The Bid

Skilled trades are becoming one of the most important — and overlooked — drivers of the global infrastructure boom. As trillions of dollars flow into energy systems, transportation networks, telecoms, and AI data centers, the constraint is no longer just capital — it’s labor. The scale of the infrastructure buildout is historic, but delivering it depends on the availability of trained workers. In...

Powering AI is no longer just a technology story — it’s an energy and infrastructure story reshaping capital markets and the global economy. As artificial intelligence scales from training to real-world inference, electricity demand is accelerating at a pace few anticipated. In this episode of The Bid , host Oscar Pulido is joined by Will Su from BlackRock’s Fundamental Equities Group to examine h...

Thematic investing is increasingly shaping how investors interpret markets heading into 2026, as artificial intelligence, geopolitical fragmentation, and infrastructure constraints intersect across the global economy. Jay Jacobs, Head of U.S. Equity ETFs at BlackRock, joins Oscar to discuss why mega forces are becoming harder to ignore—and harder to diversify away from—than in past market cycles....

Retirement planning is becoming more complex as careers grow less linear, lifespans extend, and financial decisions start earlier in life. From early-career savers to small business owners and those approaching retirement, people are asking how to build financial security while staying flexible in an unpredictable world. In this Ask Me Anything episode of The Bid , host Oscar Pulido is joined by J...

Hedge fund strategies are gaining renewed attention as market volatility rises and traditional stock and bond diversification becomes less reliable. With inflation uncertainty, shifting monetary policy, and growing macro instability, investors are reassessing how different sources of return and risk management show up across capital markets. In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido speaks wit...

Global markets are entering 2026 amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty, structural shifts in the global order, and rapid technological change. Recorded live from the World Economic Forum in Davos, this episode of The Bid examines the macroeconomic and geopolitical forces shaping the year ahead. Host Oscar Pulido is joined by Philipp Hildebrand, Vice Chairman of BlackRock, and Tom Donilon, Vice...

AI investment, evolving earnings leadership, and shifting global dynamics are redefining stock market trends as investors enter 2026. Companies are deploying unprecedented capital toward data centers, compute, and productivity-enhancing technologies, while rate cuts and supply-chain realignment reshape the macro backdrop. These forces are changing how fundamentals, valuations, and sector growth pa...

This week, the focus is on diversification—and why it’s getting harder to achieve. Portfolio Strategist Natalie Gill explains how the “diversification mirage,” a key theme in BII’s 2026 outlook, is now showing up in real time. A small set of megaforces is increasingly dictating equity performance, meaning traditional attempts to diversify—whether toward equal-weighted indices or new regions—can am...

As The Bid takes a short break for the holidays, we’re introducing listeners to Market Take, the weekly macro podcast from the BlackRock Investment Institute. Market Take offers fast, digestible insights on what’s moving markets - and this week, the focus is squarely on the labor market. Senior Economist Nicholas Fawcett breaks down why softer U.S. labor data is reinforcing expectations for anothe...

AI-driven investment, rising leverage and shifting market dynamics are reshaping the 2026 stock market outlook. As companies accelerate spending on data centers, chips and digital infrastructure, micro-level decisions are increasingly influencing the capital markets and broader economy. In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido speaks with Jean Boivin, Head of the BlackRock Investment Institut...

Europe’s macro outlook is shifting. After years of fiscal restraint and fragmented policy, the region is entering a new chapter one centered on pro-growth fiscal policy, energy security, and capital-market reform. For investors, this transformation signals the potential for renewed momentum in European equities and fixed income. In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido speaks with Helen Jewel...

Stock market trends are in sharp focus as central banks pivot, earnings broaden beyond mega-cap leaders, and AI-driven CapEx reshapes corporate priorities. In this AMA edition of The Bid , host Oscar Pulido sits down with BlackRock’s Gargi Pal Chaudhuri, Chief Investment and Portfolio Strategist for the Americas in the Investment Portfolios Solutions team. Together they field listener questions on...

Private markets are transforming the investment landscape — reshaping portfolios, expanding access, and driving growth across asset classes from private equity to infrastructure and private credit. Once the domain of institutions, private markets are increasingly accessible to individual investors, offering new ways to pursue diversification and long-term opportunity. In this episode of The Bid, h...

Investing in any market can feel daunting — but it doesn’t have to. In this episode of The Bid , host Oscar Pulido sits down with Jim Cramer, investor, author, and host of Mad Money , to explore what it really takes to build wealth and confidence over time. Cramer’s latest book, How to Make Money in Any Market , continues his mission of empowering everyday investors to take control of their financ...

Global investors are rethinking diversification as APAC markets investing takes center stage. As monetary policies diverge and growth paths split across regions, Asia Pacific is emerging as a key source of resilience — and opportunity — in global portfolios. In this episode of The Bid , host Oscar Pulido speaks with Alex Brazier, Global Head of Investment & Portfolio Solutions, and Navin Saiga...

Artificial intelligence is one of the most powerful forces reshaping the global economy, technology, and investing. But understanding AI requires looking at the full story — where it began, how it is unfolding, and where it is headed next. With recent headlines in OpenAI from its $100bn Nvidia investment to its release of Sora, this special in-depth episode of The Bid brings togethe...

Gold and bitcoin are in the spotlight again - and for good reason. In this special narrative format episode of  The Bid , host Oscar Pulido weaves together expert insights from previous Bid episodes to explain why interest in gold and bitcoin is rising now and what investors should consider before treating them as portfolio diversifiers. You’ll hear from BlackRock experts&...

Retirement confidence is under pressure. While younger generations are entering the workforce with optimism, the latest Read on Retirement report reveals troubling gaps between savers, plan sponsors, and retirees. Only 38% of employers believe their employees are on track, and confidence among retirees has dropped to historic lows. In this episode of  The Bid , host Oscar Pulid...

ETFs are at the center of how investors are navigating today’s rapidly changing markets. From active ETFs to thematic strategies around megaforces like artificial intelligence and infrastructure, innovation in exchange-traded funds is reshaping how portfolios are built. In this special  Ask Me Anything  edition of  The Bid , host Oscar Pulido sits down with ...

Infrastructure investing is no longer a niche play — it’s at the center of today’s global economy and portfolios. In this episode of The Bid, we dive into why infrastructure investing is having a moment, how it connects to AI, and what megaforces are shaping the next decade of growth. Host Oscar Pulido sits down with Balfe Morrison, Head of Listed Infrastructure Strategies, to...

Fixed income investing is experiencing a powerful resurgence. With yields at multi-decade highs, income opportunities are abundant, yet investors must navigate uncertainty in capital markets and shifting macroeconomic dynamics. In this episode of The Bid, we explore why fixed income is once again a compelling anchor for portfolios. Host Oscar Pulido sits down with Rick Rieder,...

The world of artificial intelligence continues to profoundly impact the stock markets and create investment opportunities. Despite a brief setback earlier this year, AI continues to push the boundaries of human ingenuity and drive market dynamics. Oscar Pulido welcomes Tony Kim, head of the BlackRock Fundamental Equities Global Technology Team, and Michael Gates, lead portfolio manager of BlackRoc...

Continuing the summer series, The Bid brings back some of the best episodes from the last year. Oscar’s final pick is unpacking the meaning and the power of capital markets. Capital markets are a powerful force in the global financial landscape. These markets connect long-term savings with productive uses of capital. Driving innovation, growth and job creation. But what are capital markets and how...

Continuing the summer series, The Bid brings back some of the best episodes from the last year. Stevie's pick is a deep dive into the technology and AI investing trends coming out of Silicon Valley featuring Tony Kim, BlackRock portfolio manager and technology investing expert. AI is experiencing a transformative moment, powering the phenomenal run in public markets, but the investment opportuniti...

Over the summer, The Bid brings back some of the best episodes from the last year. Kicking off the series, hosts Oscar and Stevie take a look back on one of the most popular episodes, recorded live on location in Davos, Switzerland. In a special episode recorded from Davos, host Oscar Pulido is joined by Philipp Hildebrand, Vice Chairman of BlackRock, and Tom Donilon, Chairman of the BlackRock Inv...