Podcasts about capital markets

Commercial real estate is changing, and the smartest investors are already adapting. In this episode, Nate Sosa and Thomas Castelli sit down with Mark Sinnett, Head of Capital Markets for Quebec at Avison Young. After closing more than 800 commercial real estate transactions totaling over $10 billion, Mark shares what institutional investors are seeing before everyone else. They discuss: - Why retail may be the biggest opportunity today - Whether office buildings are making a comeback - What's really happening in multifamily housing - How sale-leaseback transactions create massive liquidity - The role AI will play in commercial real estate - Why every investor needs multiple exit strategies If you invest in commercial real estate or want to understand where institutional capital is moving, this episode is important for you. Request a free discovery meeting: go.therealestatecpa.com/mlre Register for FREE access to the 2026 Hall CPA Tax Strategy Summit: www.taxandlegalsummit.com/2026signup Join the Hall CPA Team: www.therealestatecpa.com/careers/ Get the Ultimate Guide for Real Estate Syndications: go.therealestatecpa.com/mlreultimateguide Submit your questions to: go.therealestatecpa.com/question The Major League Real Estate podcast is for general information purposes only and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal, investing, financial, or accounting advice. Information on the podcast may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. No reader, user, or listener of this podcast should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information on this podcast without first seeking legal and tax advice from counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. Only your individual attorney and tax advisor can provide assurances that the information contained herein – and your interpretation of it – is applicable or appropriate to your particular situation. Use of, and access to, this podcast or any of the links or resources contained or mentioned within the podcast show and show notes do not create a relationship between the reader, user, or listener and podcast hosts, contributors, or guests. Any mention of third-party vendors, products, or services does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. You should conduct your own due diligence before engaging with any vendor.

Shares of capital market company MSCI and credit rating agency Equifax both posted double digit declines after posting earnings that were…ok? Matt, Lou, and Tyler dive into what went right and wrong in the most recent earnings and what to make of the two stocks today. Plus, what to make of the oil markets using Halliburton's earnings results and what is the best banking ETF today? Have a question? Email us; podcasts@fool.com Want to take the next step in your investing journey? Explore Motley Fool's Epic for our portfolio-centered investing experience, premium research, tools, and guidance: fool.com/epic fool.com/epic Tyler Crowe, Matt Frankel, and Lou Whiteman discuss: - Equifax & MSCI earnings and stock reactions - AI costs eating into profits - Halliburton's comments on the oil market - Mailbag: Best Banking ETF to buy now? Companies discussed: EFX, MSCI, MS, HAL, XLF, VFH, BRK, V, MA, JPM, KBE, KBWB Host: Tyler Crowe Guests: Matt Frankel, Lou Whiteman Engineer: Dan Boyd Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. We're committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is a 1% tax enough to change how corporate America returns billions of dollars to shareholders?In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we explore the economics of stock buybacks, the new federal 1% excise tax on share repurchases, and why capital allocation decisions can create enormous shareholder value or destroy it.Stock buybacks have become the dominant way companies return capital to investors, but not every repurchase creates value. We break down how buybacks affect earnings per share (EPS), why valuation matters, how the new buyback tax changes the math, and why companies like Apple and JPMorgan approach repurchases very differently than businesses that have made costly capital allocation mistakes.

Chef Jeff Paul Smith joins Dave Weekley by phone from the South Hills neighborhood to talk food, starting with a recap of his monthly cooking class at the Capital Market — this month featuring peach and apple onion crusted pork tenderloin and apple cookies for a crowd that braved the summer heat. The conversation zeroes in on scrambled eggs after listener response from a previous segment, with Smith walking through his professional technique — immersion blending with half and half, starting in a cold butter pan, and pulling the eggs early for small, soft curds. He then reveals a surprising second method: microwave scrambled eggs done in 30-second intervals that his own sous chef called the best he'd ever had. Coop shares his own ramekin puck egg trick for biscuit sandwiches, and Smith closes with the steamer wand method and a hotel pan steamer technique used for large-volume service.

Credit markets are stepping in to fund the surging demand for AI. Our experts Lindsay Tyler and Anish Shah explore the opportunities and risks behind this record financing wave.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Lindsay Tyler: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Lindsay Tyler, TMT Credit Research Analyst at Morgan Stanley. Anish Shah: And I'm Anish Shah, Global Head of Debt Capital Markets at Morgan Stanley. Lindsay Tyler: Today, how issuers and investors are approaching the rapidly evolving world of AI financing. It's Thursday, July 16th at 10am in New York. As AI demand accelerates, credit markets are being asked to finance infrastructure on a scale that used to be associated with utilities, telecom, or energy. That raises a central question for issuers and investors: How much debt can the AI ecosystem absorb? And at what price? Anish, can you walk our listeners through the key products in your purview? Anish Shah: Certainly, in my nearly twenty years at Morgan Stanley, this is probably the most incredible time period I've ever seen in the credit markets. I've had the privilege of working across a number of different roles in capital markets and lending. And a couple of years ago, we integrated the debt underwriting business across both investment-grade and leverage finance franchises in recognition of how interconnected the whole credit ecosystem has become. In addition to our core activities helping clients raise capital for their strategic priorities, two of the big focus areas that we've had have been finding ways to harness the power of the private credit universe and also delivering best-in-class capabilities in funding this incredible growth in AI spend. Lindsay Tyler: AI financing has certainly been a theme we've also been focused on in research. Our equity research colleagues project that a handful of key players could add more than 30 gigawatts of capacity over a two-year timeframe, driving around [$]2 trillion of aggregate cash CapEx in that period. And to put that into context, a single gigawatt of data center capacity can require roughly $12 billion for the shell, and then often more than double that for chips and racks. So, from your vantage point, what inning are we in? And what gives you confidence that credit markets can continue funding this opportunity at scale? Anish Shah: I mean, Lindsay, the numbers certainly are staggering, as you note. And if you just observe the CapEx estimates for the hyperscalers and broadly for AI infrastructure, we're certainly in the early innings. Lindsay Tyler: Mm-hmm. Anish Shah: The largest tech companies have historically, as you know, raised very little debt. In fact, many of these companies have not even needed a credit facility. As CapEx projections were materially increased in the second half of last year, we saw the beginning of scaled capital raises. Hyperscaler issuance has quickly gone from less than one percent of the investment-grade market to more than 10 percent of the market. You know, as I look ahead, based on what we're seeing on the ground, we think that AI-related funding, whether it's for data center development or financing compute capacity, could top 15 percent of the total issuance across all credit products. This has been an unprecedented test for the capital markets, both in terms of the depth of capacity and the breadth of product. The teams have been on the forefront of deep investor dialogue and product innovation. This spans corporate investment grade, first of their kind financings in high-yield and leveraged loan markets, and new takes on asset-backed financing. And each of these areas has seen material issuance both in public and private markets. Lindsay Tyler: Great backdrop. Let's dig first into investment-grade corporate debt, an area you know well from your time previously leading the investment-grade team. Can you help frame the scale and the significance of this financing bucket and how AI-related debt is scaling within it? Anish Shah: Well, you know, as you know, the investment-grade bond market, specifically in dollars, is the deepest, most liquid pool of capital in the world. Volumes have grown materially over the last few years and are likely to eclipse $2 trillion in issuance this year. Hyperscalers are among the very best credits in the world, and they have the ability to come in and out of markets with relatively quick twitch, little to no pre-marketing, and in fairly large size. You know, $20 billion-plus deals used to be rare in the investment-grade market, now happen multiple times a quarter. This is why we've seen the predominance of AI-driven capital raising take place in the investment-grade market. For the most part, investors have digested that supply very well. While we've seen some modest widening credit spreads for hyperscalers and some of the other tech issuers, I'd say it's de minimis relative to their expected ROI. Lindsay, I've talked a lot about supply dynamics and issuance. What other factors are you and investors considering when assessing fair value for investment-grade rated technology bonds? Lindsay Tyler: Sure. It's prudent to really weigh a mix of technicals, fundamentals, and relative value. You know, as you discussed on the technical side, and related to my discussions with debt and equity investors, I've been focused on scale of buildouts, market capacity, digestibility across currencies, positioning along the curve, implications of equity issuance, and whether AI financing could crowd out other areas of TMT credit. But moving more to the fundamental side of things, you mentioned ROI, and for the players that are scaling compute capacity, there are a handful of key monetization and return questions that keep coming up. How quickly can these companies bring new capacity online? Once it's live, how does it translate into durable revenue and cash flow? Is that capacity supporting internal products, proprietary models, broader cloud offerings, or compute leased to third parties? And then how fungible is the capacity across those use cases if demand or returns shift? Further on the fundamental side, we've done some differentiated work around growing long-term commitments. We've seen that high-quality hyperscalers and a few of the semis companies are anchoring the AI ecosystem through leases, guarantees, other obligations. These commitments really extend beyond vanilla bond issuance. So, I encourage investors to look beyond the funded debt and really understand the accounting and the ratings implications here of some of those commitments. And this ties nicely into the next topic that I wanted to raise, which is project finance debt. I've noticed that, you know, a lot of the commitments that we're seeing from IG players support another layer of financing. Lease commitments can underpin project finance debt, an area of sizable issuance and innovation. The public high-yield market has emerged as a new funding source in this way for data center construction, with more than 30 billion priced across 15 deals, since fall 2025. Can you walk us through, Anish, the innovation behind these structures, and how are these high yield deals different than other ways to, kind of, raise project finance debt? Anish Shah: Yeah, it's incredibly interesting. I mean, the bulk of the issuance, as I noted has come in the investment grade market, but I would say the bulk of the innovation has come in the sub-investment grade market. You know, historically, for very capital-intensive sectors like energy and power or real estate, the project loan market was the most efficient source of initial funding. The developer would tap banks to underwrite a highly structured construction loan. Once the project is up and running, you could then refinance that loan with the predictable cash flows into a more institutional financing, like the investment grade bond market or the term loan B or securitization markets.That product may still be very viable in many sectors, but we felt early on that bank-provided construction loans would not meet the capacity needs of the AI investment cycle. The market really needed an institutional credit product that bypassed the need for construction loans. The key innovation came in the form of first-of-its-kind high-yield bonds that funded the development of a new data center complex. Given the relatively short construction period and the "offtake" supported by some of the highest quality credits in the world, we felt like this financing structure would be incredibly well-received in the high-yield market. The win here is that the developer accesses fixed rate long-term capital and maintains flexibility to call the bonds and refinance at a lower cost. Judging by how these financings have gone, there's a strong level of investor enthusiasm. I think that they've only scratched the surface, and I would expect that we see much more of this. And potentially even expand it to other products in the leverage finance markets given the tremendous level of investor demand. Lindsay Tyler: Yeah. It's certainly been exciting to follow many of those deals. Beyond the public space, we're also seeing a wave of innovation in private credit and asset-backed finance. Anish, how do companies decide whether capital is best raised in the public or the private markets? Anish Shah: Well, I'm glad you raised the whole avenue of private markets because it may be the most significant change in the credit markets over the last few years, broadening the scope of private credit from directly lending into leverage buyouts to now financing large investment-grade projects. There are great examples in the world of GPU and TPU financing, where we structure loans secured by the asset and the cash flows, or in data center development.Lindsay, from your perspective, what are investors focused on when these private structures intersect with public credits? Lindsay Tyler: Sure. Many of these asset-backed private financings have prompted investors to look more closely at any of the public companies involved, whether as issuers, tenants, customers, or support providers. This ties back to the point I raised earlier. Where does the risk reside, and who ultimately is on the hook? These financings have also sparked broader discussions around circularity, vendor financing, and technology obsolescence risk, even when amortizing structures are in place. I do think those are fair concerns to weigh, and they really speak to how quickly the AI financing trend is evolving and how much credit work there is to do. So, Anish, with that balance in mind, relatively strong demand, rapid innovation, but also some real credit questions, let's end with a quick lightning round. Anish Shah: Lindsay, let's do it. Lindsay Tyler: First, what is the biggest risk that could test investor appetite for AI-related debt? Anish Shah: I would say investors are acutely focused on construction delays. Don't underestimate the level of diligence being done by the breadth of capacity you're seeing in the markets. Investors are doing their homework, and we're spending a lot of time trying to mitigate any of their concerns with structural protections. Lindsay Tyler: Got it. Second, beyond data center shells and chips, what is the next potential AI financing opportunity? Anish Shah: It most certainly is energy and power. We're going to see a ton of capital being raised in utilities. It's going to be a little different than what the hyperscalers are doing, just given the nature of their balance sheets. You're going to see more junior capital. We've seen a wave of junior subordinated debt issuance out of the utilities. We're also seeing a lot of activity from our project finance and tax equity team, just given all things energy infrastructure. Lindsay Tyler: Great. And third, if we're sitting here a year from now, what do you think could be the biggest AI financing story we're talking about? Anish Shah: Well, we certainly underestimated the level of financing activity that we saw in the past year. I think when we look back a year from now, we will probably see that the AI labs were much more ready to finance on their own on a standalone basis. That's going to alleviate some of the pressures in the market, but I think it's going to create a whole new set of considerations and structural innovation. Lindsay Tyler: Well, it's certainly been remarkable to watch this financing theme take shape in real time, and the next chapter sounds like it could be even more interesting to follow. Anish, thanks for joining us and sharing your insights. Anish Shah: Great to join, Lindsay. Thanks. Lindsay Tyler: And thank you for listening. If you enjoy Thoughts on the Market, please leave us a review wherever you listen and share the podcast with a friend or colleague today.*****Anish Shah is a member of Morgan Stanley's Global Capital Markets Division and is not a member of Morgan Stanley's Research Department. Unless otherwise indicated, his views are his own and may differ from the views of the Morgan Stanley Research Department and from the views of others within Morgan Stanley.

Alex Thorn talks with Lucas Tcheyan (Galaxy Research) about compute, AI, and GPU financial markets. Alex also talks with Beimnet Abebe (Galaxy Trading) about CPI, rates, equities, and bitcoin. Participants, along with Galaxy Digital, hold a financial interest in Bitcoin (BTC). Galaxy regularly engages in buying and selling BTC, including hedging transactions, for its own proprietary accounts and on behalf of its counterparties. Galaxy also provides services to vehicles that invest in BTC.  If the value of such assets increases, those vehicles may benefit, and Galaxy's service fees may increase accordingly. The valuation in this communication is based on technical, fundamental, and market analysis and not on any formal valuation method. For more information, please refer to Galaxy's public filings and statements. Cryptocurrencies, including BTC, are inherently volatile and risky and ultimate market movements may not align with this statement.   For additional risks related to digital assets, please refer to the risk factors contained in filings Galaxy Digital Inc. makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) from time to time, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, available at www.sec.gov. This episode was recorded on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. ++ Follow us on Twitter, @glxyresearch, and read our research at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.galaxy.com/research/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more! This podcast, and the information contained herein, has been provided to you by Galaxy Digital Holdings LP and its affiliates (“Galaxy Digital”) solely for informational purposes. View the full disclaimer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.galaxy.com/disclaimer-galaxy-brains-podcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

How can a company own almost nothing and still become one of the most valuable businesses in the world?In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we break down the economics behind platform marketplaces and why companies like Airbnb, Etsy, and Upwork have fundamentally different business models than traditional retailers.Unlike conventional businesses that own inventory and physical assets, marketplace platforms create value by connecting buyers and sellers. But building a successful platform is far more complex than simply attracting users. We explore the financial mechanics behind network effects, take rates, liquidity, customer acquisition, and marketplace economics, along with why some platforms become incredibly profitable while others burn through billions of dollars without ever reaching sustainable growth.

In this episode, Chris sits down with Mark Gibson, CEO of Capital Markets, Americas at JLL. He sits at the center of how capital moves through commercial real estate, which means he sees the data long before the narratives catch up. Chris and Mark get into why the world's largest investors are looking at real estate again after four years of underperformance, the signal in late 2024 that told his team the market had turned, and the wave of retirement capital that could reshape who owns real estate for the next decade. He is measured, data-driven, and one of the sharpest reads on this market Chris has had on the show. Timestamps(0:00) Intro(01:36) The Relative-Value Case for Real Estate(04:24) Reading the Market Through Bond Volatility and the VIX(09:50) Three Growth Pillars: Tax Cuts, Reshoring, and the AI Buildout(17:10) Fundraising Discipline(21:49) Operational Excellence Over Financial Engineering(28:53) M&A Acceleration and the Private Equity Property-Management Roll-Up(35:38) Disciplined Lenders, Capitulation vs. Conviction, and Bad Capital Structures(42:46) The 401(k) Wave: Private Real Estate Enters Retirement Plans(48:56) Multifamily's Supply Overhang and the Case for a Rebound(59:54) Data Centers: Scale, Power, and Who Owns This Stuff Long-Term(1:06:31) Office's Haves and Have-Nots === Find our sponsors: True North AdvisorsTrue North Advisors is a multi-family office and private wealth advisory firm serving business owners, entrepreneurs, and families since 2000. With over $5.6 billion under management, they're real investors offering conflict-free counsel and portfolios built around your life. Learn more at https://truenorthadvisors.com Collateral PartnersCollateral Partners builds institutional-grade investor materials for private credit, private equity, real estate, and family office firms, the kind of marketing collateral that helps you close capital. Learn more at https://collateral.com/powers Relay Human CloudRelay Human Cloud gives you pre-vetted, fully managed global talent for up to 75% less than hiring locally. Your best people stop doing repetitive work and get back to the work that moves your company forward. Learn more at https://www.relayhumancloud.com/powers === Chris on Social Media:X: https://x.com/fortworthchrisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepowerspodcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispowersjr/ === Visit our website: https://www.powerspod.com/Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO

Prath Reddy, CFA, serves as the CEO of Percent, where he was instrumental in setting the company's trajectory since its inception. With a solid background in financial services, particularly in investment banking and capital markets, Prath leads the revenue-driving sectors, including Capital Markets, Credit, Compliance, and Business Development, and maintains a Board Observer position.

Stephen Biggar and Dory Wiley break down second-quarter results from major banks including JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Wells Fargo (WFC), Citigroup (C) and Goldman Sachs (GS). They discuss how strong capital markets activity, investment banking and net interest income are supporting profits, and why a favorable regulatory environment could help drive additional growth and M&A activity through the rest of the year.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

US consumer prices declined in June for the first time in six years and a key gauge of underlying inflation was little changed, taking some pressure off the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.Frances Donald, Chief Economist at RBC Capital Markets, reacts to June CPI.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to build financial models that other finance professionals can trust?In this episode of What's New at CFI, Meeyeon sits down with Duncan McKean, CFI's VP of Financial Modeling, to discuss Financial Modeling Guidelines, a practical course designed to help analysts build cleaner, more transparent, and more professional Excel models.Instead of building a model from scratch, this course starts with a messy legacy model and walks you through transforming it into a best-in-class financial model using industry-standard modeling practices. Along the way, you'll learn why model structure matters, how to improve readability and transparency, and the habits that separate experienced financial modelers from everyone else.

This episode we are joined by Mr. Matt Rachiele - President & CEO of XXIII Capital - an industrial real estate firm with ~$100 million under management.Matt co-founded XXIII Capital Inc. in January 2023 and has nearly two decades of diversified commercial real estate, private equity and capital markets experience. He has played a key role on the execution of over $40 billion in completed transactions throughout his career. Matt's background includes holding various senior positions with one of the world's largest commercial real estate services firms, including managing a commercial brokerage team of over 80 in Calgary (the largest in Alberta at the time), serving as the interim Canadian chair of global capital markets and investment sales. Prior thereto, Matt spent 12 years in Capital Markets, including Investment Banking (Calgary) and Mergers & Acquisitions (Toronto) roles with two of Canada's largest banks. Matt is a CFA® charterholder and graduated from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary with a Bachelors of Commerce in Finance. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Wilmington Capital Management Inc. (TSX: WCM.A; WCM.B) & Brown Bagging For Calgary Kids, a completely privately funded non-profit organization providing meals to ~8,000 students across Calgary in ~300 schools and ~30 communities with a volunteer force of over 1,000. Among other things we learned about 180 Million Sq Ft: Calgary's Industrial Real Estate Boom. Enjoy.Newsletter: Subscribe HereThank you to our sponsors.Without their support this episode would not be possible:Connate Water SolutionsATB Capital Markets-*This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended as investment advice. Please do your own research, and consult professionals directly before making any investment decisions.Support the show

Send us Fan MailTo kick off our 4-episode series on the Saving & Investments Union Andrea Beltramello, Head of the SIU Coordination Unit at the European Commission's DG FISMA together with Yvonne Bendinger-Rothschild, Executive Director of the EACCNY, explores how EU financial markets and infrastructure compare to the US, and outlines the key challenges the SIU aims to address to unite the EU capital markets.Stay tuned for the full series, episodes will be uploaded to eaccny.com.Thank you for listening! Please be sure to check us out at www.eaccny.com or email membership@eaccny.com to learn more!

In this episode of #CannabisUnlocked, Tiby Erdely sits down with Frederico Gomes of ATB Cormark Capital Markets to discuss why this moment in cannabis feels materially different than prior reform cycles - and why investors may finally be approaching a new institutional capital cycle.Frederico has covered the cannabis sector for more than seven years across U.S. MSOs, Canadian LPs, retailers, and ancillary operators. Having lived through the 2019 boom, a brutal bear market, and multiple federal reform false starts, he brings a seasoned perspective on what is real, what remains uncertain, and what could drive the next major leg of value creation.Fred and Tiby dive into the rapidly developing Schedule III rescheduling process, the potential timing and structure of a final rule, and why the biggest risks may be delay, litigation, and implementation - not whether cannabis ultimately moves forward. Fred explains how rescheduling could lower the cost of capital, improve cash flow, support institutional re-entry, and create a clearer path for industry leaders to emerge.The conversation then turns to valuations, uplisting, consolidation, SAFER Banking, and the rumored hemp ban. Fred discusses why many operators still trade at distressed multiples despite improving catalysts, and why exchange uplistings, cheaper capital, and limits on intoxicating hemp could drive sales growth, pricing stability, margin expansion, and renewed M&A.In closing, Tiby and Fred shift to Canada and the global cannabis opportunity, including how Canadian operators have evolved after their own boom-and-bust cycle, why Germany and international exports have become major growth drivers, and how U.S. operators may eventually participate in global markets. With rescheduling hearings underway, SAFER Banking back in the conversation, intoxicating hemp under pressure, Canadian names moving, and institutional investors beginning to revisit the sector, this episode captures one of the most important cannabis inflection points in years.Enjoy!

In this episode of the Milk Road Show, we sit down with Krista Lynch, Head of Capital Markets at Grayscale, to break down why crypto ETFs are entering a new phase of growth. We discuss Bitcoin ETF outflows, institutional adoption, financial advisor demand, staking ETFs, covered-call strategies, Hyperliquid, and why regulatory clarity could unlock the next wave of capital into crypto.~~~~~⁠⁠

What if the biggest reason companies miss their long-term goals isn't execution, but the plan itself?In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we break down long-range planning (LRP) and why so many corporate strategy plans fail to deliver. While annual budgets focus on the next 12 months and long-term targets inspire investors, a true long-range plan bridges the gap by connecting strategy to financial reality.We explore the difference between budgets, targets, and LRPs, why driver-based financial models are more reliable than simple growth assumptions, and how finance teams build strategic plans that executives can actually use to make decisions. Through real-world examples from Microsoft, Netflix, BlackBerry, and General Electric, we examine how strong long-range planning can drive transformation and how flawed assumptions can lead to corporate decline.

What if one of the biggest expenses in tech isn't actually cash?In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we unpack the truth behind stock-based compensation and why it has become one of the most misunderstood topics in corporate finance, financial analysis, and equity valuation.At first glance, paying employees with stock instead of cash can make a company's financial performance look stronger. But while stock-based compensation may be considered a non-cash expense under GAAP accounting, it still comes at a very real cost to shareholders through equity dilution.We explore how companies account for stock-based compensation under ASC 718, why many firms emphasize adjusted (non-GAAP) earnings, and how stock grants impact operating cash flow, free cash flow, and earnings per share. We also examine why investors should pay close attention to diluted share count, stock buybacks, and long-term dilution rather than relying solely on headline earnings metrics.

Comments/ideas: ACFpod@outlook.comGlobal carmakers are currently hiding a massive 33% carbon gap, effectively operating as oil companies in disguise. Ben Scott from Carbon Tracker joins us to reveal why legacy auto giants face a "Kodak moment" as they lag behind the electric vehicle transition. We explore how China's EV dominance empowers the Global South to leapfrog fossil fuel dependency for strategic industrial survival. This conversation is essential for those interested in tracking how capital markets will soon reprice these hidden emissions as high-risk energy liabilities.Reference: Oil Companies in DisguiseABOUT BEN: Ben Scott is Head of Energy Demand and leads the automotive research at Carbon Tracker, a financial think-tank working to align capital markets with climate reality. Prior to Carbon Tracker, Ben worked at MUFG Bank in London, where he provided financial and industry analysis on the automotive sector to help manage the bank's credit exposure and risk appetite. He has also worked directly within the automotive industry at Aston Martin Lagonda. Ben began his career at IHS Markit, where he led the E-Mobility research service, focusing on decarbonisation and emissions legislation. Ben holds a degree in Physics from the University of Leeds.Recommendations:Cleaning Up: A podcast hosted by Michael Liebreich that features insights into the energy transition through interviews with CEOs, politicians, and climate finance experts. LinkCapital in Transition: A podcast series produced by Carbon Tracker that focuses on the financial research and analysis surrounding the global energy transition. Link (Spotify) Link (Apple)There Will Be Blood: A film starring Daniel Day-Lewis that depicts an oil tycoon's ruthless pursuit of wealth and power. LinkHOST, PRODUCTION, ARTWORK: Joseph Jacobelli  |  MUSIC: Ep76 onward excerpts from Vivaldi's La Follia, played by Luca Jacobelli.

What separates companies that recover from a crisis from those that collapse overnight?In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we explore the role of crisis management, corporate trust, and crisis communication in protecting shareholder value and long-term business success. Through real-world case studies, we examine why communication during a crisis is far more than public relations. It is a strategic financial asset that can determine whether a company survives or fails.Using examples including Silicon Valley Bank, Credit Suisse, Johnson & Johnson's Tylenol crisis, and Starbucks' 2008 turnaround, we break down how trust influences investor confidence, customer loyalty, liquidity, and corporate resilience.

How much inequality can a democracy withstand before citizens push back? That was the central question explored in BigTentUSA's conversation on June 17 with "The New Yorker" staff writer and author Evan Osnos, moderated by Ed Luce, "Financial Times" US National Editor.Drawing from his latest reporting and book “The Haves and the Have-Yachts“, Osnos examined the growing concentration of wealth and power in America, arguing that today's oligarchs wield influence not only through money, but through control of information, technology, and political institutions. The discussion explored the unprecedented alliance between political power and extreme wealth, the rise of tech billionaires, and the ways social media and artificial intelligence could accelerate economic inequality in the years ahead.The conversation also looked abroad for lessons, highlighting how corruption and democratic backsliding have unfolded in countries such as Hungary—and what Americans can learn from those experiences.The takeaway was clear: democratic change rarely begins with majorities. It starts when engaged citizens decide enough is enough—and take action to make democracy work for everyone.Learn more about Evan's book “The Haves and Have-Yachts”:https://www.simonandschuster.com/book... Check out Evan's podcast “The Political Scene”:https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/pol... Read Evan's article “Oligarch-in-Chief”:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-fhy... Explore Ed's work:https://www.ft.com/edward-luce ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:Evan Osnos has been a staff writer at "The New Yorker" since 2008. In addition, he is co-host of The New Yorker's "Political Scene" podcast, and a nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. His coverage ranges from politics and foreign affairs to white-collar crime and espionage. His first book, “Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China,” won the National Book Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His latest book “The Haves and Have-Yachts: Dispatches on the Ultrarich,” was an instant "New York Times" bestseller. Prior to "The New Yorker", he worked as the Beijing bureau chief for the "Chicago Tribune", where he was on teams that won the Pulitzer Prize in 2001 and 2008. Before his assignment to China, he worked in the Middle East, reporting mostly from Iraq. He lives with his family near Washington, D.C.Edward Luce is the US national editor and columnist at the "Financial Times". Before that he was the FT's Washington Bureau chief. Other roles have included South Asia bureau chief, Capital Markets editor, and Philippines Correspondent. Luce was previously the speechwriter for US Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers, in the Clinton administration.He is the author of four highly acclaimed books: "Zbig, The Life of Zbig Brzezinski: America's Great Power Prophet" (2025); "The Retreat of Western Liberalism" (2017); "Time to Start Thinking: America in the Age of Descent" (2012); and "In Spite of the Gods: The Strange Rise of Modern India" (2007). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

SQL is one of the most valuable technical skills for finance professionals, business intelligence analysts, and data analysts. But once you've mastered the basics, how do you write cleaner, more scalable queries that support real business decisions?In this episode of What's New at CFI, Meeyeon sits down with CFI instructor Joseph Yeates to discuss CFI's new Advanced SQL for Analysts course. They explore how advanced SQL helps analysts move beyond answering individual questions to building flexible, reusable data models that support reporting, dashboards, and business intelligence workflows.Whether you're working in Excel, Power BI, Python, or directly with SQL databases, this course is designed to help you collaborate more effectively with data engineering teams, organize complex SQL queries, and build stronger data analysis skills.

Kick off the trading week with Andrei Bruno, Director of ETFs, for a comprehensive discussion on the latest in capital markets, including an update on the latest on Fidelity's All-in-One ETFs and the factors at play in today's market cycle. Recorded on June 22, 2026. At Fidelity, our mission is to build a better future for Canadian investors and help them stay ahead. We offer investors and institutions a range of innovative and trusted investment portfolios to help them reach their financial and life goals. Fidelity mutual funds and ETFs are available by working with a financial advisor or through an online brokerage account. Visit fidelity.ca/howtobuy for more information. For a fifth year in a row, FidelityConnects by Fidelity Investments Canada was ranked #1 podcast by Canadian financial advisors in the 2025 Environics' Advisor Digital Experience Study. - Actualités des marchés financiers – Andrei Bruno Andrei Bruno, directeur en chef, FNB, brosse un portrait détaillé de l'actualité sur les marchés financiers. Il fait le point sur les FNB Fidelity Simplifié et discute des facteurs à surveiller dans le contexte actuel. Date : 22 juin 2026 Chez Fidelity, notre mission consiste à aider le public investisseur canadien à se bâtir un meilleur avenir et à rester à l'avant-garde. Nous offrons aux particuliers et aux institutions une gamme de portefeuilles de placement innovants et fiables pour les aider à atteindre leurs objectifs financiers et personnels. Les fonds communs de placement et les FNB de Fidelity sont offerts par l'intermédiaire des conseillers et conseillères en placements et de comptes de courtage en ligne. Pour de plus amples renseignements, visitez fidelity.ca/commentinvestir. Les baladodiffusions DialoguesFidelity se sont classées au premier rang pour une cinquième année consécutive lors du sondage 2025 d'Environics sur l'expérience numérique des conseillers et conseillères en placements au Canada.

Dannika Warburton explores strategies for investor relations and how companies can connect more effectively with investors. She is the founder of Investability, a Sydney-based investor relations consultancy that helps growth-focused companies engage with capital markets around the world. Listen for three action items you can use today. Host, Kevin Craine Do you want to be a guest? https://Everyday-MBA.com/guest Do you want to advertise on the show? https://Everyday-MBA.com/advertise

Inflation and investing are once again front and center as markets assess a new mix of price pressures. In this Ask Me Anything episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido is joined by Helen Jewell, BlackRock's International Chief Investment Officer for Fundamental Equities, and Tom Becker, senior portfolio manager on BlackRock's Global Tactical Asset Allocation team.Together, they explore what is driving inflation today, from AI infrastructure demand and energy bottlenecks to fiscal spending, supply constraints, and regional differences. The conversation examines how inflation is affecting capital markets, equities, fixed income, stock market trends, and portfolio diversification.This episode also looks at the role of AI as both a near-term inflationary force and a potential longer-term productivity driver. As AI investing accelerates demand for electricity, chips, copper, data centers, and infrastructure, investors are watching how these megaforces reshape markets and the global economy.Key insights:· How AI infrastructure demand is contributing to inflation pressures· Why inflation differs across regions, including the U.S., Europe, Japan, and China· Where pricing power matters most for companies and sectors· How inflation measures like CPI, PCE, and PPI inform market views· Why sticky inflation can challenge traditional stock-bond diversification· How investors can think about inflation across equities, bonds, and multi-asset portfolios

In this episode of Investments Unplugged, with the halfway point of the year fast approaching, host Kevin Headland is joined by two guests—Global Chief Economist Alex Grassino and Senior Macro Strategist Dominique Lapointe—who share their midyear 2026 global macroeconomic outlook. Alex and Dominique recap the action-packed first half of the year, highlighted by the unforeseen Middle East conflict that erupted in late February, and then lay out a “macro-to- markets” roadmap of sorts for the rest of 2026 and into 2027. Among the timely, top-of- mind topics they address are: • Global growth resilience, despite Middle East conflict-driven energy shocks; • Evolving global inflation risks, including mounting AI-related demand pressures; • Policy implications for the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) and other major central banks; • Portfolio positioning considerations across global equity and fixed-income markets. Key topics & insights 1. First-half surprises: geopolitical turmoil, corporate earnings, and AI leadership • The Middle East conflict has lasted longer than most observers expected, creating a sliding scale of potential outcomes that investors have had to price in. • Corporate earnings expectations and results rebounded quickly after some softness seen in late 2025, helping to support U.S. and global markets. • U.S. equities linked to AI have continued to outperform, with market leadership reconcentrating around AI-/hardware-related themes. 2. Macro backdrop: resilient U.S. and global economies, uneven regional impacts • Despite the Middle East conflict and resulting oil-price shock, the U.S. economy appeared to navigate the first half with “relative ease” and notable resilience. • Other regions' economies are being impacted in different ways by the conflict, depending on such factors as whether they are energy exporters or importers. 3. Canada: a low-growth environment, “recession-like” conditions open to debate Information à usage interne - Internal • The guests argue that an economic recession tends to be broad-based with widespread corporate layoffs—conditions they're not seeing in Canada right now. • However, the economy is indeed weak, characterized by slow growth, amid structural issues (e.g., productivity), tariff after-effects, and cautious consumers. • But a fragile economy doesn't necessarily mean a lack of investable opportunities, since the Canadian stock market isn't perfectly linked to domestic growth. 4. Inflation: “rolling shocks” and new AI-driven inflation concerns • Inflation can manifest as a series of rolling transitory shocks, potentially driven by several forces (e.g., higher energy prices, trade tariffs, AI demand pressures). • AI's inflationary channel can take the form of various equipment-driven supply shortages that can push the prices of goods up over multiple quarters. • A specific risk scenario discussed: If the Strait of Hormuz remained closed until the end of July, could the price of oil breach $110/barrel in the third quarter? 5. Central banks: a higher degree of uncertainty and narrower policy paths • Fed policy in the coming months may face symmetric risks from either rate hikes or cuts, with market expectations already having been whipsawed in recent years. • The Bank of Canada has a different dilemma on its hands: balancing rising inflation concerns against a softening domestic economy and labor market. 6. Equity positioning: try to stay invested while avoiding headline-driven reactions 7. Fixed-income positioning: keep it in the portfolio toolkit, manage duration carefully Actionable takeaways for Canadian investors • Don't let macro and geopolitical headlines drive portfolio strategy decisions. • Remain well diversified across asset classes, investment styles, and global markets. • In the equity space, aim to distinguish between potential AI “winners” and “losers.” • Use fixed-income allocations intentionally for portfolio ballast and diversification. • Be cautious with long-duration bonds, consider favoring shorter durations. • Canadian investors: Be alert to possible opportunities, even in a sluggish economy. Links & Resources • Listen to the episode: Investments Unplugged Podcast • Learn more about Manulife Investments: Manulife IM Canada Information à usage interne - Internal Share & Subscribe If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your network and subscribe for future insights on markets, investing, and portfolio strategy. For informational purposes only. This episode does not constitute investment advice. Please consult a qualified advisor before making investment decisions

What if the most important number in finance isn't revenue or net income, but the cash that's left over after a business pays for its own survival?In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we break down free cash flow (FCF) and why it is one of the most important metrics in corporate finance, valuation, investing, and financial analysis. While headlines focus on revenue growth and earnings beats, free cash flow reveals whether a company is actually generating real economic value or simply producing attractive accounting results.Using real-world examples from Microsoft, Adobe, Costco, and AMC Entertainment, we explore how companies can report strong earnings while quietly burning cash, and why free cash flow often provides a clearer picture of financial health than net income alone.

Institutions are increasingly using derivative-based ETFs and FLEX Options as complementary tools to achieve precise risk-return outcomes. This panel will explore how products such as buffer and target outcome ETFs, hedged equity structures, and single-name/high-payout ETFs are reshaping institutional allocation models — and how FLEX Options provide the customization needed to support these strategies. Moderator: Sara Levin, Managing Director, ETF and Derivative Trading, WallachBeth Capital Panelists: Sean Truett, Senior Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, Box Options Market LLC Geoff Gaiss, Vice President Global Derivatives, TRAFiX Burke Ashenden, Head of Capital Markets & Institutional Strategy, Innovator James Maund, Head of Capital Markets, Krane Shares This panel is proudly sponsored by BofA Securities.  

What happens when the biggest AI companies in the world borrow hundreds of billions of dollars to build infrastructure before the demand is fully proven?In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we unpack the corporate finance behind the AI boom and explore how Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet are funding one of the largest private capital investment cycles in modern history. With projected AI infrastructure spending approaching $700 billion, the real story is not the technology itself. It's the debt, capital structures, and financial risk sitting beneath the headlines.We break down how hyperscalers are using project finance, special purpose vehicles (SPVs), private credit, and long-term power contracts to build massive AI data centers at unprecedented speed. Along the way, we examine the growing debate around GPU depreciation, AI infrastructure economics, and whether today's AI buildout resembles past capital cycles like railroads and telecom networks.

Kick off the trading week with Andrei Bruno, Director of ETFs, for a comprehensive discussion on the latest in capital markets, including an update on the latest on Fidelity's All-in-One ETFs, and the factors at play in today's market cycle. Recorded On June 16, 2026 At Fidelity, our mission is to build a better future for Canadian investors and help them stay ahead. We offer investors and institutions a range of innovative and trusted investment portfolios to help them reach their financial and life goals. Fidelity mutual funds and ETFs are available by working with a financial advisor or through an online brokerage account. Visit fidelity.ca/howtobuy for more information. For a fifth year in a row, FidelityConnects by Fidelity Investments Canada was ranked #1 podcast by Canadian financial advisors in the 2025 Environics' Advisor Digital Experience Study. – Andrei Bruno, directeur en chef, FNB, brosse un portrait détaillé de l'actualité sur les marchés financiers. Il fait le point sur les FNB Fidelity Simplifié et discute des facteurs à surveiller dans le contexte actuel. Enregistré le 15 juin, 2026 Chez Fidelity, notre mission consiste à aider le public investisseur canadien à se bâtir un meilleur avenir et à rester à l'avant-garde. Nous offrons aux particuliers et aux institutions une gamme de portefeuilles de placement innovants et fiables pour les aider à atteindre leurs objectifs financiers et personnels. Les fonds communs de placement et les FNB de Fidelity sont offerts par l'intermédiaire des conseillers et conseillères en placements et de comptes de courtage en ligne. Pour de plus amples renseignements, visitez fidelity.ca/commentinvestir. Les baladodiffusions DialoguesFidelity se sont classées au premier rang pour une cinquième année consécutive lors du sondage 2025 d'Environics sur l'expérience numérique des conseillers et conseillères en placements au Canada.

In this special edition of The Gray Report, Griffin Haddad sits down with Blake Pieroni, Senior Manager of Capital Markets at Gray Capital, for a conversation about life behind the scenes of raising capital for multifamily real estate.Blake recently helped close a $22 million equity raise in just 11 days — the fastest in Gray Capital's history — all while adjusting to life with a newborn at home and chasing a sub-6-minute mile.In this episode, Griffin and Blake dig into:

David is joined today by special guest Peter Travers, investor, financier, and long-time trustee at National Review. Their conversation goes from a proper definition of Wall Street to a proper defense of Wall Street to, ultimately, the profound benefits of a market system that coordinates all sorts of different people, actors, capital, and motives in a wide array of human endeavor. It is a pivotal conversation for those wanting to understand not just financial markets, but how human dignity is undermined by the enemies of financial markets. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Financial market infrastructure is often invisible to investors, yet it powers every trade, settlement, and ownership record across capital markets. As technology evolves, tokenization is emerging as a new way to represent and transfer financial assets, raising questions about how markets may operate in the future.In this episode of The Bid, Oscar Pulido speaks with Rob Goldstein, Chief Operating Officer at BlackRock. They discuss what tokenization means in practice, how it differs from cryptocurrencies, and why digital assets are drawing increased attention from investors, institutions, and policymakers.The conversation explores how tokenization could improve access, efficiency, and connectivity across financial markets. Rob also shares his perspective on the coexistence of traditional financial systems and digital assets, the role of digital wallets, and the regulatory developments that could shape adoption in the years ahead.Key insights:· How tokenization creates digital representations of financial assets· Why tokenization differs from cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin· How digital wallets could expand access to capital markets· Why traditional finance and digital assets may coexist· What role blockchain technology plays in financial infrastructure· How regulation could influence the future of tokenized markets

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on Debt Capital Markets, a crucial yet often overlooked business function within major investment banks like J.P. Morgan, Bank of America, and Citi.Join us as we demystify DCM, explaining its unique role within investment banking divisions and the essential personality traits that make individuals well-suited to this area of finance. From structuring bond offerings to advising clients on debt issuance strategies, DCM professionals play a vital role in facilitating capital raising for corporations and governments worldwide.Get ready to dive deep into Debt Capital Markets and uncover fresh insights into the ever-evolving world of finance. (00:00) What is DCM?(05:50) Working in DCM(08:36) Skills of DCM Analyst(13:48) DCM Progression(14:59) Salary Progression

What if the biggest threat to corporate profitability isn't a recession, a supply chain disruption, or a technological breakthrough, but a tax that changes overnight?In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we break down the financial mechanics of tariffs and explore how rising trade barriers are reshaping corporate strategy, supply chains, pricing decisions, and profitability around the world. With the average effective U.S. tariff rate reaching levels not seen since the 1930s, companies are being forced to rethink where they manufacture, how they source materials, and how they manage risk.Using real-world examples from Apple, General Motors, and Ford, we examine how finance teams model tariff exposure, why legal changes can create massive uncertainty, and how tariffs quietly flow through inventory, balance sheets, and income statements before eventually showing up in consumer prices.

At FIA's International Derivatives Expo in London, Mairéad McGuinness, former European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, and David Wright, Chairman of Eurofi, joined Walt Lukken to assess Europe's competitiveness challenge. Both warned that a more hostile global environment is exposing structural weaknesses, and that Europe must move beyond incremental reform to unlock capital, scale markets and accelerate decision-making. They argued that mobilising investment and delivering faster political action will be critical to strengthening growth and resilience.

There's great momentum in moving to greater levels of agentic automation, but there are critical areas where deeper consideration is required in how it's applied. In capital markets, trust is a foundational element on which transactions are built and Krisha Vinjamuri, Head of Technology, Enterprise Solutions at S&P Global Market Intelligence, joins host Eric Hanselman to talk about how this can be achieved and the important aspects of successful implementations. One of the useful things in capital markets, is that there are open standards on which to base data ontologies. It's not exciting, but it's the basis of a semantic foundation that can not only ensure that there is depth in data definitions, but can also reduce errors generated by agents. The larger question that looms beyond the construction of foundational architecture, is how the operational envelope that bounds agentic action will be established. This has to be built from policy definitions that take those actions into account. There is great promise and much work that needs to be done. More S&P Global Content: Compute sovereignty: The strategic importance of digital infrastructure AI won't solve its own energy problem – and that might be fine AI in action: unleashing agentic potential AI infrastructure results in 2025 top expectations, forecast upgraded For S&P Global subscribers: FinOps in the age of agentic AI AI Infrastructure Market Monitor & Forecast Service providers race to meet surging enterprise demand for AI infrastructure In 2026, the telecom network becomes code Credits: Host/Author: Eric Hanselman Guest: Krishna Vinjamuri Producer/Editor: Feranmi Adeoshun Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Kyra Smith, Dylan Scheible

In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we break down the hidden mechanics of Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) and why the companies that master their costs often outperform competitors that generate far more revenue. Through real-world examples from Costco, Walmart, Tesla, and Blue Apron, we explore how gross margin, unit economics, supply chains, and operational efficiency shape long-term business success.While revenue grabs headlines, COGS determines whether a company can scale profitably, defend its margins, and build a durable competitive advantage. We unpack the strategies behind some of the world's most successful businesses and reveal how seemingly small decisions inside operations, procurement, and product design can dramatically impact profitability.

Asia infrastructure investing is becoming central to the global energy transition as rising demand, energy security concerns, and the need for more resilient systems accelerate capital deployment across the region. In Southeast Asia, the opportunity is not only about replacing old systems, but building new infrastructure at scale for a growing economy.In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido speaks live from Ecosperity in Singapore with Salim Samaha, Global Head of Energy at Global Infrastructure Partners, a part of BlackRock, and Heidi Yip, Head of Sustainable and Transition Solutions for Asia Pacific at BlackRock. Together, they discuss how the infrastructure opportunity is evolving globally, why Asia's transition differs from Western markets, and where investors are seeing momentum across renewables, grids, storage, and system flexibility. Key insights include:· How Asia's infrastructure build-out differs from Western markets· Why energy security is becoming inseparable from the energy transition· Where capital is flowing across renewables, grids, storage, and interconnection· How public-private partnerships can help mobilize transition finance· Why execution bottlenecks, permitting, and offtake frameworks remain critical· Where AI, innovation, and rising demand may reshape future infrastructure needsKey moments:00:00 Asia Infrastructure Boom01:06 Live From EcoSperity03:16 Energy Transition Now04:20 Southeast Asia Grid Challenge06:43 West vs Asia Reality Check08:58 How APAC Investors Deploy Capital11:26 Scaling Projects and Labor Crunch13:17 Where Capital Flows and Bottlenecks15:13 Five Year Outlook and Innovation17:23 Wrap Up and Disclosures

Asia infrastructure investing is becoming central to the global energy transition as rising demand, energy security concerns, and the need for more resilient systems accelerate capital deployment across the region. In Southeast Asia, the opportunity is not only about replacing old systems, but building new infrastructure at scale for a growing economy.In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido speaks live from Ecosperity in Singapore with Salim Samaha, Global Head of Energy at Global Infrastructure Partners, a part of BlackRock, and Heidi Yip, Head of Sustainable and Transition Solutions for Asia Pacific at BlackRock. Together, they discuss how the infrastructure opportunity is evolving globally, why Asia's transition differs from Western markets, and where investors are seeing momentum across renewables, grids, storage, and system flexibility. Key insights include:· How Asia's infrastructure build-out differs from Western markets· Why energy security is becoming inseparable from the energy transition· Where capital is flowing across renewables, grids, storage, and interconnection· How public-private partnerships can help mobilize transition finance· Why execution bottlenecks, permitting, and offtake frameworks remain critical· Where AI, innovation, and rising demand may reshape future infrastructure needsKey moments:00:00 Asia Infrastructure Boom01:06 Live From EcoSperity03:16 Energy Transition Now04:20 Southeast Asia Grid Challenge06:43 West vs Asia Reality Check08:58 How APAC Investors Deploy Capital11:26 Scaling Projects and Labor Crunch13:17 Where Capital Flows and Bottlenecks15:13 Five Year Outlook and Innovation17:23 Wrap Up and Disclosures

This episode features CII General Counsel Jeff Mahoney covering the top 10 important events affecting institutional investors from April 30 to May 28, 2026. Some of the topics addressed include: CII's letter to the PCAOB on its 2026-2030 strategic plan, shareholders voting against say-on-pay proposals, and the SEC's proposed reductions to public companies' reporting requirements.

What if the next financial crisis isn't hiding inside the banking system, but outside of it?In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we unpack the explosive growth of private credit and the rise of a $2 trillion shadow banking system that is reshaping corporate finance. Once considered a niche alternative asset class, private credit has become one of the fastest-growing sources of business financing, allowing companies to raise billions of dollars outside traditional banks and public debt markets.We explore how private credit emerged after the 2008 financial crisis, why companies are increasingly choosing direct lenders over banks, and how structures like unitranche loans are changing the way deals get done. Along the way, we examine major transactions, hidden risks, and the growing concerns regulators have about transparency, leverage, and systemic risk.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed sweeping new rules that would encourage companies to go, and stay, public. If adopted, the changes would facilitate access to the capital markets and reduce compliance burdens. Industry groups have broadly welcomed the proposals. They say companies will be able to take advantage of desirable market conditions quickly and efficiently. But others are voicing concerns about the balance between flexibility and investor protection. Meanwhile, stakeholders are standing by, assessing the proposed changes for their potential impact. How will the proposed rules affect how companies offer shares and report to investors? How significant is the regulatory impact? And what are the challenges and operational stakes? Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with two of the firm's thought leaders on these issues — Sonia Barros, co-leader of Sidley's Public Company Advisory practice, and Carlton Fleming, a partner in Sidley's Capital Markets and Public Company Advisory practices. Together, they discuss the SEC's proposed overhaul of the public company regulatory framework – both for raising capital in registered offerings and for ongoing public company reporting obligations –  and how Sidley is advising clients to prepare for the potential changes.  Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

What if the most powerful tool in a company isn't the CEO, the strategy deck, or the financial model, but a handful of metrics on a dashboard?In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we explore the hidden world of executive dashboards, KPIs, and performance measurement systems that shape decision-making inside the world's largest organizations. From Amazon's famous driver trees to Airbnb's rapid dashboard transformation during the pandemic, we uncover how finance teams use data to focus attention, drive accountability, and guide strategy. We also examine what happens when metrics go wrong. Through the cautionary stories of Theranos and Wells Fargo, we show how poorly designed dashboards, vanity metrics, and misaligned incentives can create blind spots, encourage harmful behavior, and ultimately destroy value. 

This week, CFTC Chair Michael Selig joins the show to discuss the CFTC's recent policy announcement on perps in the U.S. We deep dive into how to regulate crypto in the U.S, prediction markets, 24/7 markets, working with the SEC and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Michael: https://x.com/MichaelSelig Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- Robots will soon outnumber humans onchain. peaqOS turns them into a new trusted liquid asset class, with yield tied to real-world workloads. It gives robots all they need to do business on any chain — and lets humans earn from automation. Explore the Machine Economy: https://peaq.xyz -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (04:20) Working With The SEC (08:40) Bringing Perps To The U.S (19:03) peaq Ad (19:49) How To Regulate DeFi? (26:08) Becoming The Crypto Capital of The World (29:10) Prediction Markets (45:28) 24/7 Capital Markets (56:39) The Clarity Act (01:00:14) Final Thoughts -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, Rob and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

ETFs in Asia have grown significantly since the global financial crisis, but their role is changing. What began as a way to access markets is now expanding into broader portfolio applications as investors face more complex market conditions.In this episode of The Bid, Oscar Pulido speaks with Christian Obrist, Head of iShares Distribution in Asia, and Nick Peach, Head of iShares Asia Pacific at BlackRock. They discuss how ETF usage in the region has developed and how investors are applying them across different strategies.The conversation explores how education has shifted from fundamentals to advanced use cases, including liquidity management, tactical allocation, and operational efficiency. It also highlights the role of digital investors, the importance of local market development, and how ETFs are becoming more integrated into portfolio construction.Key moments in this episode00:00 Introduction02:15 How ETF usage in Asia has moved beyond market access03:55 Why ETF investor education is shifting toward advanced applications05:15 Active ETFs and Efficiency06:43 Asia Ecosystem Differences07:40 How digital investors are influencing ETF adoption08:59 Why local market listings matter for ETF accessibility11:27 How ETFs are becoming more integrated into portfolio construction13:52 Asia Weekend Travel Picks15:05 Wrap Up and DisclosuresSources: BlackRock client Survey May 2026

Amanda Brown, VP of Capital Markets at MAG Capital Partners, discusses how her firm focuses on acquiring single-tenant net lease industrial real estate across the U.S., especially tied to U.S. manufacturing. She highlights investor education, passive investing, and industrial real estate as a strong, growing asset class.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

The numbers are staggering. The “magnificent seven” Big Tech companies are expected to have combined capital spending of about $800 billion this year. Data centres' electricity demand is soaring, and hundreds of billions of dollars more are being mobilised to invest in power infrastructure to meet that demand. In this special episode, recorded at the ACORE Finance Forum in New York, host Ed Crooks speaks with five guests at the heart of the revolution in energy finance: bankers, a deal lawyer, a data centre operator and a head of policy. James Wright, Managing Director and Head of US Corporate Banking at CIBC Capital Markets, explains the connection between power, data centres and AI with an analogy borrowed from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Think of AI as a layer cake, with power as the base, data centre infrastructure above it, then hardware, then AI models, and the applications as the icing on top. For banks like CIBC, it is those bottom two layers that matter most. James explains how power developers and data centre builders are increasingly converging. Gas, solar and battery storage are driving the bulk of activity in new power generation, though gas turbine supply chains remain severely stretched. “Powered land” projects, created as sites to attract data centre developers, are a popular idea at the moment. But many of them are highly speculative. James estimates that for every twenty conversations, perhaps a couple result in a financeable transaction. Another hot topic is of behind-the-meter generation and co-located power. James sees it happening, but only at the margin. Grid connections are still the ultimate goal.  Adam Altenhofen, Senior Vice President for Impact Finance at US Bank, brings a different perspective on energy finance. US Bank has deployed more than $33 billion in renewable energy since 2008, primarily through the tax credit programmes for solar, wind and battery storage. The wind and solar tax credits are winding down, but projects that start construction before 4 July this year can still be placed in service through to the end of 2030. The storage tax credit was preserved through to 2036. Behind-the-meter generation, Adam argues, presents a fundamental challenge to the project finance model. If the load disappears, so does the revenue. And unlike for a grid-connected project, there will be no readily available alternative revenue streams to fall back on. Guarantees covering the full duration of the power supply contract are the floor, not the ceiling, for what lenders would need to get comfortable, Adam says.  Mona Dajani, Global Co-Chair of Infrastructure, Energy and Real Estate at the law firm Cooley, sees something structural changing. Hyperscalers are now behaving like utilities, she says. They assess data centre locations based on access to power, reliability and duration of supply. Meanwhile, some utilities are becoming more like infrastructure platforms, building unregulated arms and investing in new technologies to serve growing demand. A cultural gulf used to separate the tech and energy industries. But as they have come to understand their mutual interdependence over the past few years, more constructive collaborations have emerged. Jon Edwards, Executive Vice President and Head of Capital Markets at the data centre developer Switch, offers the operator's perspective. Switch currently consumes roughly one third of Nevada's total power supply and operates at 100% green power. Jon explains how the company decoupled from the utility grid for generation purposes back in 2015, buying its own generation while still using the utility for transmission and distribution, and how that model helped reduce Nevada consumer electricity prices by double digits in 2025. He is another sceptic about behind-the-meter power: it is useful as a bridge in some circumstances, but grid-connected utility power remains the primary and preferred solution for serious, long-duration data centre operations. On the financing side, Jon discusses Switch's recent $2.6 billion letter of credit facility, designed to give utilities the financial certainty they need to invest in new infrastructure, knowing they can be confident the data centre load will be there.  The episode closes with Lesley Hunter, Senior Vice President for Policy at ACORE, who sets the policy backdrop against which all of this activity is playing out. ACORE's latest investor survey makes for sobering reading: 69% of capital providers who replied to the survey said they thought the US industry had in the past year lost attractiveness compared to clean energy sectors in other countries. The same proportion, 69%, expect a further relative decline over the next three years. Lesley identifies two main pain points: the still-unresolved foreign entity of concern rules (FEOC) for tax credit eligibility, and the Department of Defense slow-walking agreements needed for wind development that has held up more than 160 projects. Her message for policy-makers is that regulatory stability is vital. “The core ask of the industry right now is to ensure that players have the rules of the road,” she says. “That those rules won't change mid-stream, and they are able to deploy capital, and trust the federal government when making these long-term investments in US infrastructure.”  Follow the show wherever you're listening so you don't miss an episode. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.