Barclays Private Bank Podcasts

Does recent volatility among software stocks signal a significant risk for the credit market? Michel Vernier, Head of Fixed Income Strategy, and Aleks Devic, Fixed Income Specialist, join Julien Lafargue to explore recent price action, examine the headlines about redemption limitations within private credit markets and to discuss how investors can build a sustainable credit portfolio.

In this week's podcast, Nvidia's Simon See, joins host Julien Lafargue to reflect on the impact artificial intelligence and what his AI research work at the company suggests could happen next. Given that AI tailwinds that powered the market higher have turned into headwinds recently, we hope you find this informative.

In this week's podcast, Michel Vernier, Head of Fixed Income Strategy, joins host Julien Lafargue to reflect on recent central bank rate-setting meetings. What can we expect from the US Federal Reserve (Fed), European Central Bank and the Bank of England over the next few quarters? How did bond markets react to Kevin Warsh's nomination as the next Fed chair? And what does Japan's recent election result mean for investors?

In this week's podcast, Stefano Mascoli, Head of FX and Capital Markets in Monaco, joins host Julien Lafargue to discuss the drivers behind the recent sharp moves in currency markets. Are investors witnessing a structural shift in the US dollar? How much further could the yen rally? And what role did the prospect of a coordinated US–Japan intervention play in markets?

The US economy is creating far fewer jobs, but is this just a temporary soft patch? Lukas Gehrig, our Head of Quant Macro and Thematic Strategy, joins host Julien Lafargue, Chief Market Strategist, to delve into the trends shaping the US labour market – from tougher immigration and shifting demographics to advances in artificial intelligence – and why they matter for investors.

In this week's podcast, Dorothée Deck, Head of Cross Asset Strategy, joins host Julien Lafargue to discuss how market leadership is broadening across companies, sectors and regions. They cover what's driving this shift, why investor sentiment remains fragile, and why earnings delivery is becoming increasingly important. They also preview the key themes for the Q4 reporting season – from AI‑related productivity to capex trends and the durability of mega-cap earnings – and share early insights from US bank results.

In this week's podcast, Michel Vernier, Head of Fixed Income Strategy, joins host Julien Lafargue to reflect on the bond markets in 2025 and provide insights on what will be the driving forces in 2026. They discuss if central banks are done with interest rate cuts and if the bond markets are too complacent about the inflation outlook. Additionally, they explore what large-scale, AI-related capital expenditure means for credit markets.

In this week's podcast, Ivelin Stankov, Investment Strategist, joins host Julien Lafargue to discuss cryptocurrencies. Is Bitcoin a form of digital gold? What role can Bitcoin play in portfolios? And what should investors expect from Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in 2026 and beyond?

In this week's podcast, Alex Joshi, Head of Behavioural Finance, joins host Julien Lafargue to discuss the psychology of bubbles. What is a bubble and how does it work? Is there a bubble in equity markets today? And how can investors use AI to make better investment decisions?

This week's podcast discusses the impact that UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Budget last week is having on the housing market. Our real estate financing specialist Stephen Moroukian joins host Julien Lafargue to discuss the state of the property market and outline the key Budget measures likely to have the biggest impact on investors in the sector.

This week's podcast discusses the key themes of our recently released AI Outlook 2026: Agents of Productivity report, which examines the defining trends, opportunities and risks for AI in the year ahead. Lukas Gehrig, Head of Quant Macro and Thematic Strategy, and Rob Smith, AI and Data Science Strategist, join host Julien Lafargue to answer some of the key questions on investors' minds. Can the hunger for compute and energy demand be sated? When will AI deliver the much-promised broad productivity gains? And what part will regulation play in the AI rollout?

Despite the strong performance in US equity markets this year and speculation of an AI bubble, there are still reasons for investors to be optimistic. In this special podcast, guests Dr Nouriel Roubini, Senior Economic Strategist, and Jason Cuttler, Senior Markets and Derivatives Strategist, both at Hudson Bay Capital join host Julien Lafargue to discuss how AI-driven growth should continue to outweigh less market-friendly policies such as tariffs, why they believe that the S&P 500 isn't overvalued and why Japan and metals can offer investors diversification benefits.

As we unveil our Outlook 2026 report amidst a year marked by powerful AI-driven momentum, stretched equity valuations and growing concentration risks, the key question now is how investors should position as we move toward 2026. In this week's podcast, Dorothée Deck, Head of Cross Asset Strategy, and Michel Vernier, Head of Fixed Income Strategy, join host Julien Lafargue to explore the forces behind recent market performance, the vulnerabilities emerging beneath the surface, and where we believe the most compelling opportunities and risks lie across regions, sectors and investment styles.

Following the release of our Private Markets Annual Report 2025, we shine a light on the growing importance of private markets for high-net-worth investors. In this week's podcast, Shenal Kakad, Global Head of Private Markets, shares some of the report's key findings around why investors are increasingly looking at private markets, the key drivers behind the growth in allocations to private markets and the barriers they face when investing.

Q3 results in the US have been particularly strong, with earnings and margins surprising to the upside. Europe has been more mixed, though underlying trends look more resilient, after accounting for sector and FX effects. At the same time, dispersion is rising. In this week's podcast, Dorothée Deck, Head of Cross Asset Strategy, explores how strong numbers in the US are not always rewarded, while even modest disappointments face sharper reactions ‒ a clear sign that investors are becoming more discriminating.

Blockchain is a long-term investment theme that is maturing after an initial stage of hype, offering new avenues for value creation in portfolios. In this week's podcast, Ivelin Stankov, Investment Strategist, joins host Julien Lafargue to explain what blockchain companies do, the influence of cryptocurrencies on blockchain companies, and what makes the blockchain theme a unique opportunity for investors.

In this week's podcast, Stephen Moroukian, our real estate financing specialist, joins host Julien Lafargue to discuss central London's prime real-estate market, Budget speculation, and the ongoing geopolitical backdrop. Stephen also provides an update on the UK interest rate outlook and how this is impacting the demand for mortgages.

After a period where just a handful of mega-cap AI stocks have driven market returns, Quality stocks (companies which often exhibit consistent earnings growth, high profitability, and stable balance sheets) have lagged significantly. In this week's podcast, Dorothée Deck, Head of Cross Asset Strategy, explores why Quality may be poised for a rebound, and shares the key indicators to watch as market leadership starts to broaden.

Following Sanae Takaichi's surprise election win as leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the yen weakened sharply on expectations of looser monetary policy. In this week's podcast, Bhaskar Gupta joins host Julien Lafargue to consider the prospects for the yen, US dollar, euro, sterling, and Swiss franc.

As the US administration shakes up global trading norms, the US dollar suffered its worst first half of the year in more than 50 years. In this week's podcast, Nikola Vasiljevic, Head of Global Asset Allocation, joins host Julien Lafargue to discuss US dollar depreciation and elevated geopolitical uncertainty, and how much these factors can affect the investment outlook.

In this week's podcast, Michel Vernier, Head of Fixed Income Strategy, joins host Julien Lafargue to discuss the recent interest rate decisions from the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and the Bank of England (BoE). As the Fed cuts rates while the BoE holds fire, Michel considers the diverging policies of the two central banks and explores the prevailing economic backdrop in both countries.

In this week's podcast, Pierre-Emmanuel Crama, Senior Hedge Fund Analyst, and Oliver Knox, Hedge Fund Analyst, join host Julien Lafargue to discuss the role of due diligence in manager selection, and the importance of understanding the asset class, its potential place in a portfolio, and the opportunities and risks involved.

As US non-farm payrolls came in weaker than expected in August, should investors be concerned about a slowdown in the US economy? In this week's podcast, Lukas Gehrig, Head of Quant Macro and Thematic Strategy, joins Julien Lafargue to discuss the US labour market, the outlook for inflation, and what the Federal Reserve may do next.

As US Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Powell takes a more dovish stance, should investors expect a US rate cut in September? In this week's podcast, Michel Vernier, Head of Fixed Income Strategy, joins Julien Lafargue to discuss the recent Jackson Hole symposium, Fed independence, and US and UK interest rate expectations.

In our latest podcast, Julien Lafargue, Chief Market Strategist, reflects on key themes moving financial markets, from sector-specific tariffs to growing concerns over stagflation risk. He also discusses the Bank of England's latest rate-setting meeting, and the implications for future interest rate decisions.

Earnings season is nearly over – so what stood out? In this week's episode, Dorothée Deck, Head of Cross Asset Strategy, joins Chief Market Strategist Julien Lafargue to explore where expectations were beaten – particularly in US tech and European banks – and how markets have responded. Plus, find out what it could all mean for investors.

In this week's podcast, Ivelin Stankov delves into the world of cryptocurrencies exploring the investor implications of growing demand for stablecoins, especially on US Treasuries. Host Julien Lafargue also shares his insights on the recent US trade agreements with Europe and Japan, as well as the strong start to the corporate earnings season.

What have the first six months of the year taught us about investor psychology? In this week's podcast, Alex Joshi, Head of Behavioural Finance, joins Julien Lafargue to discuss the benefits of contrarian thinking, and the importance of taking a break from newsflow for long-term investors.

As earnings season begins to ramp up, investors will be hoping to get some valuable insight into how companies are navigating higher tariffs and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. In this week's podcast, Dorothée Deck, Head of Cross Asset Strategy, joins Julien Lafargue to consider what makes this particular earnings season so important, how investors might position their portfolios and much more besides.

The first half of the year has been volatile in currency markets, driven by President Trump's tariff policy and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. In the US, the impact of tariffs on growth has caused the US dollar to weaken against the euro, sterling and the Swiss franc. In this week's podcast, Bhaskar Gupta, Head of FX Distribution in the UK, joins Julien Lafargue to discuss what investors could expect from currency markets for the rest of the year.

Despite AI breakthroughs becoming more incremental, AI development and investment remain strong. While many models may perform well in narrow tasks, they can still struggle with practical reliability, which might limit commercial adoption in the near term. In this week's podcast, Rob Smith, Data Scientist, joins Julien Lafargue to discuss the latest developments in this evolving technology.

As periods of elevated volatility in bond markets remain likely in the second half of the year, we explore how investors might navigate the ongoing uncertainty. Michel Vernier, Head of Fixed Income Strategy, and Aleks Devic, Fixed Income Specialist, join Julien Lafargue to discuss the expected future path of US and UK interest rates, the potential impact of the Middle East conflict, and where value may lie in the credit market.

As we approach the mid-point of the year, we take a moment to reflect on events, and consider what the next six months may entail for investors. Alex Joshi, Head of Behavioural Finance, joins Julien Lafargue to discuss our flagship Mid-Year Outlook report and consider how investors can more confidently navigate the trends which are expected to shape the rest of 2025.

As market volatility continues to weigh on investor sentiment, this week's podcast explores the potential benefits and risks of hedge funds. Pierre-Emmanuel Crama, Senior Hedge Fund Analyst, and Oliver Knox, Hedge Fund Analyst, join host Julien Lafargue to discuss how effective manager selection can help reduce risks, what's involved in a good manager selection process, and the role private banks can play in improving the accessibility of the asset class for investors.

As the US dollar struggles, sterling and the Swiss franc have gone from strength to strength. In this week's podcast, Bhaskar Gupta, Head of FX Distribution in the UK, joins host Julien Lafargue to consider what's next for the US dollar, reflect on the sustainability of sterling's strength, and explore how the Swiss franc's rising value may impact its economy.

At times of rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, a long-term view remains essential. In this week's podcast, Nikola Vasiljevic, Head of Global Asset Allocation, joins host Julien Lafargue to look beyond the market noise to consider the outlook for the major asset classes over the next ten years.

This week's podcast reflects on the recent market turmoil and what it could mean for the UK property market. Stephen Moroukian, our real estate financing specialist, joins host Julien Lafargue to discuss the outlook for interest rates and the health of the London prime property market.

This week's podcast focuses on the bond market reaction to trade tariff uncertainty. Michel Vernier, Head of Fixed Income Strategy, joins host Julien Lafargue to discuss the likely impact of tariffs on consumers and corporates, the latest US Federal Reserve interest rate projections and the probability of a US recession and much more besides.

With elevated market volatility, this week's podcast focuses on how investors can retain perspective despite the challenging environment. Listen in as Alex Joshi, Head of Behavioural Finance, joins host Julien Lafargue to discuss how markets can magnify behavioural biases and why it's important for investors not to make any knee-jerk decisions.

As financial markets grapple with the fallout from President Trump's ‘Liberation Day' announcements, Lukas Gehrig, Head of Quantitative Macro and Thematic Strategy, joins Julien Lafargue to discuss what it might mean for investors and the global economy. Listen in for their insights on how tougher US trade policy could impact the US dollar and the risk of recession, and how other economies might respond.

With an unsettled investment landscape, this week's podcast focuses on how major currencies are faring. Listen in as Bhaskar Gupta, Head of FX Distribution in the UK, joins host Julien Lafargue to discuss the latest developments and what they mean for investors.

Amid ongoing market uncertainty, this week's podcast delves into the latest interest rate updates from the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England. Listen in as Michel Vernier, Head of Fixed Income Strategy, joins host Julien Lafargue to discuss the implications for interest rates and investors.

How can investors navigate current market volatility? Alex Joshi, Head of Behavioural Finance, discusses the importance of a long-term perspective, and shares some insights on keeping a cool head during market turmoil. Host Julien Lafargue covers US inflation, tariffs and interest rate expectations.

This week, Nikola Vasiljevic, Head of Global Asset Allocation, discusses the correlation between equity and bond returns and how changing economic conditions can influence the relationship. Host, Julien Lafargue also covers tariffs, US jobs, and EU defence spending.

This week, Dorothée Deck, Head of Cross Asset Strategy, examines the recent rise in dispersion of equity returns. With policy uncertainty likely to persist, and AI developments leading to more differentiation at the stock level, this dispersion is likely to stay elevated. Host Julien Lafargue covers trade tariffs, inflation in the US and Europe, and Nvidia's latest earnings announcement.

This week, Stephen Moroukian, our real estate financing specialist, delves into recent developments in the UK property market – from mortgage rates to market sentiment – and whether there could be reasons for optimism. Host Julien Lafargue also covers the German election, the prospects for Europe and what's been driving recent stock market volatility.

In this week's podcast, Julien Lafargue, Chief Market Strategist, considers the outlook for the US inflation, the continued barrage of headlines on US tariffs and how European markets have reacted to a possible peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

In our latest podcast, Julien Lafargue, Chief Market Strategist, reflects on another busy week for financial markets. Topics include the latest developments on President Trump's tariffs, the US economy and corporate earnings, as well as the Bank of England's revised growth and inflation forecasts.

With the fourth-quarter earnings season well under way, Dorothee Deck, our Cross Asset Strategist, covers the sectors with the fastest growth and the importance of diversification. As host, Julien Lafargue discusses central bank decisions in the major regions, with US trade, AI and market volatility.

Join host Julien Lafargue and Lukas Gehrig, from our Quantitative Strategy team, as they examine the US political landscape and how it could impact portfolios. Topics include the new administration's executive orders and the implications for trade. Outside of politics, Lukas looks at portfolio composition and the potential role of hedge funds in investor diversification. Turning his attention to financial markets, Julien examines the AI sector, mixed corporate earnings data and US inflation.

Tune in as Alex Joshi, our Head of Behavioural Finance, examines New Year's resolutions for investors. Topics include navigating market uncertainty through loss aversion and keeping a cool head during periods of volatility, including the Trump inauguration in the US. Meanwhile, host Julien Lafargue covers positive inflation data, the outlook for the Chinese economy, solid earnings from US banks and interest rate expectations in the major regions.