With the first half of the year behind us, it’s time to take stock of the economy, inflation, and the events impacting the markets. In this peer-to-peer conversation, Chief Investment Officer Tony Roth compares notes with Johanna Kyrklund, group chief investment officer at Schroders, about the shifting long-term trends, catalysts accelerating change, including longevity and the labor market, the global supply chain, and artificial intelligence, and discusses how the U.S. and Europe are faring amid the changes.

[REVISIT] Given the growing risks stemming from catastrophes, such as wildfires, we are revisiting a previously released episode.

Wildfires, hurricanes, and floods are some of the many perils exacerbated by climate change. High-risk regions face events with multi-billion dollars’ worth of damage. Over the next months, we’ll devote a number of episodes to the financial cost of climate change and how we can move forward in an effort to protect ourselves and our investments. We’re starting off the conversation with Karen Clark, a leading expert in catastrophe modeling, who joins Tony to explain how modeling possible catastrophic events helps insurers, financial institutions, corporations, and public agencies estimate and prepare for future losses from climate-related natural disasters.

Hydrogen, it turns out, is a player in the transition to a green economy. While it produces zero emissions when it’s burned and can be used to power more fuel-efficient fuel cells, the associated cost and difficulties in storing and transporting are worth noting. Tony Roth and Dr. Riva Krut, an ESG and corporate sustainability expert, discuss its potential role in decarbonizing the transportation, residential, commercial, and industrial sectors—as well as its pros and cons. Listen to learn whether its merits outweigh the challenges.

In part two of this series, AI expert and author of Own the AI Revolution, Neil Sahota, and CIO Tony Roth continue their conversation, focusing on the rapid pace of AI’s progression, its applications, and how it may enhance the quality of our lives.

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is one of the most important technologies of our time—yet some feel its potential is just beginning to be realized. In this episode, AI expert and author of Own the AI Revolution Neil Sahota defines terms with Tony, discusses the enablers of AI technology and platforms, and delves into the recent open letter signed by tech leaders who are demanding a pause in AI research.

As interest grows in the relatively new field of removing carbon dioxide from our oceans, there are still a number of uncertainties about the process’ effectiveness and safety. Tony and Dr. Peter de Menocal, director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, discuss how new technologies to increase the ocean's ability to absorb and store CO2 may take us one step closer to solving our climate crisis.

Earth’s oceans cover over 70% of the planet’s surface, while driving weather, regulating temperature, and serving as a vital source of sustenance, transport, and commerce. In a “blue economy,” a sustainable marine environment serves to advance science and technology in a way that fosters economic opportunities and societal solutions. On this first of a two-part series, we speak with Dr. Peter de Menocal, director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, about the exploitation, preservation, and regeneration of this important ecosystem.

As China reopens and tries to break free of a growth-inhibiting middle-income trap, many are paying close attention. To lend insight into the scenarios that may unfold, what they could mean for our inextricably linked economies, and the potential market opportunities, Tony speaks with Shehzad Qazi, managing director and chief operating officer of China Beige Book, the largest China-based data collection network.

As of this writing, a few financial institutions have imploded as they struggled to contend with rising short-term interest rates and efforts to generate immediate liquidity. In their wake, some companies have seen their stock share prices plunge, while investors are anxious about further potential looming aftershocks in the banking sector and beyond. Chief Investment Officer Tony Roth and senior members of his team discuss what this may mean for financial conditions, credit spreads, interest rates, and portfolios.

If you are interested in learning more about the strength and stability of M&T and Wilmington Trust, please visit wilmingtontrust.com.

Investing often relates to how we categorize risk. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) is a lens we can use to do just that. The bottom line is ESG risks are financial risks, but how do decisions made by companies impact shareholders and investors? To talk about how the ESG lens is used to classify risk bands, Tony was joined by Cyrus Lotfipour, CFA®, Executive Director, ESG Research at MSCI, Inc., who is responsible for the innovation and development of its ESG ratings methodology.