Markets Happy Hour Podcast - LIVE from Baltimore - Towson University - April 10, 2025

In this LIVE Markets Happy Hour Podcast, which we hosted at Towson University in Baltimore, we hosted a group of industry professionals and finance students from Towson University and Loyola University. It has been a tumultuous week, and we reflected on the fact that this was the third podcast of the week, each one responding to a new twist in news flow.

As of the markets close on Thursday April 10, we discussed the reprieve in the US CPI number - which was a respectable 2.4%, although noted the dulling effect of energy prices as oil prices reflected muted demand and recession fears. Interest rates had paid an outsized role in the recent roll back of tariff measures - or at least their stay of execution. However, as we noted, a cloud of uncertainty remained.

I was particularly interested in hearing from the students about to graduate about their views on the market backdrop, their expectations for the job market and their use of AI in the jobs of the future. It was a heartening discussion.

With thanks to Yannis Chulos-Saarinen and Chris Chulos for securing the wonderful location for this week's podcast, and to our industry guests for their generous contributions to the discussion.