The Bid

Cyberattacks increased 400% during the Covid-19 pandemic. More people have moved into New York city than out of it in the past year. And both India and China will reach a population of 1.5 billion in the next five years. We’ve learned a lot about megatrends over the course of our five-episode mini-series. And today, we’re wrapping it up with Jeff Spiegel, U.S. Head of Megatrends and International...

The way we’re hitting the road is changing. Sales of electric vehicles hit a record high in 2020. And right now, there are about 1,400 self-driving cars in the US with over 80 companies testing their potential. On the fourth episode of a five-part mini-series on megatrends, Will Araujo, Director of Autonomous Vehicle Development at Cruise, talks about the transformation of autonomous and electric...

The middle class is growing around the world, and it’s particularly growing in China. If China continues to grow at the pace predicted, its economy could be bigger than the U.S. by the late 2020s. So, what's behind China's massive growth? On the third episode of a five-part mini-series on megatrends, Molly Rosenman, China Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Country Head, shares the story behind Chi...

After yet another year of record temperatures and extreme weather events, there’s more and more discussion about how we can fight climate change and get to a net zero future – an economy that emits no more carbon dioxide than it removes from the atmosphere by 2050. But what does this transition look like in practice? On the second episode of a five-part mini-series on megatrends, Chris Ailman, Chi...

The Covid-19 pandemic has put genomics and immunology front and center. On the first episode of a five-part mini-series on megatrends, CEO of Moderna Stéphane Bancel and CEO of CRISPR Therapeutics Dr. Samarth Kulkarni share their perspectives as companies on the frontlines. First, Stéphane shares how Moderna innovated to produce a Covid-19 vaccine in record time and the potential of mRNA technolog...

Climate change is reshaping the global economy. And we believe it’s not just an investment risk – it’s an investment opportunity. But most ignore the effect of climate change in their economic projections. We think that’s wrong. On the last episode of a five-part mini-series on our global outlook, Vivek Paul, Senior Investment Strategist for the BlackRock Investment Institute, shares his outl...

We expect a restart of the global economy and more action by policymakers to cushion the virus shock – but the impact on the markets will likely look very different. On the fourth episode of a five-part mini-series on our global outlook, Jean Boivin, Head of the BlackRock Investment Institute, explores what’s next for Covid-19 and policy. He discusses how a resurgence in Covid-19 cases will a...

The Covid-19 crisis continues to profoundly shape our geopolitical environment. It has heightened U.S.-China tensions, accelerated inequality and caused companies to revamp their supply chains. With a new administration in the White House, what changes can we expect to the geopolitical landscape this year? On the third episode of a five-part mini-series on our global outlook, Tom Donilon, Chairman...

After a year of dramatic volatility, the U.S. stock market ended 2020 at record highs – and this year already has had a strong start. Can the momentum continue? On the second episode of a five-part mini-series on our global outlook, Tony DeSpirito, Chief Investment Officer for U.S. Fundamental Equities, shares why he’s bullish on the stock market this year. He talks about what vaccine news means f...

Thirty-two years ago, BlackRock’s Chairman and CEO, Larry Fink, rallied seven other people to found a small bond firm. Since then, BlackRock has grown into a global asset manager. Following the Global Financial Crisis, Larry began an annual tradition of writing a letter to CEOs on behalf of our clients – the institutions and individuals who invest in these companies to achieve their financial goal...

An eventful 2020 changed our perspective on how to invest in 2021. We’ve entered a new investment order – one that calls for a rethink of portfolios. On the first episode of a five part mini-series on our global outlook, Scott Thiel, Chief Fixed Income Officer, shares the three themes we see driving markets this year. He talks about why investors should take risk in 2021, how Covid-19 has added fu...

Since the Global Financial Crisis, the financial services industry – and asset management in particular – has been turned on its head. As an asset manager ourselves, how do we innovate and build products that meet investors’ evolving needs? On this episode of The Bid, Patrick Olson, BlackRock’s Chief Product Officer, discusses three drivers of change to the asset management industry: technology, t...

This year, perhaps finally, is coming to a close. What are the biggest lessons we’ve learned from the markets? On this episode of The Bid, investors from across BlackRock share how the Covid-19 crisis has compared to past financial crises; the trends that were accelerated like technology and sustainability; and the resilience we saw from companies and policymakers. We hear from Kate Moore, Head of...

The energy transition is taking shape: As electricity consumption increases around the world, more and more, renewable power is replacing fossil fuels as a primary – and cheaper – source of energy. This transition has major implications for areas of private markets. On this episode of The Bid and our mini-series, “Sustainability. Our new standard,” Teresa O’Flynn, Global Head of Sustainable Invest...

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, companies’ time horizons shrunk and surviving the months ahead became top priority. What made companies resilient through the crisis? A clear focus on purpose and on serving their employees and communities. On this episode of The Bid, Sandy Boss, BlackRock’s Global Head of Investment Stewardship, shares what it means to build resilience. She talks about how Covid-19...

We’re in a time of crisis in more ways than one. In addition to a global pandemic, we’re facing climate change and increased competition between nations. What can we learn from these crises coming together, and how do we move forward? On this episode of The Bid, we sit down with best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize winner Dr. Daniel Yergin. Dan is a renowned expert on energy, geopolitics and the...

How can we identify which companies are acting sustainably? While sustainability has made headlines this year, the real opportunity exists beyond the hype. On this episode of The Bid, Eric Van Nostrand, Head of Research for Sustainable Investments, discusses how he goes under the hood to find opportunities in sustainable investing. He walks through what it means to conduct research in sustainabili...

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the healthcare sector, accelerating trends like digital health, at-home care and new methods of vaccine development. How have the virus and the upcoming U.S. election changed the way we think about investing in healthcare? On this episode of The Bid, we answer this question with three healthcare experts: Erin Xie, Lead Portfolio Manager for Health Sciences within...

The 2020 U.S. election is set to be one of the most consequential elections in modern history. With November 3rd just a few weeks away, what are the key issues we should track and how might the result impact markets? On this episode of The Bid, Mike Pyle, BlackRock’s Global Chief Investment Strategist, walks through three different scenarios to plan for, the implications for&nb...

Impact investing means investing in companies that are working to solve the world’s greatest problems. How can investors do well while doing good, and how have companies pivoted today in the face of COVID-19 and racial injustice? On this episode of The Bid and our mini-series, “Sustainability. Our new standard,” Eric Rice, Head of Active Equities Impact Investing, discusses what makes a company an...

Seventy-four percent of Chief Financial Officers expect some portion of their workforce to remain virtual forever. Stay-at-home orders have led to a 60% increase in content consumption on streaming platforms. And there’s been a 35% surge in video game sales over the past few months. These are just a few of the ways the world has changed since the coronavirus pandemic first started. And they c...

Racial injustice and inequity have come into increased focus and caused corporations to shift their behaviors. How is systemic racism impacting the workplace, and what do companies need to do to tackle these issues? On this episode of The Bid, Dr. Laura Morgan Roberts, Professor of Practice at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, and Wes Moore, CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation,...

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the expectation for companies to lead with purpose has intensified. Employees are demanding it; customers are expecting it; and communities are requiring it. So how can companies lead coming out of the crisis? On this episode of The Bid, BlackRock Chief Marketing Officer Frank Cooper sits down with Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky to talk about how Airbnb has put purpo...

At the start of the year, the BlackRock Investment Institute sets three themes for the year ahead. But the coronavirus shock has reshaped our views on the markets and investing. In short: The future is running at us, and longer-term trends like inequality and globalization need to be considered today. On this episode of The Bid, Elga Bartsch, Head of Macro Research for the BlackRock Investment Ins...

The coronavirus crisis has accelerated sustainability, bringing to light issues around the environment, our climate and company behavior. But as global economies begin to restart and reach a new normal, can sustainability accelerate recovery? On this episode of The Bid and our mini-series, “Sustainability. Our new standard,” we hear from leaders in sustainability, including Mindy Lubber, CEO and P...