CFTC Talks

On Wednesday, we’re doing a CFTC Talks FlashCast, a shorter podcast on a single subject. And we bring on CFTC Director Whistleblower Office Chris Ehrman to discuss recent awards of $45 million and how this contributes to trust in the financial markets.

This week on CFTC Talks, we have on University of Chicago Prof. Will Cong for a two-part interview. On part one, we discuss his (with several co-authors) recent papers on blockchain, cryptos and smart contracts: “Tokenomics: Dynamic Adoption and Valuation” and “Blockchain Disruption and Smart Contracts.” We discuss how blockchains and smart contracts may be used to collude. In part two, we discuss his recent travels to 10 different global conferences on Blockchain/smart contracts/cryptos.

This week on CFTC Talks, we have on Natixis chief economist Joe LaVorgna. We discuss the latest US unemployment data and how this impacts monetary policy in the United States. How far will the FOMC raise rates in 2018 and 2019? What are the key factors to watch going forward? Is there a recession on the horizon?

On Wednesday, we’re doing a CFTC Talks FlashCast, a shorter podcast on a single subject. And we bring on CFTC Market Intelligence Branch’s Chris Goodenow to discuss his research entitled, “Impact of U.S. Tight Oil on NYMEX WTI Futures.” The MIB team conducted research on activity in the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) Light Sweet Crude Oil futures contract (“WTI”) to determine what effect, if any, the growth of tight oil1 in the United States had on usage of the contract.

This week on CFTC Talks, we dive into the key interest rate market issue of Libor and SOFR with $200 trillion in contracts impacted. Will SOFR replace Libor? What are the key differences in the two rates? Is there a date in the future the transition will happen? All these questions answered and more!

This week on CFTC Talks, we return to the structural issues of the financial markets and have a discussion with Beacon Platform, Inc.’s COO Mark Higgins. The evolution of fintech, algorithmic trading and artificial intelligence all covered.

This week on CFTC Talks, we talk with Counselor to the Secretary of the US Department of Treasury Craig Phillips about the Treasury’s latest research report on regulatory reform, “Nonbank financials, Fintech, and Innovation.” We discuss technological advances in financial services, digitization of finance and the economy, and how there are significant opportunities to accelerate innovation in the United States.

This week on CFTC Talks, we talk with Charles Schwab Fixed Income Strategist Kathy Jones. We cover the top three drivers for US interest rates: Federal Reserve policy, inflation expectations and the global economy.

This week on CFTC Talks Flashcast, we bring on CFTC’s Dave Amato to discuss the Market Intelligence Branch’s research entitled, “Agriculture Block Trade Analysis.” We discuss what block trades are, why they have been added to agricultural futures trading and what impact they are having on the markets.

This week on CFTC Talks, we do our 1st FlashCast with Market Intelligence Branch’s John Coughlan. ICYMI, FlashCasts are short, single subject podcasts. On this one, we cover MIB’s research piece, “Sharp Price Movements in Commodity Futures Markets.” The research covers 16 major contracts and looked at 2.2 billion transactions to understand events driving price movements.

This week on CFTC Talks, we speak with Nobel Prize winner Robert Shiller from Yale University. We discuss his upcoming book based on his 2017 paper, “Narrative Economics” or the stories that drive market movements. Great Depression, Great Recession and Bitcoin all discussed.

This week on CFTC Talks, we speak with Mark Yallop, chair of the Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities Markets Standards Board.  We cover the enormous cost to the world financial system of bad behavior, how to historically break down market misconduct into 7 categories and why trust is the heart of the financial markets.

This week on CFTC Talks, we speak with Mark Yallop, chair of the Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities Markets Standards Board.  We cover the enormous cost to the world financial system of bad behavior, how to historically break down market misconduct into 7 categories and why trust is the heart of the financial markets.

This week on CFTC Talks, we speak with founder of Bianco Research, Jim Bianco. We cover a wide range of topics from why confidence surveys are wrong to the challenges the Federal Reserve has on how to manage raising interest rates and reducing their balance sheet.

This week on CFTC Talks, we speak with Benn Steil, senior fellow and director of international economics for the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). We cover the risks to the global financial system, interest rates, emerging markets and his new book, "The Marshall Plan: Dawn of the Cold War".