On this week’s markets roundup, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek discuss the strong performance of the FTSE 100, which has finally closed above 10,000. While it may not remain at that level, it marks a bright start. They also explore the key investment themes of 2025 and explain why equities in these areas are likely to remain elevated throughout 2026, driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly in defence, commodities, and precious metals.

On this week&rsquo;s markets roundup, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek discuss the strong performance of the FTSE 100, which has finally closed above 10,000. While it may not remain at that level, it marks a bright start. They also explore the key investment themes of 2025 and explain why equities in these areas are likely to remain elevated throughout 2026, driven by geopolitical tensions&mdash;particularly in defence, commodities, and precious metals.

Merryn Talks Money with Bloomberg senior columnist Merryn Somerset Webb is your key to understanding how markets work – and how you can make them work for you. Every episode features a relaxed but in-depth conversation with a fund manager, a strategist, a Bloomberg expert or just someone Merryn finds particularly interesting in any given week. Listen in for the kind of insights and explanations everyone can use to help them make better saving and investing choices.

Merryn Talks Money with Bloomberg senior columnist Merryn Somerset Webb is your key to understanding how markets work – and how you can make them work for you. Every episode features a relaxed but in-depth conversation with a fund manager, a strategist, a Bloomberg expert or just someone Merryn finds particularly interesting in any given week. Listen in for the kind of insights and explanations everyone can use to help them make better saving and investing choices.

Merryn Talks Money

FTSE 100 Hits 10,000 as Defence, Commodities and Gold Lead Market Themes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/17fc2fdb-20a7-4d96-b815-b3cd00b4b5b4/transcript

Merryn Somerset Webb and senior reporter John Stepek kick off the year by arguing that, amid political pessimism, personal finances remain one area where individuals can still take control. They run through six practical financial resolutions for 2026, from budgeting time for regular money check-ups and avoiding costly mortgage and insurance traps to improving tax efficiency, understanding pensions, and making sure wills and paperwork are in order. The message is clear: small, proactive steps now can make a meaningful difference to long-term financial security.

Merryn Somerset Webb and senior reporter John Stepek kick off the year by arguing that, amid political pessimism, personal finances remain one area where individuals can still take control. They run through six practical financial resolutions for 2026, from budgeting time for regular money check-ups and avoiding costly mortgage and insurance traps to improving tax efficiency, understanding pensions, and making sure wills and paperwork are in order. The message is clear: small, proactive steps now can make a meaningful difference to long-term financial security.

Your 2026 Money Reset: Practical Steps to Be Better Off by Year-End

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/74a2c289-7a29-46c1-ab15-b3ca01685e8d/transcript

Merryn Somerset Webb is joined by Saxo Bank’s Chief Macro Strategist John Hardy to unpack Saxo’s annual list of “outrageous predictions” — unlikely events that could still shake markets if they hit. They explore a potential “Q-Day” quantum-computing breakthrough that could undermine encryption and trigger a crypto-led confidence crisis, alongside space-economy scenarios like a SpaceX IPO and even lunar real estate mania. The conversation also turns to the ripple effects of widespread GLP-1 weight-loss drugs — including cheaper pill forms and the possibility they expand beyond humans into the pet world.

Merryn Somerset Webb is joined by Saxo Bank&rsquo;s Chief Macro Strategist John Hardy to unpack Saxo&rsquo;s annual list of &ldquo;outrageous predictions&rdquo; &mdash; unlikely events that could still shake markets if they hit. They explore a potential &ldquo;Q-Day&rdquo; quantum-computing breakthrough that could undermine encryption and trigger a crypto-led confidence crisis, alongside space-economy scenarios like a SpaceX IPO and even lunar real estate mania. The conversation also turns to the ripple effects of widespread GLP-1 weight-loss drugs &mdash; including cheaper pill forms and the possibility they expand beyond humans into the pet world.

From Q-Day to Mars: The Market Shocks That Could Define the Year Ahead

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/bf468194-0dc9-43b3-967b-b3c80112f6fe/transcript

Here it is! The second in our special two-part series, where John Stepek and Merryn Somerset Webb tell the extraordinary story of John Law: a fugitive Scots gambler who became the most powerful financier in France and helped invent the modern monetary system.

From murder and exile to paper money, banking revolutions and spectacular collapse, Law’s life reveals why today’s financial system works the way it does—and why it sometimes blows up. It’s history, scandal and monetary theory rolled into one irresistible tale.

Correction: In an earlier version of this podcast, John suggested that the term "bougie," meaning a wax candle, gave rise to the modern-day slang term "bougie," meaning "fancy." In fact, "bougie" is derived from the term "bourgeoisie". Our sincere apologies for this error.

We used a range of sources for this podcast but two key books to read if you'd like to find out more are:
John Law: A Scottish Adventurer of the Eighteenth Century (2018), by James Buchan
John Law: Economic Theorist and Policy-Maker (1997), by Antoin Murphy

Here it is! The second in our special two-part series, where John Stepek and Merryn Somerset Webb tell the extraordinary story of John Law: a fugitive Scots gambler who became the most powerful financier in France and helped invent the modern monetary system.
From murder and exile to paper money, banking revolutions and spectacular collapse, Law&rsquo;s life reveals why today&rsquo;s financial system works the way it does&mdash;and why it sometimes blows up. It&rsquo;s history, scandal and monetary theory rolled into one irresistible tale. Correction: In an earlier version of this podcast, John suggested that the term "bougie," meaning a wax candle, gave rise to the modern-day slang term "bougie," meaning "fancy." In fact, "bougie" is derived from the term "bourgeoisie". Our sincere apologies for this error.
We used a range of sources for this podcast but two key books to read if you'd like to find out more are: John Law: A Scottish Adventurer of the Eighteenth Century (2018), by James Buchan John Law: Economic Theorist and Policy-Maker (1997), by Antoin Murphy

John Law: The Gambler Who Invented Modern Money (Part 2) 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1725d381-03f1-4d3f-9d46-b3c5012d5585/transcript

FTSE 100 Hits 10,000 as Defence, Commodities and Gold Lead Market Themes

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