Market Maker

Anthony and Stephen explore how Cursor became the fastest-growing AI startup ever, from MIT roots to “vibe coding” hype and a $20 billion valuation in just 14 months. Then, it’s boardroom drama in Spain as Sabadell spins off TSB to block a hostile takeover from BBVA — a strategic move with big implications for European banking. Finally, Barclays brings in McKinsey to cut costs. What happens when c...

Welcome to Market Maker - the podcast that makes finance interesting and easy to understand for everyone. Hosted by Anthony Cheung, Chief Content & Culture Officer at AmplifyME, each week he and a guest break down what’s really moving markets, from interest rates and tech stocks to global politics and the latest M&A deals. Think of it like the FT... but with fewer buzzwords, more clarity,...

Markets have stayed calm so far this week, but central banks and geopolitics were anything but. Anthony and Piers break down the Fed’s muted meeting, the revised growth and inflation forecasts, and the hidden signals in the dot plot. Over in the UK, a dovish shift at the Bank of England suggests more cuts are coming despite a steady headline rate. They also unpack rising tensions between the U.S.,...

From a $33 billion family tie-up at Toyota to Japan’s 400% surge in M&A activity, Anthony and Stephen break down the latest investment banking scorecard and why dealmakers are suddenly flocking East. They also dig into Disney’s final takeover of Hulu, the $15 billion Meta bet on AI startup Scale, and the fiery rise of Dave’s Hot Chicken, where three friends turned a $900 parking lot pop-up int...

Markets erupted this week as oil spiked 13% overnight following Israeli strikes on Iran. Anthony and Piers unpack what it all means from geopolitical shockwaves to the tactical chaos of trading during breaking news. They also dive into the concept of backwardation and why it's dominated the oil market for years, despite the headlines. Plus, what U.S. inflation data reveals about Trump’s tariff...

From Wall Street’s wild recruiting arms race to the collapse of KKR’s £4bn Thames Water rescue, Anthony and Stephen unravel the biggest private equity stories shaping markets right now. They unpack why PE firms are hiring grads five years early (and why J.P. Morgan’s furious), the 35% drop in global fundraising, and what it means for the industry’s future. Plus: Salesforce bets $8bn on Informatica...

Piers Curran returns to break down the macro landscape as we head into the second half of 2025, just in time for interview season. We unpack the three economic pillars: growth, inflation, and interest rates through the lens of Trump’s tariffs, the U.S. deficit crisis, and conflicting market signals. Why are stocks near highs while bond yields and the dollar signal caution? What’s really behind gol...

In this episode, Anthony speaks with Sara Ruozzo, whose journey from classical studies in Milan to internships at Microsoft and Tesla, and now working in sustainable investments at UBS, is a masterclass in career pivoting with purpose. If you're a student from a non-finance background or early in your career, wondering how to break into finance (and feel like everyone else already knows the playbo...

From a $35bn “Valentine’s Day love letter” to OpenAI’s mysterious $6.5bn hardware play, Anthony and Stephen break down the biggest deal stories shaking up markets this week. They also dive into the private equity pullback as firms like Blackstone and KKR slump, why Goldman Sachs is going big on the Middle East, and how Victoria’s Secret is fighting off unwanted attention with lingerie and a poison...

From a surprise jump in UK inflation to soaring retail sales and a surging pound, Anthony and Piers break down why Britain’s economy is defying expectations and what it means for interest rate cuts. They also unpack the bizarre logic behind OPEC’s production hike amid falling oil prices, gold’s fresh rally on renewed debt fears, and how Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” could push US borrowing costs to...

From eToro’s blockbuster debut to the return of SPACs and the flood of micro IPOs from China, Anthony and Stephen break down what’s really happening in the 2025 IPO market. They also dive into the data behind Japan’s surprise IPO boom, why London continues to lag, and which investment banks are topping the ECM league tables, with one unexpected name climbing fast. Essential insight for anyone trac...

From a blistering 20% S&P rebound to Trump’s tariff U-turn, Anthony and Piers unpack what’s behind one of the fastest stock market rallies in recent memory — and whether it can last. They also dive into the surprise inflation slowdown, what it means for Fed rate cuts, and why the looming US debt ceiling deadline could be the next big market risk. Plus, is “taco trade” the new “buy the dip”? Es...

In this career insight episode, Anthony speaks with Mahgul Ansari, an Assistant Portfolio Manager at Premier Miton, about her unconventional path into investment management. Starting out studying modern languages at Oxford University and later qualifying as a chartered accountant, Gul shares how she pivoted into asset management, the challenges she faced along the way, and how she built an edge in...

From Shell eyeing BP in a historic mega-merger to 3G Capital’s surprise $9.4bn move on Skechers, Anthony and Stephen break down the M&A headlines driving markets this week.  They also unpack Sunoco’s $9.1bn cross-border play for Canada’s Parkland and explain what a “fairness opinion” really means.  Essential insight for anyone interested in deals, strategy, and what real money is doing in vola...

The Fed kept rates on hold - no surprise there. But in this episode, Anthony and Piers dig into the real story: the subtle shifts in language, the rising risk of stagflation, and how Trump’s tariff war is clouding the economic outlook.  They break down why traders hang on Powell’s every word, how markets react before policy changes, and what conflicting data says about where the US economy is...

Meta is back in the crosshairs of the FTC. Could Zuckerberg really be forced to spin off Instagram or WhatsApp? We explore the legal showdown, what it means for antitrust enforcement in big tech, and the potential ripple effects for future M&A deals in Silicon Valley. Then, we head to the UK where private equity giant KKR is circling Thames Water with a potential £4 billion investment. It’s a...

Anthony and Piers break down the latest U.S. GDP figures that sent headlines into a frenzy, but is the economy really on the brink of recession?  This episode dives into the mechanics behind the data, why imports distorted the numbers, and what it really means for the Fed, markets, and your investment outlook.  Clear, no-nonsense insight that cuts through the headlines. (00:00) Introduct...

Guinevere Taylor didn’t study finance. She didn’t go to a top-tier uni. But she built a successful career in asset management and after several years as a director at a major sell-side bank, she now leads UK Capital Formation at Brightwood Capital. In this episode, she shares how she broke into the industry, built confidence in client-facing roles, and juggled early motherhood with a demanding car...

In this podcast episode, Anthony and Stephen unpack the return of mega mergers, from Capital One’s $35.5bn takeover of Discover Financial to Nomura’s strategic $2bn acquisition. Plus, they dive into why private equity is reshaping the accountancy world through massive consolidation plays like Baker Tilly and Grant Thornton. Whether you're aiming for banking, asset management, accounting, private e...

What happens when a president hints at firing the Fed chair, markets spiral, and Elon Musk suddenly retreats from Washington? In this episode, Anthony and Piers dissect Trump’s headline-grabbing U-turn, the deeper implications for Fed independence, and why Tesla shares soared despite disastrous earnings. Plus, is a US-China trade thaw finally in sight and what could that mean for inflation and rat...

In part two of our ESG mini-series, Anthony Cheung and Stephen Barnett dive into the backlash that’s hit the ESG world: record fund outflows, greenwashing scandals, political pushback, and major asset managers quietly stepping away. But is this really the end… or just the next chapter? They explore why ESG has become so controversial, why the US and Europe are heading in different directions, and...

In this episode, Anthony sits down with Miren-Edurne De Frutos, a senior sales & trading executive with decades of global experience across top-tier investment banks. Fluent in five languages and having worked across eight countries, Miren shares her refreshingly honest take on: What sales & trading roles actually involve (minus the jargon) How to stand out in finance by mastering soft ski...

Is ESG just a buzzword or does it still matter? In this two-part episode, Anthony Cheung is joined by ESG expert Stephen Barnett to unpack what ESG really means, where it came from, and why it’s become so confusing (and controversial). From trillion-dollar funds to wind turbines on glossy brochures, they explore the good, the bad, and the misunderstood.  Whether you're curious about impact in...

In one of the wildest weeks on Wall Street since 2008, markets flip from panic to euphoria—thanks to a single Truth Social post and a dramatic policy reversal from Donald Trump. But was it all part of the plan? In this episode, Anthony Cheung and Piers Curran break down: Why the S&P 500 had its biggest one-day jump since the financial crisis The real asset class that forced Trump’s hand (hint:...

What does it take to succeed in quant finance? Anthony Cheung sits down with Nitish Maini, Chief Strategy Officer at WorldQuant, to discuss his journey from consulting to quant trading, the biggest misconceptions about the industry, and why creativity and strategic thinking are just as important as coding skills.  They also explore how WorldQuant is reshaping global talent pipelines through i...