Behind the Markets Podcast

Brandon Zick, CIO of Ceres Partners, guides a fascinating exploration of farmland investments in Indiana. He discusses the unique blend of agriculture and renewable energy, emphasizing opportunities in solar and wind on farmland. The conversation dives into how tariffs impact farmer profitability and the significant potential in innovative energy solutions, such as transforming waste into renewable energy. Zick also outlines the evolving landscape of farmland investing, revealing insights from recent property acquisitions and the shift towards institutional investment.

Show from 08/29/25 Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel discuss the PCE inflation data coming in exactly as expected, a surprising widening in the July trade deficit, and the implications of upcoming employment data on the Fed's decision-making. The Prof suggests a 25 basis point cut is likely unless job numbers are unexpectedly weak. (14:22) Jeremy is joined by Sean Avory, CIO of Avory Co, who shares his constructive view on markets, discusses opportunities in small and mid-cap equities, and outlines his firm's high-conviction investment strategies across public and private markets. The conversation highlights themes such as AI infrastructure, data-driven investing, and identity verification as a key growth sector. Sean also offers insight on valuation dislocations caused by passive investing trends and the role active ETFs may play going forward. Wisdom Tree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Show from 08/22/25 Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel react to Powell’s dovish shift in tone, with the Professor characterizing it as a clear pivot towards rate cuts. Siegel emphasizes that inflationary pressures driven by tariffs are likely to be treated as one-time increases and ignored by the Fed, while the labor market becomes the primary focus going forward. He outlines a forecast of 75 basis points of cuts by early next year, contingent on labor conditions, and notes that falling long-term yields could significantly ease mortgage rates, supporting continued strength in equities. (28:36) Jeremy continues with Samuel Rines live from Margate, where they examine how corporate earnings, particularly from Walmart and Ross stores, reveal that consumers remain active despite rising prices. However, they caution that tariff impacts are starting to show up in margins, especially for small caps, which have already been under pressure from high interest rates. The conversation turns to sector positioning, including renewed strength in defense stocks amid European geopolitical developments, and optimism around Japan’s equity markets driven by favorable global policies and undervaluation. They also discuss the role of government involvement in strategic industries like semiconductors, the equity premium in Japan versus the U.S., and how policy changes are reshaping investment flows. Sam concludes that managing margins, not revenues, will be the critical driver of equity performance over the next 6 to 12 months, especially as companies navigate cost pressures without triggering political backlash. Wisdom Tree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Show from 08/15/25 Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel unpacked a busy week of economic news, starting with an analysis of the CPI and PPI data. The Professor highlighted how headline inflation may appear elevated due to one-off components like portfolio management fees but emphasized that key metrics feeding into the Fed’s preferred PCE deflator remained tame. He also reiterated his longstanding view that the Fed should not react to tariff-induced inflation and spotlighted next week's Jackson Hole speech from Jerome Powell as a pivotal moment for monetary policy. (12:17) Jeremy continued the show with Sam Rines and the Wisdom Tree team, exploring the implications of the Trump-Putin summit, the enduring global defense spending cycle, and the long-term impact of defense innovation on technology. They analyzed inflation indicators, alternative shelter metrics, and sector reactions, including defense, AI, housing, and chipmakers. The conversation closed with reflections on earning season surprises, small-cap sensitivity to Fed policy, and geopolitical dynamics shaping tech and energy infrastructure. Wisdom Tree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Jeff Wenninger, a macro expert at WisdomTree, dives into the current economic landscape, discussing the impact of Trump’s Fed nominations and labor market challenges. The duo explores the dynamics of India’s oil trade with Russia and how tariffs shape global markets. They also delve into the Fed's influence on monetary policies and the potential competition from stablecoins. Wrapping up, they share insights on the energy demands of AI technologies, particularly with the use of GPT-5, and how big tech is navigating these innovations.

In this discussion, Sam Rines, Jeff Weniger, and Chris Gannatti from WisdomTree share insights on current market dynamics and labor trends. They dive deep into farmland investments, emphasizing how they can diversify portfolios while supporting local communities. The trio also analyzes the troubling implications of inflation and the Federal Reserve's cautious stance on rate adjustments despite softening labor data. They further explore the impact of AI on productivity and global trade tensions, painting a picture of a complex economic landscape.

Ryan Louvar, Chief Legal Officer at WisdomTree, brings extensive expertise in ETFs and digital assets. He discusses the implications of the Genius Act and Clarity Act on U.S. crypto regulations, advocating for clarity in stablecoin adoption. The talk delves into the parallels between digital assets and traditional finance, emphasizing the transformative impact of blockchain technology. The importance of evolving regulatory frameworks in both the U.S. and Europe is highlighted, along with the potential for stablecoins to reshape transaction costs and banking interactions.

Samuel Rines, a Macro Strategist at WisdomTree, Chris Gannatti, Global Head of Research, and Jeff Weniger, Head of Equity Strategy, analyze the escalating tension between President Trump and Fed Chair Jerome Powell. They discuss the implications of Powell's potential resignation for Fed independence. The conversation also covers geopolitical developments, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, impacts of Trump's tariffs, and consumer trends in tech sectors, highlighting how key players like Netflix and Nvidia are navigating economic challenges.

Samuel Rines, Macro Strategist at WisdomTree; Chris Gannatti, Global Head of Research at WisdomTree; and Jeff Weniger, Head of Equity Strategy at WisdomTree, delve into today’s turbulent economic landscape. They discuss the surprising resilience of consumer spending amidst tariff escalations and the dominance of tech giants like Apple and Nvidia, especially in AI advancements. The trio also explores innovative investment strategies focusing on geopolitical shifts, emphasizing opportunities in India while re-evaluating emerging markets without China, Korea, and Taiwan.

Jeff Weniger is the Head of Equity Strategy at WisdomTree, where he shapes stock market outlooks, while Chris Gannatti leads global investment strategy research. They discuss surprising job report numbers, AI's potential to impact employment, and the shift in market leadership towards industrials and biotech. The conversation also covers recent trade deals with Vietnam and Japan, alongside the growing momentum in nuclear energy and robotics, all pointing to a bullish market outlook amid significant technological changes.