Unhedged

Financial Times & Pushkin Industries

A new twice-weekly markets podcast from the FT and Pushkin

  • 21 minutes 48 seconds
    Wildest day for oil ever

    Over the weekend, the price of oil had its biggest intraday swing on record, bouncing between $84 and $119 per barrel in just 23 hours. Today on the show, Rob Armstrong and Katie Martin survey the wreckage, and try to figure out if the price of oil is driving policy in Washington. Also they go long neckties and Korean food crazes. 


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer.


    You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at [email protected].


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    10 March 2026, 8:00 pm
  • 26 minutes 31 seconds
    The case against stablecoins

    The Genius Act allowed stablecoins to trade in the US as a legal form of currency. But can that really work? Today on the show, financial historian Brendan Greeley joins Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong to discuss if it makes sense to introduce a digital competitor to the dollar. Also they go long the Maidstone football team, short March and short tax trips to Dubai. 


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer.


    You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at [email protected].


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    5 March 2026, 9:00 pm
  • 26 minutes 13 seconds
    Energy prices up, markets down

    The US attack on Iran has muddled expectations for the year, especially in energy markets. Today on the show, US energy editor Jamie Smyth joins Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong to talk about Tehran’s counterattacks on US allies including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Also, they go short private assets and long UK pastry chain Greggs.  


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer.


    You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at [email protected].


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3 March 2026, 9:00 pm
  • 21 minutes 56 seconds
    What the actual tariff?

    The Supreme Court just overturned President Donald Trump’s use of the emergency powers provision to impose tariffs. Now importers are suing for refunds, and the president has scrambled to leverage another old law to find a legal way to slow imports. Today on the show, Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong are joined by Alan Beattie, of the FT’s Trade Secrets newsletter, to sort the mess out. Also, they go short the “Halo” trade and long irony. 


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer.


    You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at [email protected].


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 February 2026, 9:00 pm
  • 19 minutes 53 seconds
    The report that rattled Wall Street

    On Monday, a report by Citrini Research appeared to rattle traders on Wall Street. Its thesis was that massive efficiency increases would lead to widespread job losses and a disastrous fall in consumption. Today on the show, Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong discuss the doomsday scenario. Also, they go short New York in the snow and short shrinkflation. 


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer.


    You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at [email protected].


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 February 2026, 9:00 pm
  • 20 minutes 27 seconds
    How low can the dollar go?

    World markets continue to be down on the dollar. Today on the show, Katie Martin and senior markets correspondent Ian Smith discuss how inflation, politics and trade are weighing on the once mighty greenback. Also, they go short curling and long wealth managers in the age of AI. 


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer.


    You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at [email protected].


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    19 February 2026, 9:00 pm
  • 20 minutes 36 seconds
    Introducing 'Behind the Money': Can Wells Fargo make it in investment banking?

    For more than 170 years, Wells Fargo built a reputation as an all-American Main Street lender. Now, it is charting a new path and pushing into investment banking, something that many other banks have tried and failed to do. The FT’s US banking editor Joshua Franklin and US banking correspondent Akila Quinio discuss what Wells Fargo does — and doesn’t have — going for it as it pursues this strategy.


    Clips from, CNN, CBS News, CNBC, CNN, HBO, KPIX, KRON4, NBC News, Wells Fargo


    The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.


    New episodes available on AcastApple PodcastsPocket Casts or Spotify


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 February 2026, 9:00 pm
  • 22 minutes 11 seconds
    Is AI creating jobs?

    Buried deep in the heart of this week’s US jobs report is a hint that companies may be increasing hiring to build all those AI data centres we keep hearing about. Also on the show, Rob Armstrong and Katie Martin parse what the report says about the US consumer, and what it means for US interest rate policy. And they go long volatility and short sugar.


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer.


    You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at [email protected].


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    12 February 2026, 9:00 pm
  • 21 minutes 22 seconds
    What Takaichi's win means for global markets

    Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her Liberal Democratic Party dominated in a snap election on Sunday and the country’s stock market loved it. This week, the Nikkei 225 hit an all-time high. Today on the show, Hakyung Kim joins Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong to discuss what the election means for markets in Japan, the US and Europe. Also, they go short Alphabet’s 100-year bond, streaming services and the luge. 


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer.


    You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at [email protected].


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    10 February 2026, 9:00 pm
  • 24 minutes 11 seconds
    The triangle of confusion

    Markets, data and sentiment are often looked to as indicators of the present and guides to the future. But these data points aren’t helping as much as they used to. Today on the show, Robert Armstrong, Hakyung Kim and John Foley try to understand why major numbers are in such constant conflict. Also, they go long Matcha and long data centres in space.


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer.


    You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at [email protected].


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    5 February 2026, 9:00 pm
  • 22 minutes 19 seconds
    The next Fed chair

    President Donald Trump announced his pick for the next Fed chair at the end of last week. It was Kevin Warsh, a former member of the Fed Board of Governors. Today on the show, Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong dissect Warsh’s previous statements and try to figure out how being in charge will change his outlook. Also they go long theme parks and short grindcore. 


    Take the FT’s anonymous annual bonus survey here


    For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer.


    You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at [email protected].


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3 February 2026, 9:00 pm
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