Episódios

  • IL50: Why Central Banks Are Losing Control of Inflation ft. Manoj Pradhan
    Jun 24 2026
    Manoj Pradhan returns to Top Traders Unplugged to explain why the forces that kept inflation and interest rates low for decades are now reversing. Drawing on themes from The Great Demographic Reversal and his new book The Unanchored Central Banker, he argues that aging populations, labor shortages, rising fiscal deficits, and the changing role of central banks are creating a very different macroeconomic landscape. The conversation explores why demographics matter more than many models assume, whether AI can offset labor shortages, and why central banks may increasingly be forced to choose between controlling inflation and maintaining fiscal stability.-----50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE-----Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.comAnd please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.Follow Kevin on SubStack & read his Book.Follow Manoj on LinkedIn and Read his Book.Episode TimeStamps: 00:00 - Why demographics matter for inflation and central banks03:05 - The demographic sweet spot that lowered inflation and rates06:28 - Why labor supply is now reversing12:15 - Global birth rates and the replacement rate problem17:03 - The fiscal blind spot in conventional economic models20:31 - Housing, urbanization, and real interest rates27:03 - Can AI offset labor shortages?37:24 - Policy ideas to increase labor supply and manage aging45:40 - Why central banks may become “unanchored”50:40 - The tension between inflation control and debt stability54:49 - Could high rates trigger a crisis and force policy reversal?58:28 - Final thoughts on demographics, debt, and the future of inflationCopyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved----PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here3. Other Resources that can help youAnd if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click HerePrivacy PolicyDisclaimer
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    1 hora e 2 minutos
  • SI405: Why Most Trend Following Improvements Should Fail ft. Rob Carver
    Jun 20 2026
    Trend following investors are constantly searching for ways to improve performance, but not every improvement survives contact with reality. Rob Carver joins Niels Kaastrup-Larsen to explore whether investors should chase the strongest trends, how different asset classes contribute to returns across market cycles, and why overfitting remains one of the biggest dangers in systematic investing. They also discuss the rise of AI generated trading strategies, the debate around perpetual futures, the changing role of economic data, and what diversification really means when markets become driven by a handful of dominant forces.-----50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE-----Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.comAnd please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.Follow Rob on Twitter.Episode TimeStamps:00:00 - Introduction and summer optimism in the UK02:10 - Middle East developments, SpaceX and the new Fed Chair06:13 - Concerns about economic data and market transparency10:38 - Trend following performance and current market positioning14:39 - How Rob evaluates strategies and portfolio construction19:57 - The factor zoo and true sources of return22:37 - What trend following adds beyond traditional risk premia29:54 - The rise of perpetual futures and exchange concerns42:35 - Quantica research on trend performance across asset classes55:01 - Why commodities have become a dominant source of trend returns56:06 - AI generated trading strategies and the risk of overfitting01:05:48 - Drawdowns, diversification and lessons from recent researchCopyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved----PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here3. Other Resources that can help youAnd if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click HerePrivacy PolicyDisclaimer
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    1 hora e 12 minutos
  • GM102: China Built a Trap. Germany Set It. America Fell In. Europe Is Next ft. Michael Pettis
    Jun 17 2026
    Michael Pettis joins Alan Dunne for a wide ranging conversation on trade imbalances, globalization and the future of the world economy. Drawing on decades of research into China, Europe and financial history, Pettis argues that persistent trade surpluses are ultimately rooted in domestic income imbalances rather than national competitiveness. The discussion explores why China struggles to rebalance, why Europe may face its biggest challenge yet, and how US reindustrialization could reshape global trade. From Bretton Woods to modern tariffs, this episode offers a provocative framework for understanding the forces driving the next phase of the global economy.-----50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE-----Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.comAnd please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.Follow Alan on LinkedIn.Follow Michael on X.Episode TimeStamps: 00:00 - Michael Pettis warns that the real trade reckoning may still lie ahead01:07 - Introduction to Michael Pettis and his background in finance and economics06:34 - Why trade imbalances are ultimately driven by income imbalances09:59 - Germany’s Hartz reforms and the roots of European imbalances17:22 - Competitiveness versus productivity and the hidden costs of wage suppression27:48 - China’s growth model and why rebalancing has proved so difficult35:54 - Who will absorb China’s trade surplus if the US closes its deficit?40:24 - Can the United States successfully reindustrialize?45:31 - Why Europe may eventually turn toward protectionism52:17 - The US deficit, global capital flows and the burden of dollar dominance01:01:50 - Why the renminbi is unlikely to replace the dollar01:10:45 - Historical trade imbalances and how painful adjustments unfold01:16:21 - What Japan’s experience reveals about China’s future01:21:02 - Final reflections on debt, globalization and economic adjustmentCopyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved----PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here3. Other Resources that can help youAnd if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click HerePrivacy PolicyDisclaimer
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    1 hora e 23 minutos
  • SI404: When Trend Following Meets Equities ft. Eric Crittenden & Andrew Beer
    Jun 13 2026
    Trend following has long promised and delivered diversification, crisis protection and uncorrelated returns. Yet many investors still struggle to hold it through difficult periods. In this conversation, Andrew Beer and Eric Crittenden explore why that gap exists and how combining trend following with equities may create a more durable portfolio. Together with Niels Kaastrup-Larsen discuss the rise of managed futures ETFs, the debate between simplicity and complexity in systematic investing, and why algorithmic discipline allows investors to act when intuition fails. The episode also examines portfolio construction, product design and the evolving role of alternatives in a changing investment landscape.-----50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE-----Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.comAnd please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.Follow Andrew on Twitter.Follow Eric on LinkedIn.Episode TimeStamps: 00:00 - Introduction to the Systematic Investor series and the week's guests02:19 - Eric reflects on recent market trends and challenging periods for trend followers03:15 - Andrew shares optimism about AI, innovation and technological progress06:25 - Elon Musk, SpaceX and the future of technological disruption09:22 - The evolution of managed futures ETFs and the growing demand for alternative strategies15:58 - How ETF liquidity works and why portfolio construction matters19:40 - The case for combining equities and trend following into one portfolio21:37 - Eric explains the philosophy behind his multi asset approach31:15 - Product design, allocator behavior and why diversification often fails in practice40:44 - Simplicity versus complexity in systematic investing46:58 - Why elegant models often fail in real world markets57:05 - Sharpe ratios, diversification and combining multiple return streams59:52 - Andrew introduces the idea of Contrarian Tactical Alpha01:02:55 - Eric on algorithmic discipline and why trends are uncomfortable to follow01:05:26 - Final thoughts on trend following, risk management and portfolio constructionCopyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved----PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here3. Other Resources that can help youAnd if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click HerePrivacy PolicyDisclaimer
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    1 hora e 8 minutos
  • UGO12: Why the Next Financial Crisis Could Change America Forever ft. Danielle DiMartino Booth
    Jun 10 2026
    As Kevin Warsh prepares to take the reins at the Federal Reserve, a deeper question emerges: has the Fed reached the limits of what monetary policy can achieve? Cem Karsan sits down with Danielle DiMartino Booth to explore the growing tensions between inflation, debt, financialization, and political pressure. From the future of quantitative easing and Treasury market risks to the rise of populism and the long term consequences of decades of intervention, this conversation examines whether the United States is approaching a turning point that could redefine the relationship between markets, government, and the Federal Reserve.-----50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE-----Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.comAnd please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.Follow Cem on Twitter.Follow Danielle on X.Episode TimeStamps: 00:00 - Introduction and why Kevin Warsh's arrival at the Fed matters02:25 - Warsh steps into a divided Federal Reserve05:13 - The debt problem and the pressures facing policymakers07:52 - Can Warsh avoid another era of quantitative easing?10:00 - Interest rates, inflation, and the limits of Fed policy17:53 - Revisiting Arthur Burns and the lessons of the 1970s23:02 - Treasury buybacks, debt monetization, and market stability29:27 - Populism, demographics, and the future inflation outlook37:34 - Is the Fed’s mandate shifting toward managing government debt?43:06 - Sovereign wealth funds and the possibility of equity market intervention45:56 - Would merging Treasury and the Fed end central bank independence?49:59 - Has the Federal Reserve broken the natural business cycle?51:22 - Final thoughts on crisis, reform, and America’s economic futureCopyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved----PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here3. Other Resources that can help youAnd if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click HerePrivacy PolicyDisclaimer
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    54 minutos
  • SI403: Trend Following in an Era of Geopolitical Risk ft. Marat Molyboga & Katy Kaminski
    Jun 6 2026
    Geopolitical tensions, inflation shocks, and shifting market regimes are reshaping the investment landscape. Marat Molyboga and Katy Kaminski joins us to explore why managed futures have historically performed well during periods of geopolitical stress and why investors often misunderstand the role of crisis alpha in a portfolio. The conversation examines inflation driven market disruptions, diversification, short term versus long term trend following, portfolio construction, and the behavioural mistakes that prevent many investors from capturing the full benefits of trend strategies. It is a wide ranging discussion about risk, uncertainty, and adapting to a changing world.-----50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE-----Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.comAnd please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.Follow Katy on LinkedIn.Episode TimeStamps:00:00 - Introduction and welcome to the Systematic Investor series01:13 - Marat Molyboga's background and Efficient Capital's investment philosophy05:29 - World Cup excitement, soccer stories, and thoughts beyond markets11:36 - AI, market concentration, energy trends, and major macro headlines15:16 - Trend following performance review and key market drivers in 202623:36 - Understanding crisis alpha and the role of managed futures in portfolios33:24 - Diversification, portfolio construction, and avoiding investor mistakes44:08 - Geopolitical risk research and its connection to inflation53:01 - Why managed futures have historically benefited from geopolitical uncertainty59:01 - Commodities, inflation shocks, and the mechanics behind crisis alpha01:06:47 - The case for short term trend following and execution challenges01:20:31 - Final thoughts and lessons for navigating an uncertain investment landscapeCopyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved----PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here3. Other Resources that can help youAnd if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click HerePrivacy PolicyDisclaimer
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    1 hora e 24 minutos
  • ALO35: Why Macro Investing Is Becoming More Systematic ft. George Patterson
    Jun 3 2026
    How do quantitative investors adapt when markets, technology and macro regimes are constantly changing? In this conversation, Alan Dunne sits down with George Patterson, CIO of PGIM Quant Solutions, to explore the evolution of systematic investing from the 1990s to today’s AI driven landscape. They discuss regime detection, inflation risk, portfolio construction, machine learning, private markets, volatility overlays and the growing role of language models in investment research. George also shares insights from decades in quant investing, including lessons from Covid, the importance of model discipline and why communication skills matter as much as technical expertise.-----50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE-----Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.comAnd please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.Follow Alan on Twitter.Follow George on LinkedIn.Episode TimeStamps: 00:00 - Introduction to George Patterson and his journey from physics to quantitative investing03:12 - Why multidisciplinary teams matter in modern quant investing04:13 - Inside PGIM Quant Solutions and the evolution of multi asset investing06:03 - How markets and macro investing have changed since the 1990s09:12 - The future of the 60/40 portfolio and institutional portfolio construction12:11 - Private markets, liquidity challenges and institutional investor concerns13:25 - Inflation, commodities and building modern inflation hedges19:33 - Detecting macro regimes using quantitative models23:26 - The hardest part of systematic investing: trusting the process27:00 - Covid, model failures and managing regime shifts in real time30:07 - Portfolio protection, options strategies and volatility overlays32:01 - How AI and large language models are transforming quantitative research40:02 - Fiscal risks, inflation concerns and the changing rate environment44:26 - Simplicity versus complexity in quantitative model design48:05 - Why markets evolve faster today and how models must adapt51:08 - Retail investors, meme stocks and market distortions53:33 - Emerging markets and where long term opportunities may exist55:08 - The future of quant investing and the limits of AI hype57:10 - George Patterson’s career advice for aspiring quantsCopyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved----PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here3. Other Resources that can help youAnd if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click HerePrivacy PolicyDisclaimer
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    1 hora e 2 minutos
  • SI402: Why Markets Can’t Stop Trending ft. Richard Brennan
    May 30 2026
    What happens when markets stop behaving like machines and start behaving like living systems? In this episode, Richard Brennan joins Niels to explore passive investing, complex adaptive systems, volatility suppression, and the hidden forces reshaping modern market structure. From structured products and reflexive flows to demographics, trend following, and the fragile illusion of equilibrium, this conversation asks whether markets are becoming more unstable precisely because investors believe they have become safer. A thoughtful and layered discussion about why price discovery may be weakening, why trends persist, and why systematic strategies may be more relevant in a world increasingly shaped by feedback loops.-----50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE-----Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.comAnd please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.Follow Rich on Twitter.Episode TimeStamps:00:00 - Introduction to the episode and overview of today’s discussion02:22 - Richard Brennan breaks down passive investing through the lens of complex adaptive systems06:51 - What “complex adaptive systems” actually means in markets14:53 - Why passive investing changes market structure without individual investors realizing it24:06 - Niels discusses structured products, volatility suppression, and market fragility29:23 - How demographic shifts could eventually reshape passive investing trends35:37 - Trend following performance update and the TTU Trend Barometer38:48 - Listener question on variance, volatility, and correlation in systematic trend following42:04 - The “murmuration” analogy and why markets behave like flocks instead of machines48:31 - Why equilibrium theory survives despite failing to explain real markets51:17 - The endogenous engine of markets and the mechanics of reflexivity57:47 - How trend followers align with the architecture of modern markets01:03:12 - Why passive investing weakens balancing forces and strengthens trends01:13:43 - The statistical evidence showing markets structurally trend over time01:21:18 - Why trend following may become even more effective in the futureCopyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved----PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here3. Other Resources that can help youAnd if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click HerePrivacy PolicyDisclaimer
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    1 hora e 31 minutos