Markets Plus

Helen Amos and Katja Jancic discuss how the outlook for metallurgical and thermal coal prices has shifted following the major underground coal mine explosion in China in mid-May, which has triggered widespread closures, regulatory changes, and disciplinary action on several high-level government officials. They discuss what it might take for US met coal prices to close the gap with Pacific benchmarks, seasonal tailwinds for thermal coal, and implications of new US government coal funding.

Kristin Milchanowski sits down with Lt General Ross Coffman (Ret.) Army Futures Command to explore why so many organizations struggle to scale AI and technology investments.

From energy prices and inflation expectations to Treasury market behavior and policy implications, this episode provides a clear view of how geopolitical developments transmit through markets, and what it means for investors and business leaders navigating a rapidly shifting environment.  

On May 12, Ian Lyngen, Managing Director and Head of U.S. Rates Strategy, BMO Capital Markets, shared his thoughts on the outlook for the rates market at the 2026 BMO Real Assets Conference in New York. The Federal Reserve has a complicated path ahead amid growing uncertainty on inflation, growth and the labor market.

In the latest episode of Journeys to Growing the Good on Markets Plus, Issam Majeed, Managing Director, Diversified BMO Corporate Finance, and Yousuf Soliman, Chairman of Naturamarket.ca and CEO & Co‑Founder of Revive Superfoods, discuss the evolving health and wellness food industry—exploring how brands are fueling healthier lifestyles, pursuing disciplined growth, scaling e‑commerce through change, and leveraging technology to shape the future of consumer businesses.

On May 6, BMO hosted a digital event to explore how equity markets, FX, and macro data are considering evolving geopolitical risks, pricing in potential outcomes while downplaying others.

In this episode of Markets Plus, Alan Tannenbaum, CEO of BMO Capital Markets, joined a panel of industry experts at the 2026 Milken Global Conference to discuss the outlook for M&A and IPOs.

In this episode from Metal Matters, Helen Amos reviews key debates over CESCO Week 2026, including Iran conflict demand risks, sulphuric acid shortages, the U.S. arb, and challenges facing Western-listed mining companies in their pursuit of copper growth. Demand-side headwinds from higher oil prices are valid given historical precedent, but Helen highlights that much lower oil intensity of global GDP vs. the ‘70s, a greater share of copper demand now being tied to strategic uses, intensifying stockpiling, and underperforming mine supply, all provide strong positive offsets.

Presented by the BMO Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence & Quantum, the inaugural episode of Return on Intelligence on Markets Plus features Mona Malone, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of People, Culture & Brand, BMO Financial Group, and Kristin Milchanowski, Chief AI and Quantum Officer at BMO, who explore what it really takes to turn AI investment into sustainable competitive advantage, drawing on the leadership principles behind Kristin’s new book, Return on Intelligence, which underscores the importance of responsible leadership, ethical design, and trust at scale.

To help clients navigate geopolitical and economic uncertainties, BMO convened a group of experts to examine how tensions in the Middle East and disruption to physical delivery of oil and other goods remain an important consideration for markets across asset classes, what second order effects are proving more durable, and how companies and investors can navigate a range of economic outcomes. Sadiq Adatia, Chief Investment Officer, BMO Global Asset Management, moderated the conversation featuring Katherine Krantz, Managing Director, Portfolio Strategy, BMO Capital Markets and Robert Kavcic, Director and Senior Economist, BMO.

Visit BMO for more insights on geopolitical risk, global trade, and growth: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/cross-border-perspectives/