Market Maker

It’s our most anticipated episode of the year! Stephen Barnett returns to grade our 2025 predictions and lay out the playbook for 2026.

We break down the massive $4.2 Trillion year in M&A, analysing why deal volume dropped while deal value skyrocketed. We also do a deep dive into the "Indigestion" facing Private Equity, with 50,000 businesses owned and nowhere to sell them, and why Private Credit is starting to look dangerously like the "Big Short" era of 2008.

Plus, we reveal our Company of the Year (hint: it’s a comeback story) and our Person of the Year (is it Jensen Huang or... Michael Burry?).

(00:00) Grading our 2025 Predictions (S&P, Nvidia, Bitcoin)

(04:58) $4.2 Trillion in Deals (Goldman vs. J.P. Morgan)

(09:38) The Rise of Boutique Banks & Size Matters

(14:25) Private Equity "Indigestion"

(17:52) Will Lower Rates Save Private Equity?

(21:05) Is Private Credit a Bubble?

(25:20) "Rating Shopping" & The Cockroach Theory

(31:10) 2026 Crystal Ball: Tailwinds vs. Headwinds

(35:05) Company of the Year: Google goes "Beast Mode"

(40:58) Person of the Year: Jensen Huang vs. Michael Burry

(44:53) The 2026 Prediction: OpenAI Gets Acquired?

In this episode, Anthony speaks with Ela Saruhanoglu, an LSE Management student who secured a full-time investment banking role at J.P. Morgan for 2026 after converting her summer internship. Despite not having a traditional finance background or spring week, Ela shares how she built technical skills from scratch, leveraged curiosity, used productivity hacks, and developed a mindset that set her apart.

(00:00) Ella’s Journey to J.P. Morgan

(01:21) Why Finance?

(04:39) Learning Technicals

(06:18) Purposeful Productivity

(11:14) Balancing Uni & Applications

(13:54) No Spring Week, No Problem

(17:01) Preparing Ahead of Time

(20:25) Managing Imposter Syndrome

(24:05) Internship Tips: Visibility, Mindset, Speed

(26:35) Knowing You Why

It’s the "final battle for the soul of Hollywood." In this breaking episode, we bring back Stephen Barnett to break down the Netflix vs. Paramount war for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).

Stephen breaks this deal down like a Hollywood movie script—literally. We cover the Backstory (Zaslav’s failure), the Cast of Characters (from "nepo-baby" David Ellison in his Ferrari to the "anti-hero" David Zaslav), and the Plot Twist where Paramount gets "ghosted" on a Thursday only to launch a hostile counter-attack.

We also dive into the "Monopsony" risk that has writers terrified, the "Whirling Dervish" factor of a Trump presidency, and why this deal proves that if you aren't a $500bn tech giant, you're just prey.

(00:00) Stephen Barnett Returns

(01:59) Battle for the Keys to the Kingdom

(04:09) Backstory: Why WBD Ripped 160%

(06:12) "Anti-Hero" Zaslav & "Nepo Baby" Ellison

(10:30) The Plot: "Begging" Texts & Being Ghosted

(16:17) The Role of Bankers

(18:47) "Black Box" Fear: Advertisers vs. Netflix

(21:30) The Trump Factor in M&A

(23:15) Monopoly vs. Monopsony

(27:47) Conclusion: Why a Big Tech Win is Scary

In this M&A edition of Market Maker, Anthony and Piers break down Medline’s potential $5 billion IPO, the biggest of the year, and what it signals for private equity exits and the 2026 deals landscape.

They also explore Amazon’s bold entry into the AI chip race with Tranium 3, how it stacks up against Nvidia and Google, and what it means for cloud dominance. Plus, OpenAI hits the panic button as Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude rapidly gain ground.

(00:00) Medline’s $5B IPO

(08:52) ECM Process

(12:45) Bank Rankings Shuffle

(20:06) Amazon’s AI Chip

(28:09) Cloud Wars Heat Up

(32:04) OpenAI’s Code Red

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Big tech is stumbling while pharma stocks surge, what does that mean for markets heading into 2026? In this episode, Anthony and Piers unpack why Nvidia, Microsoft, and Amazon are dragging, while Eli Lilly and Merck lead a surprising rotation. They also explore shifting Fed rate cut expectations, conflicting US labor data, and what it all signals for the S&P 500’s next move.

We also break down Deutsche Bank’s “triple whammy” dollar call, Trump’s Fed chair pick, and why a yen carry trade unwind could shake crypto markets. Plus, UK PMI surprises and pound strength, are brighter days ahead for the UK economy?

Tune in for easy-to-follow macro insights this week!

(00:00) Topics & Listener Shoutouts

(02:51) Big Tech Wobble, Pharma Surge

(09:16) Fed Cut Expectations & Labour Data

(18:27) Trump’s Fed Pick & Market Reaction

(24:23) Deutsche Bank US Dollar Call

(30:07) Yen Carry Trade & Crypto Risk

(36:01) UK Budget Bounce & PMI Surprise

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Last chance to join our in-person Finance Bootcamp in London 15-19 December 2025. As part of our podcast community, you can use the code BOOT500 at checkout for a £500 discount.

This week, we're diving into a flurry of major M&A activity from GE’s $2.3B healthcare tech acquisition to Violia’s $3B hazardous waste deal and a massive offshore wind farm stake sale by Denmark’s Ørsted. But the spotlight is on Warner Bros. Discovery, where a high-stakes bidding war is heating up.

With Paramount, Netflix, and Comcast all circling, Anthony and Piers unpack why the media giant rejected multiple multi-billion dollar offers and how strategic tension is being used to push up valuations. Is splitting the company more valuable than selling it whole? And what’s the endgame for each suitor?

(00:00) Rate Cut Hopes & Market Moves

(07:34) M&A Roundup: Paint, Healthcare & Waste

(10:27) Wind Power Play: Ørsted & Apollo

(12:39) Warner Bros vs Paramount

(24:34) Netflix & Comcast Join the Fray

(32:00) Who Buys the Crown Jewels

Ever wondered what asset management actually means?

In this clip, we sit down with Ben Hayward, CEO and founding partner of TwentyFour Asset Management, to unpack the industry in a way that’s clear, practical, and easy to follow. From how investment funds are built to what fund managers actually do all day, Ben explains the difference between active and passive investing, breaks down different asset types like bonds and stocks, and shares why he chose a career in fixed income.

Perfect for students and early-career professionals curious about finance, this explanation is your front-row seat to understanding how big money gets managed.

Listen to the full conversation for more incredible insights from Ben on the industry, roles and career advice.

This week on the Market Maker podcast, Anthony and Piers spotlight Goldman Sachs' standout year in M&A, exploring how the bank has pulled ahead of rivals with a $1.3 trillion deal volume and a 34% market share. They break down the strategy behind Goldman's dominance, from boardroom relationships to sector expertise.

The episode also dives into the $25 billion all-stock "merger of equals" between AkzoNobel and Axalta, examining the rationale, synergies, and why the same deal failed back in 2017. Other stories include Apollo's failed Papa John's bid, Adobe’s acquisition of Semrush, Total Energies’ $6 billion European power play, and WPP's fall from grace amid takeover chatter and consolidation in the media space.

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In this week’s Market Maker from AmplifyME, Anthony and Piers unpack Nvidia’s blockbuster earnings and what they signal for markets heading into year-end. Is the company’s explosive growth sustainable, or are signs of overextension starting to show?

They explore concentration risks, energy bottlenecks, and the AI infrastructure race, while also connecting the dots between macro sentiment, crypto market stress, and Saudi-US investment flows.

A comprehensive take on one of the most pivotal moments in the market this quarter.

(00:00) Nvidia’s Record-Breaking Quarter

(06:16) Concentration Risk in Focus

(10:31) Is AI Overheating?

(17:14) Saudi’s $1 Trillion Move

(26:05) Sentiment Shift or Recovery?

(32:20) Crypto Cracks and Correlations

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Are you a student or early-career professional trying to decide between a bulge bracket or boutique investment bank? In this episode of the AmplifyMe Market Maker podcast, Anthony Cheung and Silvia Magni break down what really sets these firms apart, from business models and deal flow to team structure and day-to-day responsibilities.

They also explore how each path impacts your training, career development, and how to tailor your interview approach. Whether you're drawn to the global reach of a bulge bracket or the hands-on experience of a boutique, this episode helps you choose the right fit and position yourself for success.

(00:00) Intro & Episode Overview

(01:42) Defining Bulge Brackets vs. Boutiques

(03:48) Business Models & Services

(06:59) Deal Flow Differences

(09:21) Team Structure & Responsibility

(11:30) Culture & Career Development

(15:08) Interview Tips & Final Thoughts

(17:20) Conclusion

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