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It is the season for giving and banks are giving us a lot of year-ahead reports. Katie, Robert and Aiden actually read these things, and today on the show they discuss what they’ve learned. It all raises questions about very narrow corporate spreads, an AI bubble and what happens if things go right in the jobs market, or wrong in the Middle East. Also we go long hair products, short turkey and limit long Josh Kushner’s big bet against diversification.
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.
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Disinflation, demographics, Doge
20:24|Opinions are cheap so we’re making it up in volume, with three takes on the future of the economy. Today on the show, the entire staff of the Unhedged newsletter – Rob Armstrong and Aiden Reiter – gather to discuss looming inflation, the next 25 years of returns from the stock market and the challenges facing the so-called ‘department of government efficiency’. Also we go long Disney and long Turkey, the country.For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedofferYou 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.comLive from Kilkenomics: anger and economics
28:59|Angry eruptions in elections around the world are changing leaders. And many of those leaders are coming in with radical offers to the voters. But can anger change an economic outcome for the better? And will it? Today on the show, Katie Martin hosts a live forum at the Kilkenomics Festival in Kilkenny, Ireland and discusses the topic with Leah Downey, a political theorist, and Eric Lonergan, a money manager. Also, we go long turkeys and short orange politicians. For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedofferYou 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.comLive from Kilkenomics: financial mistakes
25:58|Each year economists gather in Kilkenny, Ireland for the annual Kilkenomics festival. The guests share stories in pubs and make dark jokes about economics. This year, we joined them, taping two episodes of our podcast in Cleere's Bar & Theatre. In our first instalment, we speak with financial historian Russell Napier and Martín Lousteau, a senator representing the city of Buenos Aires. The topic is financial mistakes. Also we go long anger in politics and short France. For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedofferYou 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.comThe Trump economy. How big? How beautiful?
29:15|If Donald Trump’s campaign promises about things such as immigration, the dollar, trade and tax policy are realised, the US will start an economic experiment without recent precedent. Today on the show, Katie Martin, Rob Armstrong and Aiden Reiter make their best guesses about a very confusing and unfamiliar future. Also, we short incumbents and tweed and go long the American project. For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedofferYou 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.comDo the markets even care about the US election?
19:55|It’s election day. Everyone is freaking out. But the prices of some major commodities and indices remain stoically calm. We investigate. Also, we go long nuclear power, long bees and limit long a squirrel named Peanut.For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedofferYou 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.comMagnificent 7 report
21:29|The Magnificent 7 make up seven of the eight largest stocks on the S&P 500 and they are reporting earnings this week and last. Today on the show, Rob Armstrong and guest John Foley, who covers technology for the Lex column, take a look at all seven – with a nod to Berkshire Hathaway – and ask where they’re headed. Also we go long Reddit and long consumer sentiment. For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedofferYou 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.comCan Boeing come back?
19:29|It’s been a tough year for Boeing. It started with a door panel falling off of a plane in mid-flight. Then machinists at the company went on strike. This week, Boeing announced it would raise $19bn in an effort to keep its credit rating from being cut to junk. Today on the show, the FT’s Chicago correspondent Claire Bushey joins Rob Armstrong to discuss whether Boeing is too big to fail – and if it’s worth the wait for investors. Also, we go long Superstore and Halloween.For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedofferYou 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.comWhat do bond markets know about the election?
22:02|As betting markets and polls begin tentatively to suggest a Donald Trump election win, yields in 10-year Treasuries have risen. Some on Wall Street think that is because traders believe Trump will win, bringing with him inflationary spending and policies. Today on the show, Rob Armstrong discusses what the bond market knows with Derek Brower, the FT’s US political news editor. Also we go long Coca-Cola, and short a decisive election result. For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedofferYou 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