#274 Henrik Zeberg: Markets Approaching Historic Blow-Off Top Before Major Crash
Henrik Zeberg, head macro economist at SwissBlock, warns that markets are approaching a historic "blow-off top" with the S&P 500 potentially reaching 6,700-6,900 before a devastating crash. Using his business cycle model, he argues we've already hit the "Titanic moment" - where leading indicators have collapsed while markets surge to bubble extremes. Zeberg predicts this "Everything Bubble" will lead to a deflationary crash potentially worse than 2008, followed by a stagflationary period in 2026-2028. He criticizes the Federal Reserve for massive policy errors, focusing on backward-looking inflation data while ignoring consumer distress and housing market deterioration. Despite being long Bitcoin (targeting $150K-$180K), he warns it could crash 80% and sees parallels to subprime risks in corporate treasuries loaded with crypto.Sponsors: Monetary Metals. https://monetary-metals.com/julia Kalshi: https://kalshi.com/juliaLinks: X: https://x.com/HenrikZebergSubstack: https://henrikzeberg.substack.com/p/final-warning-the-emperors-new-clothes0:00 Welcome Henrik Zeberg0:43 Macro framework and business cycle model3:29 Titanic moment explained6:09 Blow-off top targets (S&P 6,700-6,900)8:06 Trading vs investing in this environment9:30 Market signposts to watch11:21 Post blow-off top scenario14:30 How sharp will the decline be?18:00 Prediction markets showing 20% recession odds18:54 Liquidity vs solvency problem23:03 Federal Reserve policy errors26:21 Fed credibility problems29:11 What to ask Powell at FOMC31:09 Will the Fed cut rates in 2025?33:08 Bitcoin analysis and bubble concerns37:30 Bitcoin as subprime risk40:01 Gold outlook and inflation narrative42:45 The "Everything Bubble" thesis48:13 How to protect yourself51:16 Final thoughts and where to find Henrik
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#273 Larry McDonald: 'Liz Truss Moment' for America - Bond Panic Coming, Buy Hard Assets
New York Times’ bestselling author Larry McDonald, founder of The Bear Traps Report, returns to The Julia La Roche Show for episode 273 to discuss the markets and the economy.Sponsors: Monetary Metals. https://monetary-metals.com/julia Kalshi: https://kalshi.com/juliaLinks: How To Listen When Markets Speak: https://www.amazon.com/Listen-When-Markets-Speak-Opportunities-ebook/dp/B0C4DFVFNR Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Convertbond Bear Traps Report: https://www.thebeartrapsreport.com/00:00 Introduction: Larry McDonald, founder of the Bear Traps Report00:47 Getting long high beta names in April, now lightening positions02:18 Add high beta into fear/panic, lighten into complacency 04:11 Warning about "Liz Truss moment" for America - bond panic scenario 06:38 Debt ceiling suspension creates $1.7 trillion bond issuance catch-up 08:04 Bessent's "bag of tricks" to fight bond vigilantes 09:33 Dollar counter-trend rally from front-end Treasury issuance 11:41 Mechanics of dollar rally: need dollars to buy Treasuries 13:53 Emerging market bonds outperforming long-term Treasuries 16:14 Question whether "bag of tricks" arrives on time to help bonds 17:05 Financial repression explanation: suppress rates below inflation18:40 Bond vigilantes back despite Bessent's interventions 19:35 Commodities renaissance: copper names up 200-300% over 5 years21:51 New portfolio construction: gold, copper, uranium, lithium miners24:08 Risk: banks exposed to $5 trillion in commercial real estate debt25:09 Jamie Dimon and Buffett selling banks at "alarming pace" 26:31 Optimistic on lithium trade and Chile election outcome 26:55 Expecting 100 basis points in rate cuts due to debt burden 28:12 Coal names oversold, offshore drilling opportunities30:00 Closing remarks
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#272 Chris Whalen: Fed 'Clearly Late,' Big Beautiful Bill Drives Inflation - America Needs 'Milei Moment
Chris Whalen, chairman of Whalen Global Advisors and author of The Institutional Risk Analyst blog, returns to the show. He argues the Fed is "clearly late" in addressing a commercial real estate nightmare while consumer credit remains quiet, creating a "silent recession" ignored by markets. He warns the "Big Beautiful Bill" will drive inflation higher despite Trump's demands for rate cuts, with Treasury Secretary Bessent's shift to T-bill issuance representing a "last resort before default." Whalen predicts NYC mayoral candidate Mamdani will win and destroy real estate values with rent freezes, while inflation radicalizes politics nationwide. He advocates for gold as central banks abandon dollars, positioning in short-term treasuries and bank preferreds, and warns America needs an Argentina-style "Milei moment" crisis to force real change.Sponsors: Monetary Metals. https://monetary-metals.com/julia Kalshi: https://kalshi.com/juliaLinks: Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/rcwhalen Website: https://www.rcwhalen.com/ The Institutional Risk Analyst: https://www.theinstitutionalriskanalyst.com/ Inflated book (2nd edition): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/inflated-r-christopher-whalen/1146303673Timestamps:00:00 Introduction: Chris Whalen00:59 Fed is "clearly late" - commercial side is a nightmare02:31 Fed late but no rate cuts coming soon due to fiscal deficits 04:28 Big beautiful bill will cause higher inflation and long rates 06:48 Silent recession in commercial real estate and private credit 09:18 NYC mayoral race: Mamdani 70% chance, will freeze rents 11:40 Wealthy exodus from NYC unlikely - condos vs. rentals 13:00 Inflation radicalizing Democratic Party politics 14:23 America needs Argentina "Milei moment" when crisis hits 16:13 Bessent switching to T-bills - last resort before default 19:17 Trump mismanaging relationship with Powell 20:45 Bank sector: deflation in lending, lack of credit demand 22:35 Private equity "train wreck" ignored by Fed stress tests 24:10 Dollar decline signals gold returning as reserve asset 25:30 Physical gold vs. ETFs discussion 27:12 Portfolio positioning: gold, bank preferreds, short-term treasuries29:51 Housing volumes down 20-25%, lock-in effect persists 32:02 Southern overbuilding compressing million-dollar homes 35:20 Warning about market reaction to big beautiful bill
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#271 Meredith Whitney: Main Street Is Heading Into Another Recession While Markets Hit Highs
Meredith Whitney, CEO of Meredith Whitney Advisory Group, returns to The Julia La Roche Show to discuss her outlook on a bifurcated economy where 52% of households are entering their second recession since COVID stimulus ended, while high-end consumers continue driving economic growth. Sponsors: Monetary Metals: https://monetary-metals.com/julia Kalshi: https://kalshi.com/julia Links: https://meredithwhitneyllc.com/Timestamps:0:00 Intro 0:54 Macro outlook and consumer segmentation 2:37 Recession expectations for Main Street 4:19 Market distortions and wealth effects 4:51 Dollar stores as economic indicator 6:17 Dollar store vs Walmart consumer dynamics 7:57 Trading down narrative discussion 8:26 Segmented recession clarification 8:54 Housing market outlook 9:23 Worst housing market in decades 11:12 Senior demographics and aging in place 12:32 First-time homebuyer challenges 14:25 Housing bubble discussion 15:29 Avocado toast generation (24-38 age group) 17:09 Experiential spending and lifestyle patterns 19:53 Nation's fiscal picture and debt concerns 22:44 Interest rates and Treasury market risks 24:31 Fed's impossible situation with stagflation 25:42 Rate cut predictions 27:04 Underappreciated risks and Treasury concerns 28:30 Home equity as "get out of jail free card" 30:15 Where to find Meredith's work and closing thoughts
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#270 David Rosenberg: Nobody Sees the Recession Coming - But It's Already Here
David Rosenberg, founder and president of Rosenberg Research, believes recession odds are higher than 2022 despite nobody expecting one, pointing to Fed staff forecasting 50% recession probability and the most downbeat Beige Book since 1980. Rosenberg criticizes Powell for calling the economy "solid" while real GDP has been negative sequentially in 2 of the past 3 months and survey data suggests 1% contraction. He highlights a major market dichotomy with stocks up 24% while the dollar is in an 11% bear market, suggesting something is fundamentally wrong. The housing market faces a negative wealth effect as supply-demand gaps widen and prices start cracking.Sponsors: Monetary Metals: https://monetary-metals.com/julia Kalshi: https://kalshi.com/julia Links: https://rosenbergresearch.com/https://x.com/EconguyRosieTimestamps: 00:01 - Introduction: Dave Rosenberg, founder and president of Rosenberg Research 00:49 - "Meat grinder roller coaster ride" - elevated policy uncertainty02:15 - Tail risks removed: no trade war, regional conflict, or fiscal cliff05:35 - S&P 500 multiple expansion: 18 to 22 in three months (4 sigma event) 08:30 - Housing market in "huge state of disarray" - prices starting to crack11:22 - Survey data consistent with economy contracting at 1% annual rate13:20 - Real GDP negative sequentially in 2 of past 3 months 15:24 - Nobody talking about recession despite higher odds than 202218:18 - Recession probabilities are binary - "zero or 100, not 60% pregnant" 21:18 - Mistakes from 2022-2023: didn't anticipate fiscal stimulus scale25:34 - Big beautiful bill not stimulative - just extending status quo 28:20 - Housing supply-demand gap widening, negative wealth effect coming32:42 - S&P 500 became growth index, small caps still in correction 36:00 - Fed staff said recession odds equal to GDP baseline forecast (50%)38:56 - Beige book: economy declining slightly, more downbeat than 200744:32 - Powell calling economy "solid" despite weak data - credibility issue48:04 - Fed damaged by "transitory" mistake, protecting legacy 55:17 - Next Fed Chair speculation: wants someone he can "push around"59:04 - US dollar down 11% in bear market while stocks up 24% 01:04:13 - Closing: importance of liquidity and diversification
Julia La Roche brings her listeners in-depth conversations with some of the top CEOs, investors, founders, academics, and rising stars in business. Guests on "The Julia La Roche Show" have included Bill Ackman, Ray Dalio, Marc Benioff, Kyle Bass, Hugh Hendry, Nassim Taleb, Nouriel Roubini, David Friedberg, Anthony Scaramucci, Scott Galloway, Brent Johnson, Jim Rickards, Danielle DiMartino Booth, Carol Roth, Neil Howe, Jim Rogers, Jim Bianco, Josh Brown, and many more. Julia always makes the show about the guest, never the host. She speaks less and listens more. She always does her homework.
Ireland