Unhedged

Latest Episodes:

Hyperscale my debt! Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

While most people are distracted by the latest blow-up in US Treasuries, our hosts Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong lift the lid on a less watched corner of the debt markets. The world’s hyperscalers – giant companies such as Amazon and Meta – need to borrow as much as they can to build the data centres needed for the AI boom. FT markets reporter Emily Herbert tells us what their elephantine debt issuance has been doing to corporate bond markets around the world. Plus, Katie shorts sniff tests, Emily goes long soup and Rob entrusts his life savings to a supermarket manager in Surrey.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

An ode to stock picking Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

Over the summer, the FT held a revamped version of its stock picking game – think fantasy football for the global equity markets. Some 13,000 people took part – a shocking number considering how unfashionable active fund management has become in the real world. Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong invite their FT Money colleague Nathan Brooker, who runs the competition, to discuss the psychology of stock picking, and whether it has a future in real life. Plus, Nathan shorts holiday spoilers, Katie shorts pesky kids, and Rob throws active investors some love.

The FT’s next stock picking game launches on Monday October 5. Entry is free to all FT subscribers aged 18 or over. Registrations will remain open for a number of weeks after the launch date. To participate, go to: https://stockpickinggame.ft.com

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 unhedged@ft.com.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Bond bombshell Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Global bond yields took a big leg up on Wednesday, with the US 10-year Treasury now well north of 5 per cent. Could further rises trip up a heavily indebted government? Or perhaps an overleveraged hedge fund, with untold market fallout? Hosts Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong are joined by FT senior markets correspondent Ian Smith. Plus, Rob goes long his own foresight, while Katie extends a long arm of comfort to a banker who sent a career-ending email.

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 unhedged@ft.com.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Turkish dismay Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Investment funds boast triple-digit returns. Retail investors enthusiastically pile in. Then – surprise! – they turn out to be scams… and implode. The story that played out in Istanbul last week may be as old as the city’s Grand Bazaar. But what does it say about financial regulation in Turkey, and should foreign investors be concerned? Host Rob Armstrong catches up with the FT’s Turkey correspondent, John Paul Rathbone. Plus, Rob shorts the 10-year US Treasury, while JP goes for a long swim in the Bosphorus.

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 unhedged@ft.com.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

News alert: Fed acts normal Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

In response to persistently above-target inflation, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates a quarter-point this week. Typically, this would not merit a full podcast. But in our current world – which includes a persistently Fed-baiting US president – this unexpected return to normalcy is something that hosts Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong have chosen to celebrate. Also, Rob goes long the endangered potato, while Katie is long Russian oligarchs bankrolling wedding events.

Until October 28 you can save on a standard annual digital subscription to the Financial Times at ft.com/unhedgedsale.

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 unhedged@ft.com.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Should markets discount the AI apocalypse? Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

When the Terminator robots come for us all, will there be anywhere safe to run? Certainly not the US Treasury market, where the 10-year yield just broke the totemic 5% level. It’s a sobering thought. But hosts Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong wonder if it’s sobering enough to end the AI stock market mania? Also in the show, Rob and Katie take sartorial long positions on armholes and loafers.

Until October 28 you can save on a standard annual digital subscription to the Financial Times at ft.com/unhedgedsale.

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 unhedged@ft.com.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Oil, yen and egonomics Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent cowed currency traders this week by claiming anyone shorting the yen was betting against “the house”. But he has failed to will US government borrowing costs lower, while his boss has failed to will the Strait of Hormuz open again. As Brent crude smashes through $100 a barrel, hosts Rob Armstrong and Katie Martin ask what Bessent can actually do to keep yields from continuing to surge. Also, Rob shorts a lunch-disrupting coffee company, and Katie shorts AI headbangers.

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 unhedged@ft.com.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Unhedged Live: How Katie was “right all along” Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Katie called it – so she claims. There are signs that foreign investors may be losing trust in US assets. This has been the source of a running debate between the hosts Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong on this podcast, and Rob finally concedes she may have a point. Awkwardly for him, he does so in front of a live audience, for a special episode recorded at the FT Weekend Festival in London’s Kenwood House. Plus, Rob goes long a Scotch whisky carry trade, while Katie goes long our lovely Unhedged audience.

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 unhedged@ft.com.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Dear Brits, please save more Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

Britain has a problem. Almost half of the country’s working age adults are not saving into a pension at all. So if you know somebody who isn’t thinking enough about their future retirement, it may be time to have a frank conversation with them. In today’s show, Katie Martin talks to two experts about why nobody seems to be taking their pensions seriously enough – Gavin Lewis, managing director at asset management leviathan BlackRock, and the FT’s consumer editor Claer Barrett, who writes our Serious Money personal finance column. Also, Gavin goes long longevity, Katie goes long gold exuberance and Claer shorts Andy Burnham’s social media feed.

Save 10% on tickets to the London FT Weekend Festival with the code FTPodcast. Visit ft.com/festival to find out more.

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 unhedged@ft.com.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Warsh and peace Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Fed chair Kevin Warsh used his speech at the annual Jackson Hole gathering of central bankers to tell bond markets he was serious about keeping a lid on inflation and everyone should calm down. Bond markets responded by pushing long-term borrowing costs to new highs. Today on the show, Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong ask what’s up with bond yields? Plus, they go long data centre Nimbys and long the job prospects for PR agencies.

Save 10% on tickets to the London FT Weekend Festival with the code FTPodcast. Visit ft.com/festival to find out more.

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 unhedged@ft.com.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

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