Is the AI boom just a bubble or the start of something bigger? Host Merryn Somerset Webb sits down with Rob Arnott, founder and chairman of the board of Research Affiliates, to compare artificial intelligence mania with the dot-com era, unpack sky-high valuations and market concentration while exploring what rising competition, power constraints and Capex mean for Nvidia and the “Magnificent Seven.” Arnott shares a pragmatic playbook—fade frothy winners, favor fundamentals (including his RAFI approach) and look to small caps, the UK and emerging markets—plus candid takes on Bitcoin and holding a little gold as insurance.

Is the AI boom just a bubble or the start of something bigger? Host Merryn Somerset Webb sits down with Rob Arnott, founder and chairman of the board of Research Affiliates, to compare artificial intelligence mania with the dot-com era, unpack sky-high valuations and market concentration while exploring what rising competition, power constraints and Capex mean for Nvidia and the &ldquo;Magnificent Seven.&rdquo; Arnott shares a pragmatic playbook&mdash;fade frothy winners, favor fundamentals (including his RAFI approach) and look to small caps, the UK and emerging markets&mdash;plus candid takes on Bitcoin and holding a little gold as insurance.

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

Rob Arnott on AI Mania: Lessons From the Dot-Com Era

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4d1b6cf7-b943-430a-a24e-b38a008bcada/transcript

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On this week's markets roundup, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek unpack silver's climb to a record high, oil’s weakness and why it raises the prospect of an energy rebound, and the latest memo on AI from Oaktree Capital Management co-founder Howard Marks. 

On this week's markets roundup, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek unpack silver's climb to a record high, oil&rsquo;s weakness and why it raises the prospect of an energy rebound, and the latest memo on AI from Oaktree Capital Management co-founder Howard Marks.&nbsp;

Silver Breaks Out. Oil Breaks Down. Markets Hold Their Breath.

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e0486988-cbce-46de-af5b-b3b00159d43a/transcript

Host John Stepek speaks with leading economist Gerard Lyons about the UK’s latest budget and why he believes it lacks both vision and credibility. Lyons discusses the risks facing the UK economy—ranging from rising public debt to sticky inflation—while also outlining where interest rates, markets, and global growth may be heading in 2026. He closes with reasons for cautious optimism, including resilient corporate balance sheets and opportunities arising from global diversification and AI.

This interview was taped at the Edelman Smithfield Investor Summit at the London Stock Exchange on Dec. 4, 2025.

Host John Stepek speaks with leading economist Gerard Lyons about the UK&rsquo;s latest budget and why he believes it lacks both vision and credibility. Lyons discusses the risks facing the UK economy&mdash;ranging from rising public debt to sticky inflation&mdash;while also outlining where interest rates, markets, and global growth may be heading in 2026. He closes with reasons for cautious optimism, including resilient corporate balance sheets and opportunities arising from global diversification and AI.
This interview was taped at the Edelman Smithfield Investor Summit at the London Stock Exchange on Dec. 4, 2025.

Debt Traps, Interest Rates  and Global Shifts: A Candid UK Outlook with Gerard Lyons

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/da52eca3-cd99-4ea9-b989-b3ae017d9bcf/transcript

Host John Stepek speaks with Helen Jewell, International CIO of Fundamental Equities at BlackRock, about an unexpectedly strong year for global equity markets — one in which most regions outside the US outperformed. Jewell explains why widespread diversification, renewed strength in European banks, and accelerating demand for energy infrastructure—driven largely by AI—are shaping her outlook for 2026. She also highlights key risks, including investor complacency, and argues that selective opportunities in European quality growth and UK small caps remain compelling despite recent volatility. 

This interview was taped at the Edelman Smithfield Investor Summit at the London Stock Exchange on Dec. 4, 2025.

Host John Stepek speaks with Helen Jewell, International CIO of Fundamental Equities at BlackRock, about an unexpectedly strong year for global equity markets &mdash; one in which most regions outside the US outperformed. Jewell explains why widespread diversification, renewed strength in European banks, and accelerating demand for energy infrastructure&mdash;driven largely by AI&mdash;are shaping her outlook for 2026. She also highlights key risks, including investor complacency, and argues that selective opportunities in European quality growth and UK small caps remain compelling despite recent volatility. This interview was taped at the Edelman Smithfield Investor Summit at the London Stock Exchange on Dec. 4, 2025.

Why Europe’s Banks and Energy Stocks May Lead the Next Rally with Blackrock's Helen Jewell

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/dfe0e79b-bdb5-4ce7-ba86-b3ac00e9e60a/transcript

Rob Arnott on AI Mania: Lessons From the Dot-Com Era

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