Episodes

  • What Weak Home Sales Mean for Investors

    What Weak Home Sales Mean for Investors
    May 18 2025
    On WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-host Telis Demos and guest co-host Miriam Gottfried start the show off by diving into President Trump’s latest trade deals. They then get into the president’s push to cut drug prices and how pharmaceutical stocks reacted to the news. Telis and Miriam also talk about the slew of housing data and home-improvement stock earnings, including Home Depot and Lowe’s, expected this week and what it could tell us about the state of the housing market amid the spring home-buying season. Later on the show, Jim Egan, Morgan Stanley U.S. housing strategist, joins Telis and Miriam to talk about what it will take to unlock the housing market. They get into mortgage rates, home equity and what it all means for buyers, sellers and investors. One bit of housekeeping: We’ll be on vacation next week and will be back with a new episode on June 1. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Gunjan Banerji, lead writer for Live Markets, and Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com. Further Reading The Spring Home Sales Season Is Shaping Up to Be a Dud For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • Why This Harvard Economist Is Worried About the U.S. Dollar

    Why This Harvard Economist Is Worried About the U.S. Dollar
    May 11 2025
    On WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Gunjan Banerji and Telis Demos talk about the most recent Federal Reserve meeting and Chair Jerome Powell’s wait-and-see approach. They then get into Wall Street’s latest obsession: following shipping data for indications on how the economy is faring. The co-hosts also get into what to expect from Walmart’s earnings later this week and Warren Buffett’s remarks at the recent Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting. Later on the show, Harvard economist and former IMF chief economist Ken Rogoff joins to talk about why he thinks the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar is in decline and his new book “Our Dollar, Your Problem.” The co-hosts and Rogoff also dive into what the dollar’s waning supremacy means for consumers and investors and what it has to do with the “American exceptionalism” trade. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Gunjan Banerji, lead writer for Live Markets, and Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading To read more from our hosts, catch up on Wall Street Is Watching This Shipping Data to Gauge Tariff Impact and Car Insurance Rates Were Ready to Drop. Then Tariffs Came Along. What the Weak Dollar Means for the Global Economy For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    27 mins
  • Bonus: Kyla Scanlon on Navigating Financial Advice on Social Media

    Bonus: Kyla Scanlon on Navigating Financial Advice on Social Media
    May 7 2025
    In this special bonus episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-host Telis Demos is joined by social-media content creator and economic commentator Kyla Scanlon, who has helped transform how younger generations, specifically Gen Z, are engaging with news about the economy and finance. Through platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Substack, Scanlon has cultivated a dedicated audience of more than half a million people by simplifying complex economic data with creativity and humor. Recognized for coining the term “vibecession,” to highlight the disconnect between economic data and consumers, Scanlon has garnered attention from White House advisers and the Federal Reserve. In this episode, we’ll explore how economic trends like meme stocks (think GameStop and AMC) and cryptocurrencies are changing things for younger investors. Plus, we chat about best practices to consider when using social media for financial advice and how to avoid the “bad actors” that are spreading misinformation or scamming people. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Gunjan Banerji, lead writer for Live Markets, and Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading The 27-Year-Old Economic Adviser for Gen Z For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • Goldman Vice Chairman and Former Fed Official Kaplan on Rate-Cut Dilemma

    Goldman Vice Chairman and Former Fed Official Kaplan on Rate-Cut Dilemma
    May 4 2025
    Will the Federal Reserve cut interest rates this year? How is Fed Chair Jerome Powell and central bankers thinking about recent volatility in financial markets? Rob Kaplan, vice chairman at Goldman Sachs and former president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, joins WSJ’s Take On the Week. Co-hosts Gunjan Banerji and Telis Demos and Kaplan discuss the central bank’s tough task ahead to lower inflation. They also dive into President Trump’s recent remarks about Powell and the Fed independence debate. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Gunjan Banerji, lead writer for Live Markets, and Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading To read more from co-host Telis Demos, catch up on Inflation Fear Is Making Some People Spend More—and Others Less. Why Trump Decided Not to Try to Fire Jerome Powell For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 mins
  • Can Buffett Bets Like Coke, Food Brands Recession-Proof Your Portfolio?

    Can Buffett Bets Like Coke, Food Brands Recession-Proof Your Portfolio?
    Apr 27 2025
    On WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Gunjan Banerji and Telis Demos start the show by discussing the divergence between consumer sentiment and hard economic data, and whether we’ll see any sign of market softening in the forthcoming jobs and GDP reports. Then, all that glitters IS gold. The co-hosts talk about gold’s recent all-time highs. They also dig into whether the Magnificent Seven trade may be on the downswing. Later on the show, Markus Hansen, portfolio manager and senior research analyst of Vontobel Asset Management, joins the podcast to talk about whether the current moment of economic uncertainty is the time for household food and beverage brands, like Coca-Cola and Mondelez, the company behind Oreo, to shine. They also talk about Warren Buffett’s legendary investment philosophy and his company Berkshire Hathaway’s stake in Coca-Cola. They also dive into diversifying into international investments, and how the technology and luxury sectors are faring. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Gunjan Banerji, lead writer for Live Markets, and Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading To read more from our hosts, catch up on Huge Stock Swings Are the New Normal for Frazzled Investors and How Long Will Big U.S. Banks Continue to Lead the World Consumer Staples Gain on Rush to Safety After Tariffs Spark Market Rout For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • Consumer Spending Under Tariffs: Pimco Manager on What Investors Can Watch For

    Consumer Spending Under Tariffs: Pimco Manager on What Investors Can Watch For
    Apr 13 2025
    On WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Gunjan Banerji and Telis Demos talk about the markets' reaction to the latest developments in President Trump’s tariffs policies. They talk about the “buy the dip” trade and weigh in on “the stock market isn’t the economy” debate. The hosts also discuss what’s going on with Treasurys. Later on the show, Kris Kraus, a managing director and portfolio manager at one of the world’s largest bond managers, Pimco, joins the podcast to give us a pulse check on the health of consumers, including their debt, from mortgages to auto loans. He shares what we should—and shouldn’t—be worried about as tariffs start to hit our pocketbooks and portfolios. Kraus also talks about what he’ll be looking out for in upcoming earnings from credit card companies, like American Express and Capital One, for clues on where consumers are headed. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Gunjan Banerji, lead writer for Live Markets, and Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading To read more from co-host Gunjan Banerji, catch up on When Does a Market Dive Hit the Rest of the Economy? and Market Rout Shatters Long-Held Beliefs on Investing Live Q&A: What’s Happening With the Markets?—Our Reporters Answered Your Questions Trump U-Turn Halts the ‘Sell Everything American’ Trade, but the Fallout Remains For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • Bonus: Trump’s Tariff Backtrack Rocked Markets. What Do Investors Need to Know?

    Bonus: Trump’s Tariff Backtrack Rocked Markets. What Do Investors Need to Know?
    Apr 11 2025
    In this special bonus episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, we dive into the most pressing questions for investors about tariffs and markets following the news of President Trump’s 90-day pause on some of his largest import taxes. Co-host Telis Demos is joined by two friends of the show, WSJ reporter Miriam Gottfried and investing columnist Spencer Jakab. They get into which sectors are most exposed to tariffs, how consumer-facing companies such as Restoration Hardware and car-parts sellers have been affected, the political calculus behind the tariffs, and what the repeated policy shifts mean for the dollar as the world’s reserve currency. Further Reading Live Q&A: What’s Happening With the Markets?—Our Reporters Answered Your Questions Trump U-Turn Halts the ‘Sell Everything American’ Trade, but the Fallout Remains ​​Democrats Seek Trading Probes After Trump’s Tariff U-Turn Trades Before Trump Tariff Post Draw Scrutiny Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter written by Spencer Jakab. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    17 mins
  • What to Watch For This Earnings Season As Trump’s Tariffs Come Into Play

    What to Watch For This Earnings Season As Trump’s Tariffs Come Into Play
    Apr 5 2025
    EARLY DROP!!! We know tariffs and markets are on your mind so we're dropping this episode ahead of time to give you even more time to plot out how to take on your week! On WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-host Telis Demos and guest co-host Miriam Gottfried get right into President Trump’s unveiling of his latest tariff policies. Then, they discuss the upcoming first quarter earnings results season. They talk about why they’re curious regarding what Delta Air Lines and used-car retailer CarMax have to say when the companies report earnings later this coming week. Later on the show, Telis and Miriam dive deeper into corporate earnings season with Christine Short, head of research of Wall Street Horizon, which is part of the financial services company TMX Group. They talk about what Trump’s trade war means for automotive companies, including General Motors and Ford, and what forward-looking guidance from companies like Dollar Tree, Southwest Airlines, Walmart and others could offer as a clue into how the corporate world is dealing with tariffs. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Gunjan Banerji, lead writer for Live Markets, and Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com. Further Reading To read more from our co-hosts, catch up on Wall Street Facing Toughest Test in Years and Banks Don’t Pay Tariffs, but Tariffs Will Cost Them. What to Know About Trump’s Latest Tariffs A Market-Rattling Attempt to Make the American Economy Trump Always Wanted For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 mins