Know More. Risk Better.

In the latest episode of "Know More Risk Better," host Zach Griffiths talks with Blake Winston, a USD Rates Options Trader at Wells Fargo. They address recent key market narratives including concerns about the Treasury-futures basis trade, further swap spread tightening and potential foreign selling of Treasuries. Blake sheds light on discrepancies in the market narrative and what he sees as the key drivers of the recent selloff in cash bonds. They also discuss the recent trend of the front end and back end of the Treasury curve trading like two different asset classes and how concerns about Fed independence factor into recent market movements. This episode offers valuable perspectives for those interested in financial markets and macroeconomic trends.

In this week's episode, host Zachary Griffiths dives into the evolving APAC insurance landscape with Senior Insurance Analyst, Trung Tran, focusing on converging Insurance Capital Standards in the region. Trung shares insights into Japanese life insurers, highlighting their strong solvency ratios amid attractive spreads for investors. They discuss significant risks like interest rate fluctuations and stock market volatility, and notice a trend of Japanese insurers moving their investments back home due to high hedging costs and rising local interest rates. The episode also tackles common investor questions about insurance bonds and accounting practices. If you're curious to learn more about this topic, including regulatory changes and bond structures, check out our 2024 APAC Insurance Primer Report.

Joining the discussion is Cedric Chehab, Chief Economist at BMI, known for his expertise in global trade dynamics. He shares insights on the current economic landscape, highlighting the potential for recession amid aggressive tariff policies. The conversation delves into the evolving role of the U.S. in global markets and the impact of trade tensions. Cedric also examines the future of the U.S. dollar and the challenges facing the Chinese economy as it navigates currency valuation. Tune in for a captivating take on today's market complexities.

Join us on the latest episode of the “Know More. Risk Better.” podcast as Winnie Cisar, Zach Griffiths, and Regis Chatellier explore the economic outlook for Q2 2025 and beyond. Dive into discussions on economic trends and risks, U.S. stagflation concerns, and the impacts of tariffs and geopolitical tensions on emerging markets.

In this week's episode, host Winnie Cisar and CreditSights Head of South and Southeast Asia Corporates, Lakshmanan R., delve into the world of Indonesian corporates. Discover how evolving fiscal policies are creating uncertainty in the Indonesian market, the outlook for economic fundamentals in South and Southeast Asia given the mix of trade and tariff uncertainty, where corporate governance concerns persist and impacts on access to liquidity, and our views on opportunities in the corporate hybrid universe.

In this week's episode, host Zachary Griffiths and CreditSights Head of Asia Strategy, Zerlina Zeng discuss insights from China's recent Two Sessions meetings. They explore China's GDP growth target of 5% for 2024, fiscal policies, and the impact of U.S. tariffs. Zerlina highlights challenges such as overcapacity, export headwinds, and considers potential fiscal measures. The conversation also covers the implications of tariffs on various Asian markets, particularly South Korea, and the cautious sentiment towards credit risk amid U.S. policy changes. Tune in for a comprehensive analysis of Asia's economic landscape and geopolitical dynamics. 

In this episode of "Know More. Risk Better," Zachary Griffiths welcomes Jeff deGraaf, chairman and co-founder of Renaissance Macro Research. Jeff draws from 35 years of experience to provide technical insights amid the recent equity market selloff. They discuss key metrics he’s focused on to determine if equities are oversold and when it is time to add risk back to portfolios. Jeff describes his journey beginning on Wall Street as a fundamental analyst and what drew him to take a more imaginative approach to capital markets including using technical analysis to understand what the market is ‘saying’.  

Kerry Kantin, U.S. Bureau Chief at LevFin Insights, joins the conversation to unpack the current volatility in loan and private credit markets. He sheds light on how recent economic conditions and interest rates are influencing market dynamics. The discussion highlights challenges in deal-making amid geopolitical uncertainties and explores M&A activity expectations for 2025. Kerry also explains the competitive landscape between broadly syndicated loans and private credit, emphasizing the significance of ongoing analysis in navigating these complex financial terrains.

In this episode of the Know More. Risk Better. podcast Logan Miller welcomes Simon Adamson and Paola Biraschi to discuss the 2024 earnings results for European banks, highlighting stable performance and market reactions. They explore M&A activity, noting several ongoing deals and their potential credit impacts, while emphasizing the complexity and prevalence of hostile takeovers. The discussion also covers regulatory changes, particularly Basel 3.1 and the Crisis Management and Deposit Insurance package, and their implications for capital issuance and bank strategies. Despite geopolitical uncertainties, the team maintains a positive outlook on AT1 instruments due to attractive yields and assesses bank performance and positioning, noting tightened credit spreads and strong performance over the past year.

In this episode of the Know More. Risk Better. podcast, Winnie Cisar, Zachary Griffiths, and Mark Lightner explore the legal landscape under Trump's presidency. They delve into the implications of executive orders, address potential challenges to Federal Reserve independence, and highlight significant Supreme Court cases. This discussion offers valuable insights into the evolving political and economic environment. Don't miss out on understanding how these changes could impact markets and institutions.