Podcast

WSJ's Take On the Week

Business, Business News, Investing, News

WSJ's Take On the Week brings you the insights and analysis you need to get a leg up on the world of money and investing. We cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance. Join The Wall Street Journal's Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried in conversation with the people closest to the hot topics in markets to get incisive analysis on the big trades, key players in finance and business news. The duo will bring actionable insights to a range of investors and business leaders while also entertaining a broader audience with lively, relatable conversations. Episodes drop Sundays.

Business News chart
#10
Episodes
140
Releases
Weekly
Typical length
34 min
On air since
2023
Latest episode
2 days ago

Episodes

140 episodes, newest first

  1. Tech Stocks and AI Bonds Are Tumbling. Is the AI Trade in Trouble?

    Episode 140

    Show notes

    In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos dive into the shifting credit markets financing the massive artificial intelligence build-out, examining how tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet’s Google—alongside major investors like Blackstone—are funding the boom. They ask: Are sinking AI bonds and tech stock selloffs a sign that investor demand for computing power is cooling, or is it just a temporary market recalibration?

    WSJ Heard on the Street writer Asa Fitch joins the show to break down the highly leveraged businesses funding the AI computing revolution. Fitch analyzes the financial mechanics of companies like CoreWeave, which lease AI computing power to other companies. Plus, they break down why heavily-indebted tech infrastructure is causing market anxiety, and why giants like Nvidia are banking on CoreWeave to survive.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, writer for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    See How Anthropic Arrived at Its Mind-Boggling $40 Trillion Market Opportunity

    Why Anthropic’s Rivals are Rooting for its IPO

    Meta Plans up to $95 Billion in Financing to Power Its AI Growth

    Two AI Chipmakers Make Up 34% of America’s Earnings Boom

    Meta’s Muse Is Going Gangbusters. But Where Is the Payoff?

    Why Nvidia Needs CoreWeave

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free AI & Business newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    33 min
  2. How AI Regulation Could Help the Public—and Investors Too

    Episode 139

    Show notes

    Could artificial intelligence surpass the internet in its transformative power? Jonathan Kanter, former assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice under President Joe Biden, suggests it might and talks about the challenge of creating effective regulation—offering insights on shareholder value, company valuations, and overall market impact.

    On this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried examine the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and the complex path toward regulating it. They discuss with Kanter why meaningful AI oversight relies on a functional Congress, how the Supreme Court's "major questions doctrine" creates hurdles for regulatory agencies, and why ensuring AI safety carries even higher stakes than regulating the early version of the internet.

    But first, our hosts analyze SpaceX’s recent earnings report, driven up by its massive AI potential and a possible merger with Tesla. They also unpack the volatility in the nascent market for AI-backed corporate bonds.

    News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, has a content-licensing partnership with OpenAI.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, writer for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    Why AI’s Deepest Mind Believes the World Is About to Change Radically

    The Weak Points in AI Bonds Are Becoming Clearer

    Politicians Are Turning Against AI, but Your Pension Is Riding on It

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    34 min
  3. What the Midterm ‘Affordability Election’ Means for Markets

    Episode 138

    Show notes

    It’s election season again, and affordability is on the ballot for voters. High gas prices, energy costs and persistent inflation continue to squeeze households—what does that mean for the upcoming midterm elections and the stock market?

    In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos break down the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, the sell-off in chip stocks and whether Federal Reserve interest-rate hikes are cooling the AI boom.

    Then, Monica Guerra, head of policy and geopolitical strategy at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, joins to discuss potential election outcomes, the possibility of a blue wave or divided Congress, and how local regulations on AI data centers and gridlock in Washington could impact investor portfolios and the S&P 500.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, writer for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    What Six Years of Inflation Mean for the Midterms

    Inside Bessent’s Treasury: Tension, Turnover and Unmet Economic Goals

    Midterm Anxiety Mounts for GOP as Democrats Try to Expand Battleground

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    32 min
  4. Why Cash Is King in the Era of Higher Interest Rates

    Episode 137

    Show notes

    Interest rates are up, and high-yield savings accounts are back— so why is so much of your cash still under-earning? In this episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried explore why it’s time to rethink where your money sits and treat cash as a true asset class.

    But first, Telis and Miriam explore how high interest rates are impacting the economy, from commercial real estate to private equity. Plus, they preview upcoming earnings from big banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and more.

    Then, MaxMyInterest founder Gary Zimmerman joins the show to share practical ways to unlock higher savings yields. Zimmerman shares his perspective on how to think about where you put your cash in this high-rate environment. Plus: will AI change the banking landscape and how we manage our deposits?

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, writer for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    Choosing the Right Bond Strategy for Today’s High-Yield World

    Money Managers Are Asking Clients to Give the Bond Market Another Chance

    Treasury Takes Aim at Tax-Avoiding Investment Strategies

    Why Mortgage Bonds Are at Risk if Rates Rise—and if They Fall

    Wealth Management Has a $3 Trillion Problem: Investors Are Keeping Too Much Cash

    What Banks Stand to Lose From the Private-Credit Mess

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    36 min
  5. Why the SEC’s Proposal to Get Rid of Quarterly Reporting Is Bad for Investors

    Episode 136

    Show notes

    In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-host Miriam Gottfried and Heard on the Street columnist Jonathan Weil break down why U.S. Treasury yields hit their highest levels since 2002, and how the delay of highly anticipated IPOs from AI giants like OpenAI and Anthropic could reshape the market. Next, they analyze whether these postponements are solely driven by AI safety concerns or if they signal broader weakness in the IPO market.

    After the break, former SEC enforcement attorney Marc Steinberg joins the show to explain why the SEC’s controversial proposal to allow publicly held companies to elect semi-annual reporting could impact U.S. capital markets. He details the mechanical risks of this shift, arguing that reduced mandatory disclosure could trigger a wave of financial fraud and strip away essential investor protections.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, writer for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    Investors Don’t Want to Scrap Quarterly Reports. Companies Should Think Twice.

    Here’s Why the Fed Is on Hold—Maybe for a While

    Ohio State University Professor Tzachi Zach’s Tracker: SEC Semi-Annual Reporting Proposal Tracker (S7-2026-15)

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    35 min
  6. Making Sense of Sky-High Treasury Yields

    Episode 135

    Show notes

    In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-host Miriam Gottfried is joined by guest co-host and WSJ markets reporter Sam Goldfarb to break down the unprecedented surge in the 10-year Treasury yield. Meghan Swiber, U.S. rates strategist at Bank of America, joins the show to discuss what influences these yields, and how a 5% yield affects everyday borrowing costs including mortgage rates, which are again topping 7%.

    Swiber unpacks the Treasury Department's surprising buybacks, and how this strategy compares to the actions the Federal Reserve took to mitigate the effects of the last financial crisis. Plus, how is the market reacting to the Fed, which is trying to battle inflation by hiking rates?

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, writer for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    The Robust U.S. Economy Powers Through Rate Hikes and Rising Bond Yields

    A Guide to Owning Bonds When They Are Selling Off

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    36 min
  7. Will Real Estate Protect Your Portfolio if the AI Bubble Bursts?

    Episode 134

    Show notes

    In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried break down the conversation around AI safety and development, and how markets have reacted. Plus, OpenAI is now expected to have its initial public offering next year instead of this year. Will Anthropic follow suit? They also analyze the Federal Reserve's recent unanimous decision to hike interest rates, the mechanical impact of 10-year Treasury yields crossing 5%, and how these macroeconomic shifts are reshaping the bond market.

    Next, Jefferies equity analyst Jon Petersen joins the show to explain how rising interest rates and limited supply are impacting real estate investment trusts (REITs). They also discuss the impact of AI on the sector. Are companies like Digital Realty and Equinix poised to fare well in the data center buildout? What about industrial REITs like Prologis and Stag Industrial? Plus, Petersen breaks down why the REIT sector could be a healthy safe haven for investors if the AI bubble bursts.

    News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, has a content-licensing partnership with OpenAI.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, writer for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    Anthropic Researcher Quits Over ‘Out-of-Control’ AI Fears

    Fed Delivers First Rate Hike in Years With Unanimous Vote

    Malls Were Left for Dead. Now They Are the Top Performer in Commercial Real Estate.

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    35 min
  8. A Breakthrough Cancer Vaccine Fueled a Biotech Rally. Can It Last?

    Episode 133

    Show notes

    Despite a rough past week for the healthcare sector, pharmaceuticals and biotech stocks have outperformed the S&P 500 this year. Investors have gotten excited over cancer treatment breakthroughs for Moderna, Merck and Revolution Medicines—plus regulatory shakeups at the FDA. But is market hype running ahead of reality? Can the rally last?

    On this week’s episode, co-hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried are joined by WSJ’s Heard on the Street columnist David Wainer to discuss how AI and competition from China are shifting the market, where pharma M&A is headed next, and how everyday investors should navigate the sector.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, writer for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    Exclusive | Cheap Biologic Drug Alternatives Stall, Threatening U.S. Healthcare Savings

    Hype for Moderna’s Cancer Vaccine Is Running Ahead of the Math

    China is a Threat to Biotech’s Massive Bull Run

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    31 min
  9. How AI Speculation Is Fueling the Small-Cap Stock Rally

    Episode 132

    Show notes

    On this week’s episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, host Miriam Gottfried and guest host Aaron Back, editor of WSJ’s Heard on the Street, preview the upcoming employment and inflation releases in advance of the Federal Open Market Committee’s September policy meeting. They analyze why these economic indicators will draw heightened focus under Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh. Then Miriam and Aaron dig into Nvidia’s recent blowout earnings and whether we will see that echo in Broadcom’s earnings this week.

    Next, Dan Rasmussen, founder and portfolio manager at Verdad Advisers, offers insight into the past year's small-cap stock surge following an extended period of underperformance relative to mega-caps. Rasmussen explains why private equity firms face a massive exit logjam from acquisitions of small companies due to inflated valuations. Finally, we ask Rasmussen: does value investing still work?

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, writer for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    Inflation Was 3.4% in July, Down Slightly From the Previous Month

    Fed’s Preferred Inflation Gauge Remains Above Target Range

    Nvidia Reports Blowout Quarter, Says Demand for AI Chips Is Getting Even Hotter

    Nvidia’s $279 Billion Supply-Chain Gamble

    Nvidia Has Become a Banker to the AI Boom, Putting It on Dangerous Ground

    Private-Equity Firms Are Sitting on a Nine-Year Backlog

    A Better Mousetrap for Buying Small Stocks

    Moderna Shares More Than Double on Success of mRNA Cancer Vaccine

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    29 min
  10. What Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole Debut Means for Nervous Markets

    Episode 131

    Show notes

    In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos preview the upcoming Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium—one of the longest-standing central banking conferences in the world. They are joined by Columbia Business School professor and former Federal Reserve Governor Frederic Mishkin, as well as the Journal’s Chief Economics Correspondent Nick Timiraos, to break down Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s major move away from explicit forward guidance.

    Together, they discuss why Wall Street is reacting with a "mini inflation scare" and rising long-bond yields, whether Warsh’s less-is-more communication strategy could undermine Fed credibility, and how his approach compares to Alan Greenspan’s legendary tenure. Plus, they examine what central bankers and investors need to watch for as Warsh prepares for his high-stakes speech in Wyoming.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, writer for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh’s Honeymoon With the Bond Market Is Already Over

    Kevin Warsh Invokes Alan Greenspan to Shrink the Fed—and Strengthen Its Chair

    Warsh Opens Press Conference Reaffirming Commitment to 2% Inflation

    Bessent Leans Into His Role as America’s Bond Trader in Chief

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    32 min
  11. How to Make Inflation Work for Your Portfolio

    Episode 130

    Show notes

    In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, we dig into Treasury Inflation Protected Securities, or TIPS! Our co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos are joined by Jill Cetina, finance professor at Texas A&M University and former official at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and the Treasury Department. Together, they analyze the latest inflation data and what it could mean for TIPS if Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh changes the CPI calculation.

    Later, Cetina explains why shorter-duration TIPS ladders and I bonds offer better risk protection than long-dated bonds, and why heavy Treasury bill issuance threatens market stability.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, writer for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    These Bonds Offer a Rare Buying Opportunity

    Inflation Was 3.4% in July, Down Slightly From the Previous Month - WSJ

    The CPI and Inflation, Explained

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    36 min
  12. How AI Spending Is Fueling the Economy Overall

    Episode 129

    Show notes

    In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos dig into the shifting sentiment away from AI stocks and the pivot into consumer sectors. Are we heading into a new business-led economy, or will it continue to be a consumer-led economy?

    Before that, the hosts analyze the fallout from SpaceX earnings report and break down the evolving appetite for potential future IPOs for companies like OpenAI or Anthropic. They also set the stage for earnings reports coming out later this month from companies like Home Depot, Target and Lowe’s.

    Plus, Wells Fargo’s Chief Equity Strategist Ohsung Kwon joins the show to break down the massive, overlooked impact of tariff refunds on consumer staples earnings. He also explains why the cycle of capital expenditures in AI is acting as a vital engine for the broader U.S. economy, and why AI job replacement fears may be significantly overstated.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, writer for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    Wall Street Thinks It Knows How Tech Giants Will Make AI Pay

    SpaceX Needs to Make Its Bigger Rockets Work

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    35 min
  13. Why Oil Prices Could Hit a Breaking Point by Year End

    Episode 128

    Show notes

    In this episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-host Telis Demos is joined by guest co-host and Wall Street Journal reporter David Uberti to break down the Federal Reserve’s latest moves, and what oil’s volatile pricing—exacerbated by the U.S.-Iran conflict—might mean for inflation and the Fed going forward.

    Then, BCA Research’s chief commodities strategist Roukaya Ibrahim joins the show to break down what’s behind oil’s volatile pricing. They discuss what current geopolitical tensions mean for oil and whether recent inventory data suggests a looming supply crunch. Plus, Ibrahim explains why the traditional link between gold and inflation has fractured, and how oil price shocks may impact the Fed.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, writer for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    Kevin Warsh Asked the Market to Speak. It Answered.

    Two Wars Put Stranglehold on Global Energy Supplies

    U.S. Emergency Oil Reserve Hits Lowest Levels Since 1983: Why It Matters

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    35 min
  14. The Buried $150B Bet Inside the Top 20 U.S. Stocks

    Episode 127

    Show notes

    In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, host Telis Demos and guest host Spencer Jakab, the Wall Street Journal’s investing columnist and writer of the Markets A.M. newsletter, are joined by Kaitlin Hendrix, asset allocation research director at global investment firm Dimensional Fund Advisors, to decode investors' surging interest in private markets.

    They break down how investors may already have exposure in their investment portfolios to private companies like Anthropic, Stripe and Flipkart, through holdings in companies like Alphabet's Google, Amazon and Nvidia. Hendrix explains why your public index fund might already provide the diversification you’re looking for, without the high fees. Plus, Jakab explains the way that big tech’s private company investments are boosting earnings to near-unprecedented levels.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, writer for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    Earnings Forecasts Are on Steroids

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter, written by our guest host: Spencer Jakab.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    33 min
  15. How This $150B+ Wall Street Strategy Could Lower Your Taxes

    Episode 126

    Show notes

    In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos are joined by Brent Sullivan, founder of Tax Alpha Insider, to dive into a hot, over $150 billion investing strategy called “tax-aware long-short.” This strategy aims to help wealthy investors beat the market while lowering their tax bill by using leverage and short selling to actively harvest losses. Sullivan breaks down how this compares to other forms of tax-loss harvesting and whether the strategy is worth the risk (and cost) for the average investor. He also explains other ways investors can implement tax-aware investing in their own portfolios.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, writer for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    Stock Gains Without All the Taxes? How the Hottest Trade on Wall Street Works

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    35 min
  16. Are Corporate Earnings in a Bubble? This Quarter Is a Test

    Episode 125

    Show notes

    In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos preview earnings from Taiwan’s flagship chip maker, TSMC. They also break down why this coming week’s earnings from Johnson & Johnson, UnitedHealth Group and Abbott Laboratories won’t do much to save healthcare from its negative earnings growth expectations.

    Then, Miriam and Telis are joined by Christine Short, head of research at Wall Street Horizon, which is part of the financial-services company TMX Group, to decode why analysts’ corporate earnings expectations are reaching exuberant highs. They ask: How are companies achieving such strong results without massive revenue growth, and are those gains sustainable?

    Plus, Short explains how the AI buildout is reshaping corporate efficiency. They also discuss how companies like BJ’s Wholesale, FedEx and Nike are managing tariff refunds and what that has meant for consumers. They talk about what to expect from this week’s bank earnings, with JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and others slated to report. Then the hosts examine the broader market’s health and what the Late Earnings Report Index, or LERI, which tracks when companies report later than expected, might be signaling about future volatility.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    Honey, I Shrank the Cash Flow

    Jet-Fuel Prices Have Plunged but Aren’t Resulting in Much Lower Fares

    Meta Rakes It In, Yet Still Borrows Billions for AI

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    38 min
  17. Can Hot Consumer Companies Like Oura and Whoop Make Good IPOs?

    Episode 124

    Show notes

    In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos dig into this past week’s tech selloff and how the market’s volatility reflected serious questions about spending for the AI buildout. They also look at how semiconductor players like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are navigating the noise, and why even deep-pocketed tech titans like Meta are tapping the debt markets. They talk about how SpaceX’s bond sale reflects a broader trend of companies borrowing to fund AI infrastructure. Another strategy to fund AI? Cutting jobs. They break down the latest AI-fueled layoffs from Oracle, and whether this week’s U.S. jobs numbers will tell us anything about the state of AI job replacement. They examine the trend of corporate tech pivots, highlighting Allbirds’ radical shift to AI infrastructure and its rebranding as Smartbird.

    Plus, Miriam and Telis are joined by health-tech analyst Stephanie Davis to assess whether consumer health companies make good public companies. They ask: Can health-tech wearables startups like Oura or Whoop be sustainable on their own, or are they better off absorbed by tech giants like Apple or Amazon? They break down consumer health companies’ failures of the past, including Fitbit’s meteoric rise and eventual acquisition by Google’s parent Alphabet. They also look at the broader "graveyard" of companies—from Peloton and GoPro to Roomba and Bird scooters—to see if any can replicate the rare, long-term success of a giant like Garmin.

    Heads up, we’re taking a break next week! We’ll be back in your feeds July 12.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com/

    Further Reading

    Crazy Rich Returns Lure Cabbies and Even Kids to Red-Hot Asian Markets

    Oura Rings Maker Files Confidentially for IPO After $11 Billion Valuation

    The Wearable Boom Is Real. The Investment Case Is Murkier

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    39 min
  18. How Big Tech’s Financials Obscure the True Cost of the AI Buildout

    Episode 123

    Show notes

    In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, host Telis Demos and Heard on the Street columnist Jonathan Weil sit down with Kevin Koharki, principal at CAE Consulting and professor at Purdue University, to pull back the curtain on the opaque world of tech companies’ financial statements. They dig into why the massive infrastructure spend on AI data centers might be obscuring other fundamental corporate costs, specifically stock-based compensation.

    Koharki explains why tech giants like Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and Google’s parent company Alphabet need to provide clearer financial reporting. He breaks down the challenge investors face in distinguishing between necessary AI capital expenditure and other underlying costs, and why greater transparency is critical to accurately valuing these businesses in the current market.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    Meta Rakes It In, Yet Still Borrows Billions for AI

    Turbocharged Earnings Are Pushing Stocks Higher. There’s a Catch.

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    29 min
  19. The Hidden Risks of Buying Into Mega-IPOs Like SpaceX

    Episode 122

    Show notes

    In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos break down the historic launch of SpaceX, the biggest initial public offering ever, which priced at $135 a share before popping 11% to open at $150 on Friday. The share price rose steadily after that, closing up 19%. Meanwhile, Tesla shares were volatile, though they ended higher on the day. Plus, the hosts look ahead to a major milestone at the Federal Reserve as Kevin Warsh presides over his first meeting as Fed chairman.

    After the break, Owen Lamont, senior vice president and portfolio manager at Acadian Asset Management, breaks down whether the sudden rush to include mega-cap companies such as SpaceX into major indexes like the Nasdaq 100 and Russell 1000—often through specific rule changes—is a signal that the market is beginning to overheat. Then, they discuss the risks of buying into IPOs, particularly those with small floats (that is, a company’s available shares to trade) or lack of profitability. He explains what he calls the "third horseman of the bubble apocalypse" and whether current IPO plans for Anthropic and OpenAI are the beginning of a larger, potentially dangerous market trend.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    Is it Worth Investing in Unprofitable Companies? We Ran the Numbers

    For a Select Few, IPOs Are Winners. Good Luck to Everyone Else.

    A Guide to Buying SpaceX Shares via Your Brokerage Account
    SpaceX Shares Closed Up 19% in Historic Debut as Musk Becomes First Trillionaire

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.

    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    34 min
  20. NYU’s ‘Dean of Valuation’: Elon Musk’s SpaceX Isn’t Worth $1.77 Trillion

    Episode 121

    Show notes

    In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos break down the unconventional lead-up to the SpaceX IPO. They examine the rocket maker's choice to propose a single price of $135 a share this past week, rather than a range, which set the valuation at around $1.77 trillion. The hosts also discuss the number of shares being offered to retail investors and the broader IPO boom—including Anthropic and OpenAI—that is poised to impact passive index investors.

    After the break, they are joined by NYU Stern School of Business professor Aswath Damodaran, widely known as the "Dean of Valuation" or the "Valuation Guru." Damodaran dissects SpaceX's estimated more than $28 trillion total addressable market, calling the around $26 trillion portion tied to AI more of a "wish than an expectation." He talks about the risks of investing in a founder-controlled company like SpaceX, where Elon Musk retains the majority of the voting rights due to its share structure. He also explains why momentum for the company’s stock could matter more than valuation.

    This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

    Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.

    To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page ofhttp://wsj.com

    Further Reading

    A Guide to Buying SpaceX Shares via Your Brokerage Account

    Why It Matters if OpenAI or Anthropic Wins the IPO Race

    Terms Revealed for SpaceX’s Unconventional $75 Billion IPO

    Alphabet’s $80 Billion AI Fundraising Push Shows the Value of Being a Public Company

    S&P 500 Won’t Change Rules for SpaceX

    FTSE Russell Latest to Make U.S. Index Inclusion Easier Ahead of SpaceX IPO

    SpaceX IPO Could Start a Great Divergence in Index Returns

    Morgan Stanley Sees SpaceX’s Revenue Reaching $3.4 Trillion in 2040

    For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.

    Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.
    Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    37 min