2025 Mid-Year Market Review: Stocks, Tariffs, AI & What’s Next

Markets staged a stunning rebound in the first half of 2025 - after a brutal start that saw the S&P 500 plunge into bear market territory. Anthony and Piers rewind the chaos: Trump’s tariff shock on “Liberation Day,” the inflation scare that followed, and how a market left for dead came roaring back to record highs.

They unpack the Fed’s evolving rate path, the quiet rise of a “shadow chair” ahead of Powell’s potential exit, and why Nvidia’s earnings may have rescued the AI hype cycle. Plus, Netflix and Uber emerge as surprise stars of H1, while Italy’s bond market revival puts it on the economic leader board.

From VIX lows to fiscal turnarounds, this episode cuts through the noise and spotlights what really mattered and what’s coming next.

(00:00) Intro & Themes in Focus

(02:18) Market Overview: A Roller Coaster Year

(08:43) What to Watch Going Forward

(13:20) Trumps Escalate to Negotiate Strategy

(14:48) AI Stocks Remain a Key Driver

(16:49) VIX: The Fear Gauge

(19:56) Sector Performance and Key Players

(23:39) Banks Strong Performance in 1H25

(25:50) Netflix Successful Turnaround

(31:13) Uber's Turnaround and Future Prospects

(36:07) Italy's Economic Recovery and Political Stability