Episode summary
Bloomberg Businessweek Weekend - July 17th, 2026 | Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Businessweek Daily
· · 39 min · Hosts: Carol Massar, Tim Stenovec
Summary
The weekend edition centered on a volatile week for markets and geopolitics, including the fragile June ceasefire between the United States and Iran, fresh U.S. airstrikes, and a Wall Street earnings season that produced big results across major banks. It also highlighted Kevin Worsh’s debut on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers pressed him on inflation, monetary policy, and the economic impact of AI.
A major segment unpacked Bloomberg Intelligence’s 10 stocks to watch this quarter. The list mixed bullish and bearish calls across sectors, including Microsoft, Helma, Telecom Malaysia, SolarEdge, Mattel, and Barry Callebaut. The guests argued that investors are underestimating Microsoft’s cloud and AI positioning, while also overlooking second-order AI beneficiaries such as data-center infrastructure and power-related names. They were more cautious on Mattel and Barry Callebaut, citing weak product-cycle dynamics and cocoa cost pressure.
The episode also examined Kalshi’s push to create a market for the future price of computing power. Udesh Jaw argued that prediction markets can offer better price discovery than traditional forward curves because they are more market-driven and can reflect a fragmented, fast-changing compute landscape. The show closed with a lighter debate on whether shorts are acceptable in the office, though the bigger subtext was how heat, work culture, and dress codes are evolving.
Key takeaways
- Bloomberg Intelligence said Microsoft may be underappreciated because investors are focused on AI disruption instead of its hyperscale cloud strength and second-half software launch.
- The analysts see Helma and Telecom Malaysia as second-derivative AI beneficiaries tied to data-center buildout and the shift in infrastructure demand.
- SolarEdge’s bullish case was driven less by AI and more by stronger European solar demand tied to energy security.
- Mattel was flagged for further revenue disappointment as the toy mix shifts away from Barbie toward building sets and trading cards.
- Barry Callebaut faces a cost squeeze as cocoa prices, weaker cocoa content in chocolate, and El Niño risk pressure volumes and margins.
- Kalshi’s Udesh Jaw said its compute market could improve price discovery for GPU capacity and eventually support futures and swaps.
Notable quotes
“We think revenue is set to surprise on the upside and the market seems to be discounting quite the opposite”
“the prediction market allows us to list several of these contracts which is what we have done”
“I think our focus in the very immediate term is to build liquidity on the markets that are driving this forward curve”
“We think that disappointment is ahead”
How the episode opens
Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio, news. — This is Bloomberg Business Week Daily. Reporting from the magazine that helps global leaders stay ahead with insight on the people, companies, and trends shaping today's complex economy. Plus, global business, finance, and tech news as it happens. The Bloomberg Business Week Daily Podcast with Carol Masser and Tim Stenc on Bloomberg Radio.
Hi everyone, welcome to the Bloomberg Business Week weekend podcast. A high stakes week both globally and up on Capitol Hill in the Middle East. First of all, the fragile June ceasefire between the United States and Iran hit a major roadblock following a heavy new wave of US air strikes on Iran.
The strikes are part of a bombing campaign that President Donald Trump says will continue until Iran stops attacking ships in the straight of Hormuz and agrees to open the waterway. A developing story big time as we wrapped up. We should point out there were strikes kind of going on all around the region.
It was just not working out as everyone expected. And oh, got to also mention all the big Wall Street banks reported earnings. And let's just say there were lots of superlatives when it came to many of the results.
For the latest on that and the ongoing US war in Iran, head over to the Bloomberg and to bloomberg.com.
Also a focus this past week, newish Fed Chair Kevin Worsh making a highly anticipated debut on Capitol Hill. He faced tough questions from lawmakers when it came to inflation, monetary policy, the economic impact of AI, and more. Meanwhile, on Wall Street, chip stocks had quite a week, riding a roller coaster of sharp sell-offs followed by a strong tech rebound, ups and downs. roller coaster, I think, is the right way to describe it.
From the episode’s captions: roughly the first two minutes, lightly cleaned. Keep watching on YouTube →
Topics
- global technology
- business news
- politics
- economics
- markets and finance
Companies and tickers mentioned
- Bloomberg
Watch the episode
Watch “Bloomberg Businessweek Weekend - July 17th, 2026 | Bloomberg Businessweek” on YouTube
Summary, takeaways and quote selection by Octagon. Quotes are short excerpts; the full conversation is in the episode.
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