The Bid

Retirement planning is being transformed around the world. As people live longer, traditional pension systems evolve and governments face growing financial pressures, individuals are taking on greater responsibility for their retirement savings and income. But with no single global model for retirement, what can different countries learn from one another? In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pul...

Geopolitical tensions are increasingly reshaping the global economy. Defense spending is rising, energy security has returned to the policy agenda, and competition over artificial intelligence and critical technologies is becoming an increasingly important part of national security. At the same time, conflicts and supply chain disruptions are exposing vulnerabilities in an interconnected global sy...

Tokenized cash is emerging as one of the most tangible applications of tokenization in financial markets. While much of the attention around digital assets has focused on cryptocurrencies, a broader transformation is taking place behind the scenes as blockchain technology begins to change how cash moves, settles and operates across the financial system. In this episode of The Bid , host Oscar Puli...

The AI economy is entering a broader phase as artificial intelligence moves beyond technology companies and into healthcare, manufacturing, financial services and other parts of the economy. At the same time, growing demand for computing power is highlighting physical constraints around electricity, semiconductors and critical materials. In this episode of The Bid , host Oscar Pulido speaks with J...

The space economy is becoming more connected to everyday economic activity, from satellite communications and navigation to weather forecasting, defense and data. Falling launch costs, advances in satellite technology and rising demand for AI infrastructure are broadening the conversation around what space could enable. In this episode of The Bid , host Oscar Pulido speaks with Reid Menge, portfol...

Sports investing has evolved as franchise values have risen, live sports have retained a powerful hold on audiences, and ownership has become an increasingly sophisticated business. Yet sports teams remain unusual assets, combining economics with competition, community identity and deeply emotional fan relationships. Host Oscar Pulido speaks with David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chairman of The...

Sports and investing can both be shaped by small margins, repeated decisions and the balance between skill and chance. From tennis points to soccer matches and basketball shot selection, elite competition offers a useful lens for thinking about decision-making in capital markets. In this episode of The Bid , host Oscar Pulido speaks with Ronald Van Loon, Portfolio Manager in BlackRock’s Global Fix...

2026 market themes have been shaped by geopolitical realignment, the physical demands of artificial intelligence and changing assumptions about diversification. Across markets, investors are confronting several plausible futures rather than relying on a single base case. Host Oscar Pulido is joined by Stevie Manns, producer of The Bid , to revisit conversations with BlackRock leaders and external...

AI investing continues to shape markets as artificial intelligence (AI) moves beyond software and into the physical infrastructure of the global economy. From data centers and chips to space-based compute, autonomous trucks and humanoid robotics, the AI buildout is creating new questions about scarcity, supply chains and where value may accrue next. In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido is...

Defense investing is rapidly moving from the margins to the center of capital markets as geopolitical fragmentation, rising global tensions, and technological innovation reshape how nations allocate resources. What was once viewed as a niche or even overlooked sector is now emerging as a critical pillar of global infrastructure and security. In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido sits down...

Artificial intelligence continues to reshape economies and markets, but its rapid expansion is also exposing new constraints across energy, infrastructure, labor, and capital. As investors navigate an increasingly complex landscape, the debate has shifted from AI's potential to the practical realities of building the systems that support it. In this episode of The Bid , host Oscar Pulido speaks wi...

Inflation and investing are once again front and center as markets assess a new mix of price pressures. In this Ask Me Anything episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido is joined by Helen Jewell, BlackRock’s International Chief Investment Officer for Fundamental Equities, and Tom Becker, senior portfolio manager on BlackRock’s Global Tactical Asset Allocation team. Together, they explore what is driv...

Financial market infrastructure is often invisible to investors, yet it powers every trade, settlement, and ownership record across capital markets. As technology evolves, tokenization is emerging as a new way to represent and transfer financial assets, raising questions about how markets may operate in the future. In this episode of The Bid , Oscar Pulido speaks with Rob Goldstein, Chief Operatin...

Asia infrastructure investing is becoming central to the global energy transition as rising demand, energy security concerns, and the need for more resilient systems accelerate capital deployment across the region. In Southeast Asia, the opportunity is not only about replacing old systems, but building new infrastructure at scale for a growing economy. In this episode of The Bid , host Oscar Pulid...

ETFs in Asia have grown significantly since the global financial crisis, but their role is changing. What began as a way to access markets is now expanding into broader portfolio applications as investors face more complex market conditions. In this episode of The Bid, Oscar Pulido speaks with Christian Obrist, Head of iShares Distribution in Asia, and Nick Peach, Head of iShares Asia Pacific at B...

Asia has often been viewed as a long-term growth story, but its role in global markets is becoming more immediate. The region now represents a significant share of global GDP and listed companies, while operating across distinct economic and policy cycles. In this episode of The Bid , Oscar Pulido speaks with Aarti Angara, Head of Global Product Solutions in Asia Pacific at BlackRock. They examine...

Retirement systems are undergoing a structural shift as traditional pensions decline and individuals take on greater responsibility for financial outcomes. Longer lifespans and evolving capital markets are making retirement planning more complex and consequential. Oscar Pulido speaks with Nick Nefouse, Global Head of Retirement Solutions at BlackRock. They discuss how defined contribution plans, t...

Crypto investing is at a crossroads as digital assets move from speculative beginnings toward broader institutional adoption and integration into capital markets. As volatility persists and infrastructure evolves, investors are increasingly asking not what crypto is—but what role it plays in portfolios. Host Oscar Pulido is joined by Robbie Mitchnick, Head of Digital Assets at BlackRock, and Dan M...

Portfolio construction is being redefined as investors face a fundamentally different market regime. Higher inflation, shifting interest rate dynamics, and accelerating megaforces like AI and geopolitics are challenging long-held assumptions about diversification and asset allocation across capital markets. In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido sits down with Vivek Paul, Head of Portfolio...

The S&P 493 is gaining attention as investors look beyond the Magnificent Seven and reassess where growth and diversification may come from in today’s equity markets. With market concentration at historic highs, a handful of mega cap companies have driven much of the S&P 500’s returns, raising questions about what lies beneath the surface. In this episode of The Bid , host Oscar Pulido spe...

AI and bond markets are becoming increasingly interconnected as artificial intelligence reshapes capital demand, market structure, and investing approaches across fixed income. As inflation regimes shift and traditional diversification dynamics evolve, investors are rethinking the role bonds play in portfolios. In this episode of The Bid , host Oscar Pulido speaks with Jeff Rosenberg, Senior Fixed...

Private markets are moving from the sidelines of institutional portfolios into the mainstream of wealth management. As companies stay private longer and financing increasingly happens outside public exchanges, investors are beginning to rethink how broad the traditional investment universe really is. The shift is raising a new question for portfolios: should investors be looking beyond public mark...

Alternative investing is moving from a niche allocation to a core portfolio conversation. As volatility returns, interest rates reset higher, AI accelerates capital spending, and fiscal deficits expand, investors are reassessing what diversification really means. In a world where stocks and bonds can move together and macro forces dominate markets, traditional portfolio frameworks are under pressu...

Emerging markets are back in focus in 2026 — not just as a cyclical trade, but as investors reassess performance leadership, diversification, and where growth is showing up in a shifting global paradigm. After a long stretch of disappointing returns, emerging markets have started the year strongly, alongside record interest from global investors. But the case for EM today is less about a single st...

The K-shaped consumer is redefining the outlook for the U.S. economy. While overall spending remains resilient, growth is increasingly concentrated among higher-income households, creating widening gaps across income levels. As policy shifts, AI adoption, and healthcare innovations reshape behavior, the consumer landscape is becoming more uneven. In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido is jo...