Market Maker

In this episode, Anthony is joined by Marc Bergeron , a veteran of nearly four decades in finance, from bond trading in the '80s to co-founding his own firm and now championing mentorship at Orchard Global, a leading alternative investment manager. Marc shares real stories about navigating market crashes, learning the hard way about soft skills, and why adaptability and resilience are make-or-brea...

In this Career Insight episode, Anthony Cheung speaks with Ben Hayward, co-founder and CEO of TwentyFour Asset Management, about his unexpected journey into finance. From studying history of art and pursuing advertising to launching a fixed-income boutique in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis, Ben shares invaluable lessons in career adaptability, leadership, and resilience. Whether you're...

In this episode of the Market Maker podcast, we dive into the largest leveraged buyout in history - Electronic Arts going private in a $55 billion all-cash deal led by Saudi Arabia’s PIF, Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners. What does this blockbuster transaction say about the future of gaming, geopolitics, and private capital? We also unpack Jefferies’ record-breaking Q3 performanc...

In this episode, Anthony speaks with Romy Cuadras, Head of Alternatives and Fund Solutions at Pictet Wealth Management, about her unconventional path into finance and the lessons she’s learned across global markets. Romy shares how her Cuban heritage, resilience, and adaptability shaped a career spanning operations, trading, hedge funds, and now leading alternatives for ultra-high-net-worth client...

In this week’s Market Maker Podcast, Anthony and Piers dive into three huge stories shaping markets, technology, and careers in finance: Trump’s U-turn on Ukraine & the defense stock boom – What does his latest stance mean for NATO, Europe’s defense spending, and why has one German arms manufacturer surged 2,000% since the war began? Nvidia’s $100bn OpenAI deal & the global AI race – From...

In this episode of the Market Maker Podcast, Anthony is joined by M&A expert Silvia Magni to break down one of the most common questions in investment banking: 👉 What’s the difference between sector coverage and product teams? Whether you're prepping for investment banking interviews, navigating your M&A career path, or deciding between technical vs client-facing roles, this episode c...

This week, Anthony and Piers dive into the Fed’s unexpected “risk management” rate cut, what does that even mean? And why is Powell suddenly more concerned about jobs than inflation? Then it's on to Trump’s latest bombshell, scrapping quarterly earnings in favour of semiannual reports. Maverick nonsense or a legitimate debate about investor pressure and corporate costs? Finally, the team disse...

In the second episode of our application-season mini-series with the LSE Alternative Investments Conference (AIC), I’m joined by Yuga Kozuki, Co-President of the LSE AIC. Yuga shares how he secured speculative roles across venture capital, M&A, and hedge funds using cold emailing strategies, automation tools, and the power of student societies. We also dive into handling pressure, reframing re...

In this episode, Anthony and Piers unpack a week of upside surprises, from inflation data clearing the path for Fed rate cuts to Oracle’s shock $455 billion order book and the tech rally pushing markets to fresh highs. They question whether Wall Street’s S&P 500 forecasts are still too cautious, explore why Klarna’s IPO success might reignite deal flow, and dissect the $53 billion Anglo-Teck c...

Kicking off our special application-season mini-series, we're joined by Raul Verma, Co-President of the LSE Alternative Investments Conference (AIC), to demystify the finance career journey from inside one of the world’s top universities. In this episode, Raoul shares his unconventional path, including dropping out and returning to LSE and the real pressures, decisions, and strategies behind l...

In this episode, Anthony and Piers dig into the surge in UK borrowing costs, now at their highest since 1998. Is this a warning sign or just a media-fueled blip? They explore the fiscal strain, political reshuffling, and why the pound took a sharp hit earlier in the week. The conversation then turns to the deeper structural issues—rising inflation, slowing growth, and a widening current account de...

In this episode, Anthony is joined by M&A expert Silvia Magni to break down how to confidently talk about M&A and corporate finance deals in investment banking interviews — even if you haven’t worked on a deal yourself. We cover what interviewers are really looking for, how to structure your answer like a pro, how to use recent or live deals the right way, and the most common mistakes cand...

Piers is back on the mic, and just in time. The markets are heating up and so is the political pressure. In this episode, Anthony and Piers unpack Trump’s latest attack on the Federal Reserve, this time zeroing in on Governor Lisa Cook with allegations of mortgage fraud. Is this just another headline-grabbing move, or a serious threat to the Fed’s independence? Then, the focus shifts to France, wh...

In this episode, we shine a light on one of the most powerful yet misunderstood sectors in finance - commodities. Joined by Lauren Haymond, Global Head of Talent Strategy at Castleton Commodities International (CCI), we unpack what makes this industry uniquely dynamic and ripe with opportunity for early career talent. Lauren shares her personal journey from headhunting to high finance, and breaks...

In this episode, we dive into the archive to take you back to 2022 when Anthony spoke to Will Hobbs, who at the time of recording was the acting Chief Investment Officer of Barclays Wealth Management. Will talks about his untraditional route into markets, from training in Italy as a chef to landing his first role in finance, working through the dot-com and financial crisis, and then deconstructing...

Earnings season is in full swing and Meta and Microsoft are stealing the show. Anthony and Piers dive into why Meta’s shares rocketed 12% on blockbuster earnings, a stunning rebound from its metaverse slump. They explore how Zuckerberg’s all-in AI pivot is paying off, from $100M talent wars to $72B in CapEx. Microsoft’s cloud machine, Azure, just clocked $75B in annual revenue with 34% growth cata...

In this episode, Anthony is joined by Dani Markovits, Creator & Community Manager at LinkedIn, to explore how anyone, from students and young professionals to entrepreneurs and senior leaders, can use LinkedIn as a powerful tool for career growth, authentic brand storytelling, and building a strong personal presence. Whether you're just starting to build your network or looking to stand ou...

Big Tech earnings are rolling in and Alphabet just dropped a strong quarter, with search and cloud firing on all cylinders. Anthony and Piers unpack why fears of AI eating into Google’s ad machine are overblown (for now), and what a mind-bending $85 billion AI spend tells us about the battle for dominance. Meanwhile, Tesla’s numbers paint a rougher picture. Revenue down, profits off a cliff, and E...

In this episode, Anthony speaks with Victoria Bryan, Senior Vice President, Trade Performance and Analytics, Banking and Markets, Northern Trust, about how data analytics shapes trading decisions and drives performance on the trading floor. Victoria shares how she built a career at the intersection of data, markets, and communication, teaching herself to code, translating complex insights for stak...

Earnings season is here, and Wall Street’s heavyweights came out swinging. Anthony and Piers unpack how Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley crushed Q2, driven by record trading revenues and a surprise rebound in deal flow. They explore Morgan Stanley’s booming wealth arm with $59 billion in fresh inflows, and how JP Morgan’s universal model is thriving, from trading floors to retail lending. Plus, Bl...

Markets extended their stunning 2025 rebound, with the S&P 500 logging one of the fastest recoveries from a bear market on record. Anthony and Piers unpack Goldman’s bullish upgrade spree and how Nvidia’s $4 trillion surge is fueling the rally. They dissect Trump’s copper tariff shock, the market’s technical whiplash, and what it reveals about U.S. supply chain fragility. Plus, the “Big Beauti...

Markets staged a stunning rebound in the first half of 2025 - after a brutal start that saw the S&P 500 plunge into bear market territory. Anthony and Piers rewind the chaos: Trump’s tariff shock on “Liberation Day,” the inflation scare that followed, and how a market left for dead came roaring back to record highs. They unpack the Fed’s evolving rate path, the quiet rise of a “shadow chair” a...

Anthony, Stephen, and Silvia break down the $10 billion blockbuster sale of the LA Lakers. Why did the Buss family cash out after 40 years and what makes the Lakers the world’s most valuable sports franchise? From brand power and valuation layers to the media rights behind the deal. Then, Chelsea FC quietly sells off its women’s team… to itself? Stephen exposes the dark arts of private equity and...

Markets hit new highs this week, but under the hood, things are anything but settled. Anthony and Piers unpack the Nasdaq’s breakout, Nvidia’s relentless rally, and why a historic rebound might be more than just a bounce. They dig into Trump’s latest attack on Powell and the rise of a “shadow chair” theory already shifting rate expectations—and markets. Plus, why Iran’s missile strike on a U.S. ba...

In this episode, Anthony speaks with Wee Kii Teh, a Portfolio Manager at Allianz Global Investors, about the practical skills and mindset needed to succeed in a competitive finance career. Drawing on experience across credit risk, capital markets, and now impact investing, Wee Kii shares what really sets top interns apart, how to adapt to new roles quickly, and why asking smart questions is more i...