The Bid

Jay Jacobs, the US head of Thematic and Active ETFs at BlackRock, dives into the critical theme of revitalizing the US physical economy. He discusses the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s massive funding aimed at upgrading aging infrastructure. Jay highlights the surge in reshoring manufacturing and the pressing housing supply gap. He emphasizes the bipartisan support these initiatives receive and sheds light on demographic trends impacting the housing market. Additionally, he explores the intertwined relationship between the digital and physical economies.

As we welcome a new year, we reflect on 2024 as another strong year for equities with inflation, interest rates, and the ongoing impact of artificial intelligence. Still very much in the spotlight. 2025 is shaping up to be an intriguing year for equity investors BlackRock's Global CIO of Fundamental Equities, Tony DeSpirito, will discuss the factors driving the market where he sees the biggest equity opportunities and some of the challenges that lie ahead.Sources: S&P 500 2 Year Return, Y Charts, ‘How Reddit Surprised Wall Street With 185% Post-IPO Surge’, Investor Business Daily, Nov 2024; Russell 1000 Value Index historical charts; 2023 GICS Changes: Companies Impacted and What You Need to Know, State Street Global Advisors, Jan 2023; The Magnificent Seven Monitor, Reuters; BlackRock Fundamental Equities with data from FactSet as of 11/30/24This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to the names of each company mentioned in this communication is merely for explaining the investment strategy and should not be construed as investment advice or investment recommendation of those companies. In the UK and Non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorised and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures go to Blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosuresSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the second episode of our infrastructure mini-series on The Bid, guest host Mark Wiedman, speaks with Matt Harris and Salim Samaha from Global Infrastructure investing to explore one of the biggest opportunities in infrastructure, the global transition to a low carbon economy.Sources: IEA Net Zero 2050, May 2021; Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) New Energy Outlook 2024 (May 2024); LevelTen Energy - Q1 2024 PPA Price Index Executive Summary - North America; Carbonomics, Goldman Sachs Dec 2022This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. In the UK and Non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorized and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. Reference to the names of each company mentioned in this communication is merely for explaining the investment strategy and should not be construed as investment advice or investment recommendation of those companies. For full disclosures go to Blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosuresSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Raj Rao, Founding Partner, President, and COO of Global Infrastructure Partners, dives into the booming world of infrastructure investing. He discusses its origins and why it's becoming essential for investors. The conversation touches on the intersection of AI and data centers, highlighting the increased energy demands and infrastructure challenges. Rao also emphasizes the need for decarbonization and the vast investment opportunities in renewable energy. Finally, he explores the financial benefits linked to enhancing existing infrastructure, like Gatwick Airport.

Jean Boivin, Head of The BlackRock Investment Institute, shares his expertise on navigating economic transformations. He discusses the impact of AI and energy transitions, emphasizing the imperative for infrastructure investment. Geopolitical shifts and recent elections are reshaping market dynamics, introducing volatility. Boivin also explores central bank strategies amidst inflation challenges and the need for an adaptive approach to investment strategies in 2025. His insights are invaluable for investors looking to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.

Nicholas Fawcett, a senior economist at BlackRock Investment Institute and an expert in AI's economic impact, shares insights on how AI is reshaping industries and economies. He discusses the three phases of AI's evolution: build-out, adoption, and transformation. The conversation highlights the capital investment rush led by companies like NVIDIA, the potential for AI to boost productivity and create new jobs, and strategies for investors to navigate this rapidly changing landscape while seizing emerging opportunities.

For The Bid's 200th episode, joining Oscar is one of BlackRock's founders, Rob Kapito. Rob currently serves as president of BlackRock and has witnessed the firm's incredible journey from the days of a largely US-based fixed income shop to becoming the firm trusted to manage more money than any other investment company in the world. Rob shares insights on the history of BlackRock, the firm's growth, and the evolving culture that has driven its success. We also look ahead to the future and get Rob's views on what lies ahead for BlackRock.This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. In the UK and Non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorised and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures go to Blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosuresSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this engaging discussion, Catherine Kress, the Head of Geopolitical Research and Strategy at BlackRock, dives into the significant outcomes of the 2024 US elections. She highlights how these results could shake up markets and shape investor strategies in a time of volatility. Kress examines key shifts in fiscal policy and trade under a potential Republican government. She also presents insights on market reactions and shares valuable advice for navigating investments amidst uncertainty and global trends.

Innovation in the investment industry is a hot topic thanks to the rise of things like AI, shifting investor demand, and volatile markets that are requiring more agility from investors. Today we'll be exploring the innovations driving both the ETF Market and Index investing more broadly, examining the latest trends and challenges facing investors, and how technology is playing a role in shaping these products.Joining Oscar live in London at BlackRock’s annual UK Wealth Investors Forum is Manuela Sperandeo, Head of Product for iShares in EMEA and Stuart Doole, global head of Equity investing research at MSCI, an investment research firm that provides stock indexes, portfolio risk, and performance analytics.Sources: ‘Global ETF assets reach $11 trillion’, Investment News, February 2024 Carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds' prospectuses or, if available, the summary prospectuses which may be obtained by visiting www.iShares.com or www.blackrock.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Actively managed funds do not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index, may have higher portfolio turnover, and may charge higher fees than index funds due to increased trading and research expenses. The iShares ETFs that are registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission are distributed in the US by BlackRock Investments, LLC. This material does not constitute an offer or solicitation to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any shares of any Fund (nor shall any such shares be offered or sold to any person) in any jurisdiction in which an offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the securities law of that jurisdiction. BlackRock Is not affiliated with MSCI.This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to the names of each company mentioned in this communication is merely for explaining the investment strategy and should not be construed as investment advice or investment recommendation of those companies. In the UK and Non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorised and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures go to Blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosuresSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this discussion, Alister Hibbert, head of BlackRock's Strategic Equity Team, shares his expertise in active equity investing. He explains how strategic, informed decisions can help investors outperform the market. The conversation dives into finding companies with long-term growth potential, using Bernard Arnault and LVMH as a prime example. Alister emphasizes the importance of patience amid market volatility and explores how macroeconomic factors like aging demographics and AI influence investment strategies and opportunities.