In this episode of the Market Maker Podcast, we break down the surge in oil prices, the growing risk of $200 oil, and the controversy around large trades placed just minutes before a Trump headline hit the market. Is this insider trading, smart positioning, or algorithmic momentum?

We explore how markets react to political signals, why oil is so sensitive to geopolitical risk, and what could actually drive prices higher. We also take a deeper look at why both stocks and bonds are falling at the same time, and what that means for traditional portfolio strategies like the 60/40 model.

If you want to understand how markets really move and how professionals navigate chaos this episode is for you.

(00:00) Market Overview

(05:02) Stocks & Bonds

(09:22) Portfolio Risk

(16:00) $200 Oil?

(19:36) Demand Limits

(24:30) Trump & Markets

(26:14) Strait of Hormuz

(35:24) Front-Running Trump?

(46:55) Final Thoughts

This week on the Market Maker Podcast, we break down a $27 billion AI deal between Meta and Nebius and what it reveals about the global race for compute power. We also dive into Unicredit’s $28 billion move on Commerzbank and why it’s become one of Europe’s most political banking battles.

Plus, we cover the biggest deals of the week across wealth management, asset management, and defense, and explain what they tell us about where markets are heading next.

(00:00) Intro

(00:47) M&A Deals of the Week

(07:49) Meta Nebius AI Deal

(14:28) Unicredit Commerzbank Takeover

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The market got it wrong.

After months of expecting easier policy, central banks have just delivered a major reality check. The Federal Reserve is no longer forecasting cuts, the Bank of England is turning more hawkish, and the European Central Bank could move sooner than anyone expected.

Behind it all is a new inflation threat building beneath the surface. Energy prices are rising fast, and if they stay elevated, the consequences could ripple through food, wages, and the broader economy.

This episode breaks down the chain reaction now unfolding across global markets, why bond yields are surging, and how a temporary shock could become something much more persistent.

The big question is no longer when rates will fall but whether they’re about to rise again.

(00:00) Rate Cuts Shock

(02:14) Fed Turns Hawkish

(08:30) Iran, Oil & Inflation

(15:46) Market Reaction

(19:59) Gold Drop Explained

(26:13) Bank of England Shift

(30:00) UK Energy Risk

(37:06) ECB Pivot

(38:27) Inflation Feedback Loop

(43:50) Iran Impact on Food & Energy

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In this week’s Market Maker Podcast M&A episode, we break down the biggest deals moving markets right now. We start with Axel Springer’s $770 million acquisition of the Daily Telegraph, the proposed Airbus–Leonardo–Thales space merger aimed at competing with SpaceX, and the latest developments in the Monte dei Paschi–Mediobanca deal. We also discuss a new take-private bid for Papa John’s and a recent investment into AmplifyME.

We then dive into the rapid rise of prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket. These platforms allow users to trade contracts on real-world outcomes—from crypto prices and politics to economic events. With valuations potentially approaching $20 billion, we explore how prediction markets work, why hedge funds are beginning to exploit arbitrage opportunities, and whether this could evolve into a new financial market infrastructure or remain a controversial betting niche.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction

(01:18) Axel Springer Buys the Telegraph

(05:11) European Space Merger vs SpaceX

(06:52) Monte dei Paschi–Mediobanca Deal

(07:24) Papa John’s Take-Private Bid

(10:27) AmplifyME Investment Explained

(13:33) What Are Prediction Markets?

(20:06) Prediction Market Size

(22:52) Who Built Polymarket & Kalshi?

(29:02) Hedge Funds Enter Prediction Markets

(32:49) Market Manipulation Risks

(38:42) Regulation & Legal Risks

(41:51) The Bull Case for Prediction Markets

(42:43) The Bear Case for Prediction Markets

(46:01) Final Thoughts

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In this episode of the Market Maker Podcast, we break down a rare six-sigma oil market shock - a move so extreme it statistically should happen only once every four million years.

Crude oil surged from around $70 to $120 during geopolitical tensions before rapidly reversing, catching some of the world’s largest hedge funds off guard.

We discuss what drove the volatility, why hedge funds lost billions, and how oil prices feed directly into inflation, interest rates, and global macro markets.

(00:00) Introduction

(01:20) The Oil Price Shock Explained

(05:23) The “Six Sigma” Market Move

(07:20) The Realities of Trading Commodities

(09:18) How Trade is Impacted by War

(14:24) The New Iranian Supreme Leader

(16:45) Strategic Oil Reserves & Market Impact

(29:10) Oil, Inflation & Interest Rates

(32:29) Hedge Funds Feel the Pain

This week on the Market Maker Podcast we break down the biggest M&A deals, private equity moves and activist investor plays shaping global markets.

From a $6.2 billion African telecom infrastructure deal to a $33 billion private equity bet on the energy powering AI data centres, Anthony Cheung and Piers Curran break down the biggest deal stories shaping markets this week.

They also dive into Elliott Management’s role in a $40 billion Toyota Industries takeover, a $1 billion activist play at Pinterest, and the dramatic conclusion to the Warner Brothers bidding war as Paramount outmanoeuvres Netflix.

Essential listening for anyone curious about the strategy behind mega M&A, activist investing, and how infrastructure, AI, and media are colliding in today’s global dealmaking landscape.

(00:00) Intro

(02:24) MTN & IHS Towers Deal

(11:04) Elliott and Toyota Industries

(18:51) Private Equity’s $33bn Energy Bet

(27:35) Investment Banking Scorecard YTD

(31:02) Elliott’s $1bn Pinterest Play

(36:24) Paramount vs Netflix Bidding War

Oil prices are surging as tensions escalate between the US, Israel and Iran but what does it mean for inflation, interest rates and global markets?

In this episode of the AmplifyME Market Maker Podcast, Anthony Cheung and Piers Curran break down the macroeconomic implications of the rapidly escalating conflict in the Middle East and explain why traders and investors are paying close attention to energy markets.

With Brent crude jumping sharply and the Strait of Hormuz once again emerging as a critical geopolitical chokepoint, the discussion explores how disruptions to global energy supply could ripple through the financial system. Around 20% of global oil supply passes through this narrow shipping lane, meaning any disruption has the potential to push energy prices higher and reshape inflation expectations worldwide.

The episode also examines how rising energy prices could influence Federal Reserve policy, delay potential interest rate cuts and create fresh inflation pressure just as central banks believed price stability was returning. The hosts discuss the different risks facing the US and Europe, and whether this geopolitical shock is likely to be a short-term flare-up or the beginning of a broader economic risk.

(00:00) Iran Conflict & Market Impact

(02:10) Strait of Hormuz Explained

(09:07) Brent vs WTI

(10:38) Why Oil Matters for the Economy

(13:10) Shipping Risks in the Gulf

(15:35) Trump’s Oil Strategy

(19:11) Oil and the US Economy

(20:52) Will Oil Delay Rate Cuts?

(21:52) Strategic Oil Reserves

(28:15) Impact on Markets

(31:21) Warsh's Baptism of Fire

(35:10) Short-Term Oil Shock?

(39:31) Europe’s Inflation Risk

(44:04) ECB's Monetary Policy Disaster

(46:00) Will Central Banks Hike?

In this episode of Market Maker by AmplifyME, we sit down with Nick Leeson to explore trading psychology, risk management and what it takes to survive public failure after the collapse of Barings Bank and more than $1.3 billion in losses.

At just 25 years old, Leeson was running a derivatives operation in Singapore during the high-pressure culture of 1990s banking. What followed brought down a 233-year-old institution and became one of the most infamous events in modern financial history. But this conversation goes far beyond the headlines.

We examine the psychology behind catastrophic risk, the pressure to succeed at a young age, and how ego and fear of failure can quietly distort decision-making. Nick reflects on the culture inside investment banking at the time, the compounding effect of hidden mistakes, and what resilience really means after prison, public scrutiny and rebuilding a life from scratch.

For anyone pursuing a career in trading, investment banking or financial markets, this episode offers a rare and candid perspective on ambition, accountability and the true cost of unchecked pressure.

Market Maker by AmplifyME brings you conversations with the people who’ve experienced the highs and lows of global financial markets and the lessons they learned along the way.

(00:00) The Rogue Trader Story

(02:25) Growing Up & First Ambitions

(04:36) Entering the City

(10:24) Morgan Stanley & Big Bang

(14:33) Fast Promotions in Finance

(22:44) Joining Barings

(25:06) Singapore at 25

(29:41) When Pressure Builds

(31:57) Managing Without Mentors

(34:14) Getting on With Everyone

(37:38) Status, Culture & Ego

(42:14) Stress Was Off The Charts

(42:58) The Losses Spiral

(48:35) Ethics & Accountability

(52:14) Fear of Failure

(55:45) Prison & Resilience

Is AI about to disrupt white-collar jobs, or is this simply a market rotation disguised as panic?

Anthony Cheung and Piers Curran break down the so-called “AI scare trade” that hit software, payments and advisory stocks, even as the S&P 500 stayed broadly flat.

We unpack the viral 2028 AI thesis from independent research firm Citrini, the sell-off in companies like Salesforce and IBM, and whether hedge funds amplified the move.

We also explore the rise of “HALO stocks” and what the latest earnings from Nvidia tell us about AI demand, hyperscaler spending and the next phase of the cycle.

A sharp look at market psychology, AI disruption and what’s really driving volatility beneath the headlines.

(00:00) AI Scare Trade

(02:32) The Catalyst

(10:53) HALO Stocks Rotation

(17:52) Citrini’s 2028 Thesis

(27:27) The Reality Check

(31:34) Nvidia Earnings

(38:19) Agentic AI Inflection

This week on the AmplifyME Market Maker Podcast, Anthony goes solo to break down three big stories — a $58 billion oil merger, a pulled tech IPO, and private equity’s move into Indian cricket — all tied together by one theme: survival in the age of AI.

In energy, Devon Energy and Coterra Energy are merging to focus on efficiency and basin concentration as shale matures.

In tech, Blackstone-backed Liftoff Mobile paused its IPO after AI tools like Anthropic’s Claude Cowork cast doubt on the traditional per-seat SaaS model.

And in sport, firms including Blackstone, KKR, and CVC are betting on the Indian Premier League, drawn to the scarcity and predictable cash flows of live, un-automatable experiences.

From oil to software to sport, this episode explores how capital is repositioning for a world where defensibility and efficiency matter more than ever.

(00:00) Intro & Themes in Focus

(01:23) Oil Mega-Merger

(03:23) AI & The SaaS Shock

(05:59) Private Equity Buys Cricket

(08:11) The Big Picture

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In this episode of the Market Maker Podcast, Shah Malik shares a masterclass in how to stand out and succeed in finance, regardless of your starting point.

Currently finishing his degree at King’s College London and set to join Deutsche Bank full-time, Shah walks through how he broke into investment banking by focusing on execution, networking, and a relentless mindset.

From turning retail jobs into winning talking points, to mastering online tests, to building meaningful relationships with senior bankers, this conversation is packed with tactical insights that go way beyond the typical “just network more” advice.

Whether you’re targeting spring weeks, summer internships, or full-time roles, Shah’s framework for preparation, performance, and progression is one you’ll want to take notes on.

(00:00) Intro – Who is Shah Malik?

(01:13) Growing Up Far from Finance

(03:30) Discovering Finance Early

(06:32) Exploring Banking, FinTech & Consulting

(08:09) Mastering the Application Process

(10:05) Cracking Online Tests

(11:47) How to Convert Internships

(14:41) Standing Out in Spring & Summer

(16:11) Smart Networking (Without Overstepping)

(21:36) Turning Retail Jobs Into Resume Assets

(22:54) Linking Customer Service to IB Skills

(25:17) Staying Ahead: Habits & Learning

(27:02) Dealing with Imposter Syndrome

(29:52) Building the Wize Foundation

(32:51) Focus on What You Can Control

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