Market Maker

Why would a US president want to buy Greenland? In this episode of the Market Maker Podcast, Anthony Cheung and Piers Curran unpack the real story behind Trump’s controversial push and it’s far deeper than most headlines suggest.

You’ll learn:

Why Greenland is a military and surveillance goldmine

The untapped rare earth minerals and their role in AI and EVs

How China dominates the supply chain and why the US wants to catch up

The $2–$4 trillion resource potential hidden beneath the ice

Trump’s strategic use of tariffs, timing, and the art of the deal

What this move means for US elections, Europe, and global power shifts

From missile defense to minerals to midterms, this is one of the boldest plays on the world stage right now.

Subscribe and follow for more episodes breaking down markets, politics, and power plays shaping our world.

(00:00) Intro – Why Greenland?
(02:44) National Security & The Golden Dome
(05:05) The GIUK Gap Explained
(08:21) Rare Earths 101
(13:12) China’s Rare Earth Dominance
(14:27) Greenland's Mineral Reserves
(16:37) Oil, Water & Hydropower Value
(21:02) Is Greenland for Sale?
(24:39) Trump's Deal Structure
(27:25) New Arctic Shipping Routes
(29:01) Political Strategy & Midterms
(31:25) Defense Jobs & Voter Optics
(33:36) Race Against the Clock
(34:45) National Security Framing
(35:40) Corporate Pressure in Europe
(37:07) Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

Not sure whether investment banking, equity research, or global markets is the right fit for you?

In this episode, Anthony Cheung is joined by former Goldman Sachs equity research analyst Silvia Magni to break down what these three front-office roles really involve. They cover responsibilities, hours, how each division makes money, skills required, and who each job suits best.

Whether you're targeting a summer internship or a full-time role, this episode is your all-in-one guide to understanding the major divisions in investment banking.

Episode highlights:

What it's like to work in IBD vs equity research vs markets

The surprising differences in working hours and pressure

Common myths and what recruiters really look for

How AI and information overload are changing the skill set

Tips on choosing the right division for your personality

(00:00) Intro: Finding Your Fit in Finance
(01:24) Investment Banking Division (IBD) Explained
(02:30) Equity Research: What It’s Really Like
(05:38) Jargon Buster for Division Names
(06:19) Global Markets Roles Overview
(09:08) Revenue Models: How Banks Make Money
(13:00) Working Hours & Lifestyle Differences
(18:01) Must-Have Skills for Investment Banking
(21:20) AI, Info Overload & the Skill Shift
(22:24) Key Skills for Markets Professionals
(26:33) Transferable Experience in Sales
(27:43) Equity Research: The Hidden Middle Ground
(30:49) Summary: Side-by-Side Role Comparison

Join our next free 2-hour simulation in Markets or Banking.

Anthony and Piers return to break down a busy start to 2026. They cover Wall Street’s Q4 earnings, where Morgan Stanley shines amid a wave of tech-led bond issuance, while J.P. Morgan and Goldman show mixed results.

They also dig into Trump’s proposed cap on credit card interest, his DOJ probe into Fed Chair Powell, and the implications for central bank credibility. Oil markets react to rising tensions in Iran and developments in Venezuela, while the latest US inflation data shows progress but risks remain.

Plus, why 2026 GDP growth could surprise to the upside if inflation and wage pressures stay in check.

(00:00) Intro and Overview of Key Topics
(01:36) Bank Earnings: A Mixed Bag
(03:39) Morgan Stanley DCM Boom
(11:01) BlackRock $14 Trillion AUM
(14:09) Trump's Proposed Credit Card Cap
(18:19) Powell and the Fed Investigation
(22:16) Geopolitics: Iran and Venezuela
(27:59) CPI Trends and Economic Outlook
(32:11) Wage Price Spiral

2026 could be a historic year for the IPO market with over $3.6 trillion in expected valuations hitting the public stage. In this episode, we break down the hottest and most talked-about names in the pipeline: SpaceX, OpenAI, Anthropic, Stripe, Revolut, Canva, Databricks, and TikTok US.

We discuss what makes SpaceX such a unique and defensible business, why OpenAI’s losses and leadership noise might be red flags, and how Anthropic is quietly building a much more sustainable AI model. Plus, the strategy behind Stripe’s long-awaited listing, Revolut’s super-app ambitions, Canva’s AI monetisation push, and the jaw-dropping TikTok U.S. deal that could become one of the biggest financial giveaways of all time.

We also dive into who’s really making money here with banks like Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, and Goldman Sachs all fighting for billion-dollar fees.

Bullish or bearish, overhyped or undervalued, this is our full take on the biggest IPOs to watch in 2026.

(00:00) 2026 IPO Landscape Overview
(02:07) SpaceX: Trillion Dollar Debut
(11:59) OpenAI: Timing and Challenges
(16:02) Anthropic: A Different Approach
(21:12) ByteDance and TikTok: The Crony Bonanza
(25:31) Databricks: Data Intelligence Platform
(28:45) Stripe: Payments Powerhouse
(31:26) Revolut: Challenger Bank
(33:37) Canva: Design Tool with Potential

Traditional finance recruitment is at a breaking point. With a 0.7% acceptance rate at major banks and 90% of applicants using AI to "game" the system, the CV has become a redundant data point.

In this episode of the Market Maker Podcast, Chief Content and Culture Officer Anthony Cheung and Lara Montefiori, VP of Product, discuss how to solve the "AI Volume Crisis." They explore why traditional methods fail and how simulation-based assessments provide a "work sample" that identifies genuine potential through behavioral data.

Key Insights:

The Volume Problem: Managing 600,000+ applications effectively.

The Validity Gap: Why traditional tests have less than 25% predictive validity.

The Simulation Solution: Using behavioral trace data to see how candidates handle real-world mistakes and market volatility.

Selection Rigor: Applying elite selection frameworks (like the SAS) to early-career finance.

About AmplifyME: We help financial institutions move beyond the resume to identify real-world ability through simulation technology.

Contact the team at www.amplifyme.com

(00:00) The Finance Hiring Crisis
(03:35) How AI is Breaking CVs
(08:39) Simulations for Assessments
(14:23) Genuine Talent Identification
(18:12) Building a Talent Ecosystem
(24:19) How the Product Works
(29:45) Validation & Reliability
(30:27) AmplifyME Product Vision