Bondcast - The Rates Podcast

In this weekly podcast series, Imogen Bachra along with the NatWest Markets team of rates & markets specialists help investment professionals shape their portfolio views on fixed income, learn how the biggest themes, trends, and events affect bond performance, and get deeper insight into rates markets including the latest analysis & research from the NatWest team.

Decisions, decisions for central bank policymakers

In this week’s Bondcast, Joann Spadigam is joined by Deepika Dayal and Paul Robson to discuss the outlook for next week’s interest rate decision from the Bank of England, as well as the implications of fiscal policy on the UK’s monetary stance. They alsoshare insights from the recent Federal Reserve meeting, which delivered a cut, and the European Central Bank's decision to hold rates. Remember to hit subscribe so you can listen to the latest episodes in this series as soon as they're availab...

10-31
22:20

All about cuts

In this week’s Bondcast, host Joann Spadigam is joined by Paul Robson and Ian Vanderdorn to discuss rates markets. They analyse the UK’s latest inflation figures and prospects for base rate cuts, the Federal Reserve's monetary policy stance during government shutdown, and Europe, where inflation is at target, but France’s credit rating has taken a knock. Remember to hit subscribe so you can listen to the latest episodes in this series as soon as they're available and get our views on the big ...

10-24
24:36

What’s behind the market rally?

This week, host Joann Spadigam and guests explore a change in the fortunes of fixed-income assets, led by gilts and comments from the Bank of England on monetary policy. They also delve into the political landscape in France, highlighting the challenges faced by the new government during the budget season. Plus ça change. Finally, they address the supply-demand dynamics in European markets, emphasising the role of overseas buyers and the concerns regarding duration mismatch in bond issuance. ...

10-17
18:36

Our take on the crises in France and the US

With fresh turmoil in the French parliament, this week's host Ian Vanderhorn is joined by guest Oriane Parmentier to talk about what might happen in the days ahead. They also analyse the likely path of OATs and how markets may react to further news. Lastly, they discuss the government shutdown in the US. This episode was recorded on 9 October 2025, and captions are automatically generated. For any terms used please refer to this glossary https://www.natwest.com/corporates/insights/markets/g...

10-10
12:42

What to make of the US shutdown

This week host Joann Spadigam is joined by Ian Vanderhorn to analyse what the US Government shutdown means for markets, and the data they rely on. They also delve into the political dynamics behind the shutdown, and the reaction in markets. But it's not all about the US... they also focus on the impact of pension fund transitions in Europe and what this means for bond markets there. Remember to hit subscribe so you can listen to the latest episodes in this series as soon as they're available...

10-03
16:51

No alarms and no surprises

In this episode of Bondcast, host Ian Vanderhorn and guests discuss recent monetary policy decisions made by the Bank of England (BoE) and the Federal Reserve. And while the policy rates delivered few surprises, there is still much for markets to think about. Paul Robson provides insights into the BoE's interest rate hold and the adjustments in quantitative tightening, while Ian analyses the Fed's recent rate cut, its forward guidance, and whether markets are in line. Finally, Oriane Parmenti...

09-19
19:31

Mixed messages from global central banks

This week host Joann Spadigam is joined by Oriane Parmentier and Ian Vanderhorn to discuss key economic indicators and political developments affecting major markets. They focus on the ECB's dovish stance, challenges in France's budget negotiations, the potential for snap elections, Fitch's rating review of France and the current state of the US labour market and inflation. They also discuss expectations for Fed and Bank of England meetings, highlighting the implications of these factors on i...

09-12
21:13

Bond markets go back to school

As the Bondcast team returns from summer, they discuss recent movements in rates markets, focusing on fiscal concerns in the UK, expectations for the upcoming Autumn Budget, the outlook for the US economy and Federal Reserve policy, political risks in France, and expectations for the European Central Bank's next meeting. To read Oriane's take on French political risk, click https://www.natwest.com/corporates/insights/markets/political-standoff-in-france-scenarios-and-market-implication...

09-05
27:36

A cut for UK rates in August, but will the Fed follow suit in September?

It wasn't the first cut in the cycle, nor at 25 basis points was it the deepest, but there was still plenty to talk about following the Bank of England's (BoE's) reduction to the Base Rate. In this episode, Joann Spadigam is joined by Paul Robson and Ian Vanderhorn to discuss a surprisingly hawkish cut by the BoE, and what impact recent payrolls data in the US might have on the Federal Reserve. They also address the economic outlook for Europe, particularly political risks emanating from Fran...

08-11
18:35

A hold in the US, but the devil is in the details

This week Joann Spadigam, Kevin Cummins and Ian Vanderhorn focus on the Federal Reserve's decision to hold rates in the US. They analyse the stance on interest rates, inflation and labour market conditions, as well as the US Treasury's borrowing plans. Lastly they discuss European bond curves and share their views on whether the Bank of England will cut rates next week. Remember to hit subscribe so you can listen to the latest episodes in this series as soon as they're available and ge...

08-01
23:04

Central bank spotlight

This week, it's all about central banks. Host Joann Spadigam is joined by Paul Robson and Deepika Dayal to discuss the ECB's recent interest rate hold, expectations for the upcoming US Federal Reserve rate decision and the next Bank of England monetary policy decision in August. They also talk trade and delve into US labour data. Remember to subscribe so you can listen to the latest episodes in this series as soon as they're available and get our views on the big themes and events moving mar...

07-25
18:45

UK and US policy in the spotlight

Joann Spadigam, Paul Robson and Ian Vanderhorn take a closer look at the latest UK data and the potential impact on the Bank of England’s thinking around rate cuts and quantitative tightening. They also dig into the latest US inflation print and shifts in US trade policy, unpack the market whiplash around media reports about Fed Chair Powell’s fate, and look ahead to the forthcoming European Central Bank meeting. This episode was recorded on 17 July 2025. For any terms used please refer to...

07-18
21:01

Complacency, complexity and complications

In this episode of Bondcast, Joann Spadigam and Stuart Sparks discuss the current state of tariffs and trade deals, particularly in relation to the US and Europe. Might markets be underestimating recent developments? They also analyse why US monetary policy and fiscal policy need to find an equilibrium, and explore the impact of demographic changes on debt sustainability. The discussion also covers the outlook for European markets amid global fiscal pressures and the potential for inflationar...

07-11
19:36

Where there's a Bill, there's a way

This week, Joann Spadigam, Paul Robson and Ian VanderHorn discuss recent developments in bond markets, focusing on gilt market volatility, the Bank of England's quantitative tightening, the US's big and beautiful budget bill and the European Central Bank's strategy. The discussion highlights the importance of fiscal credibility, market interpretation of economic data, and the potential impact of global factors on European rates. Remember to hit subscribe so you can listen to the latest episod...

07-04
24:53

Normal service resumes?

This week, Joann Spadigam is joined by Kevin Cummins, Paul Robson and Stuart Sparks to discuss the recent geopolitical shifts and the impact on markets, particularly in relation to oil prices and investor sentiment. They delve into central bank policies, focusing on the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England, and explore the implications for economic outlook and investment mindsets. They also cover the European landscape, highlighting supply risks and future projections for bond markets and ...

06-26
20:05

Interest rate holds and global uncertainty

This week Joann Spadigam is joined by Paul Robson in a Bondcast/Currency Exchange crossover to talk about interest rate holds in the UK and US. Were there any clues about the nature of future decisions? Away from the central banks, they also discuss the impact of military tensions on market sentiment. Remember to like and subscribe so you can listen to the latest episodes in this series as soon as they're available and get our views on the big themes and events moving markets and shapi...

06-20
13:42

Italy's hot, but France not so much as spreads near to zero

This week, Joann Spadigam, Giovanni Zanni, and Oriane Parmentier discuss the convergence of Italian and French yields. As the spread nears zero, they analyse underlying economics, political dynamics, consider debt sustainability in both countries and discuss the role that ratings agencies play in the market's evaluation. Remember to subscribe so you can listen to the latest episodes in this series as soon as they're available and get our views on the big themes and events moving markets and s...

06-19
18:37

What to expect ahead of UK and US rate decisions

In this episode, Joann Spadigam, Paul Robson and Stuart Sparks discuss recent economic data in the UK, including inflation and labour market statistics, the implications of the spending review, and expectations for the upcoming Bank of England meeting. They also delve into the gilt market outlook and the impact of Dutch pension reforms on interest rate hedging, and analyse the Fed's perspective on US data. Remember to hit like and subscribe so you can listen to the latest episodes in this se...

06-13
19:12

ECB on summer break, but what about the UK and US?

This week Joann Spadigam, Paul Robson and Stuart Sparks discuss the recent European Central Bank meeting, interest rate projections, and the implications of quantitative tightening in the UK. They also analyse the current economic landscape in the US, highlighting the challenges for the budget deficit in the months and years ahead. Remember to hit like and subscribe so you can listen to the latest episodes in this series as soon as they're available and get our views on the big themes ...

06-06
19:12

Japan, UK issuance, and another tariff re-de-escalation

With Japan’s bond markets making headlines, Joann Spadigam is joined by Paul Robson and Stuart Sparks to analyse market sentiment and discuss the broader global impact – including here in the UK. They also discuss the impact of the latest tariff re-de-escalation in the US on Europe, and look ahead to the upcoming ECB meeting in June. Remember to hit like and subscribe so you can listen to the latest episodes in this series as soon as they're available and get our views on the big themes and ...

05-30
21:12

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