Tackling AI as Fed Fumbles

Show from 2026-07-31 Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel discuss the Fed’s decision to hold rates steady and what the Prof viewed as a poorly handled press conference that failed to clearly explain a defensible policy decision. The Prof also covers the sharp rotation from growth to value, strong consumer spending beneath the GDP report, rapid money supply growth and the importance of oil prices to inflation, sentiment and the market outlook. (13:50) Jeremy continues with Sam Rines, Blake Hyman and Michael Fridman to break down the month’s volatility in AI-related stocks, including hedge fund de-risking, leverage unwinds and the impact of risk management on semiconductor and memory names. The group reviews earnings and AI spending from Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Apple, debating whether hyperscaler capital expenditures are generating sustainable returns and whether enterprise demand confirms that AI is moving from experimentation into commercialization. They also discuss the outlook for memory companies, long-term supply agreements and why the broader AI infrastructure buildout may still be in its third or fourth inning. The conversation closes with Apple’s uncertain AI strategy, potential opportunities for private local models, movements in the Japanese yen, the Bank of Japan’s policy stance, tariff refunds for U.S. companies and the possibility that volatility and further leverage-related selling could continue into August. WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments