The battle between Novo Nordisk and Pfizer to acquire Metsera is over. But is this merger a sign of strength or weakness for the industry? Today on the show, Rob Armstrong talks with US finance editor James Fontanella-Khan about the pressures on drug companies from Washington and the market. Also they go long Nasdaq and short Nasdaq.

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You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at unhedged@ft.com.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Companies such as Procter & Gamble and Chipotle say lower-income customers are spending less, while upper-income customers keep splurging. But data from the Federal Reserve and others suggests incomes – and the differences between them – have remained steady. Today on the show, Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong try to understand why and if consumer behaviour is changing. Also, they go long passive investing and short banks checking their own employees’ bank balances.

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You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at unhedged@ft.com.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Today’s show is a live recording from the Kilkenomics Festival in Kilkenny, Ireland. Katie Martin hosts a panel with guests David McWilliams, founder of the festival, and Mark Blyth, professor of political economics at Brown University. From the Home Rule Club in Kilkenny, they ask if the US is starting to behave like an emerging market. Also, they go long sterling and short futuristic cities in the sand.

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You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at unhedged@ft.com.

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With the government shut down, US investors are looking for data in different places. Today on the show, Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong discuss home brewed data, and try to figure out what’s really going on in the US economy. Also they go short flying taxis and the UK defaulting.

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.

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Tech companies are spending historic amounts of money on computing power and data centres.

Today on the show, Rob Armstrong and Katie Martin talk to Lex editor John Foley to try to understand the computing arms race. Also they go long M&A, short free buses, and long cleanfluencers.

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

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How does populism affect the long-term health of economies? And is there a difference in outcomes between the extreme politics of the left and the right? Today on the show, Rob Armstrong and the FT’s chief economics commentator Martin Wolf discuss an extensive study on populism and economics. Also, they go long China and short tech companies with no profits.

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

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US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent has one of the hardest jobs in recent history. He has to implement bizarre economic strategies and keep rational market players calm. Today on the show, Rob Armstrong and Katie Martin discuss Bessent’s balancing act. Also they go long depreciation expense and short predictions about gold.

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

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It won’t be easy, and you’ll think it’s strange, when we try to explain … why US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent is suddenly reversing all current US policy and proposing to send billions of dollars to Argentina. Today on the show, Katie Martin, Rob Armstrong and the FT’s Latin America editor Michael Stott discuss Javier Milei’s cry for help. Also they go long renaissance composer Palestrina and professional wrestling.

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.