PiQ Morning Blast

Morning Blast - 20th February: Markets, Mayhem and Weekend Geopolitics

Ryan and Michael Brown deliver an unedited, candid market roundup covering UK retail and borrowing data, US labour and inflation indicators, and commodity moves in oil, gold, metals and wheat.They debate geopolitical weekend risk, positioning ahead of potential Middle East developments, upcoming PMI and US data, and practical risk-management approaches for traders.

Morning Blast - 19th February: Oil Surges as Middle East Tensions Rattle Markets

Ryan and Michael deliver a candid market roundup covering yesterday's moves: a crude rally on Middle East tensions, S&P and European index action, metals and commodity updates, plus key US economic reads and the January FOMC minutes.They also discuss geopolitical risk, OpenAI funding headlines, upcoming data and central bank speakers, peppered with informal banter and off‑the‑cuff commentary.

Morning Blast - 18th February: Lagarde's Goodbye(?) and Central Bank Horse Trading

Good morning, good morning, good morning, good morning. It is the morning blast. It is Wednesday, the 18th of February all day.Join Ryan and Michael for a candid market podcast where they recap yesterday's moves, review fresh macro data and market catalysts, and debate commodities, FX and central bank developments — including rumours around Christine Lagarde and ECB succession. Expect market colour, trading observations, and a look at the key events to watch today.

Morning Blast - 17th February: UK Jobs Freefall: Unemployment Jumps to 5.2% — Morning Blast

Ryan and Michael deliver a candid market update and unpack a worsening UK labour market — unemployment at 5.2%, falling payrolls and rising claimant counts — plus the political fallout as cancelled council election changes are ruled illegal ahead of May.They also cover a quiet markets session, key levels for FTSE, S&P, Bitcoin and commodities, upcoming data (German ZEW, Canada CPI, New York Fed Empire) and the return of US desks, all in a frank, no-holds-barred style.

Morning Blast - 16th February: Holiday Markets, CPI Surprises & Trading Traps

Hosts Ryan and Michael review a quiet Friday in markets, discuss cooler-than-expected U.S. CPI and the limited impact of tariffs, and note key geopolitical and central bank developments.With U.S. markets closed for Presidents Day and China starting Lunar New Year, they warn about thin liquidity, trading traps on holidays, and practical risk-management tips for traders.They finish with a concise look at the data and events to watch this week, including UK labour and inflation, U.S. GDP and PCE, FOMC minutes, and major corporate reports.

Morning Blast - 13th February: Friday the 13th Markets - AI Hype, Jobs and CPI in Focus

Ryan and Mike deliver a candid Morning Blast reviewing yesterday's market moves across equities, bonds, metals and commodities, separating headlines from real drivers behind price action.They preview today’s key CPI release, discuss the impact of jobs data and geopolitical risks, and warn about thinner liquidity over the US long weekend and Lunar New Year.

Morning Blast - 12 February: Markets, Mayhem & Mic Drop Moments

Join Ryan and Michael Brown for a candid, no-holds-barred look at markets: yesterday’s moves, the NFP surprise and what to watch today.
They unpack US jobs details, Fed implications, geopolitical headlines and weak UK GDP, plus market levels across stocks, commodities and FX.

Morning Blast - February 11th: Wednesday Jobs Day - Markets Hold Their Breath Ahead of NFP

Hosts Ryan and Michael deliver a candid market update ahead of the US non-farm payrolls release, covering equities, FX, commodities, and key technical levels.They discuss soft US retail sales, ADP payrolls, the significant annual BLS benchmark revision, geopolitical energy risks, and recent equity developments including CME product expansion and activist interest in LSEG.The episode previews the NFP data, explains survey methodology and revisions, and outlines implications for Fed rate expectations and market reaction.

Morning Blast 10th February: Markets, Westminster Chaos & Alphabet’s Century Bond

Hosts Ryan and Michael deliver an unfiltered recap of yesterday’s markets—S&P hitting new highs, FX and commodity moves, and a technical update from Clive Lambert on European gas, carbon and metals.The episode then tackles Westminster turmoil around Keir Starmer, trade headlines (Trump–Xi meeting chatter and potential chip tariffs), and a deep-dive into Alphabet’s surprise 100‑year bond: who will buy it, why pension funds and insurers matter, and what long‑dated corporate issuance means for markets. The show closes with a brief look at the day ahead (US retail sales, Fed speakers, auctions and corporate earnings).

Morning Blast - 9th February: Markets Bounce, Mandelson Fallout and UK Chaos

On this Morning Blast Ryan and Michael cover a wide-ranging market update after Friday's recovery, including equities, commodities and bond moves, plus the latest geopolitical developments.They discuss US–Iran talks, Trump’s social media claims about the Dow, Japan’s decisive election result, and the unfolding UK political crisis around Mandelson and Keir Starmer — with commentary on how these events are affecting markets and the calendar ahead.