Jeremy Siegel, Wharton Emeritus Professor of Finance and Chief Economist at WisdomTree, examines the market rally fueled by AI stocks, the economic impact of rising oil prices and tensions with Iran, the outlook for Federal Reserve policy under Kevin Warsh, and the mixed legacy of Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI Stocks, Oil Prices, and the Fed’s Next Move

This Week in Business

# Full Transcript

**Podcast:** This Week in Business

## Participants

- **Dan Loney** (Wharton School)
- **Jeremy Siegel** (Wharton School)
- **Jeremy Siegel** (Wharton School)

## Transcript

Welcome to This Week in Business, a Wharton School podcast delivering the latest business trends and insights. Join us every Wednesday and Friday for fresh perspectives from Wharton's world-class expert faculty. Whether you're an executive, entrepreneur, or business enthusiast, this podcast keeps you informed and inspired. Let's dive in.

And hi, everybody, and welcome to the show. I'm Dan Loney. In just a moment, we'll have our monthly conversation with Wharton Emeritus Professor Jeremy Siegel to get his thoughts on the latest path of the markets and as well, the change at the top of the Federal Reserve with Kevin Warsh taking over for Jerome Powell. That coming up in just a moment, but first a look at today's business headlines.

Maybe a ray of sunshine with inflation data this week. Monthly price increases in the PCE Index were slightly lower than expected. Meanwhile, year-over-year price increases were as predicted, with the headline rate up 3.8 percent and the core, which strips out food and energy, up 3.3 percent. Caesars Entertainment is set to be acquired by Fertitta Entertainment in a $17.6 billion all-cash deal.

Caesars Debt accounts for $11.9 billion of that tie-up. The two companies will combine to bring together 60 casino, resort, and gaming facilities and more than 600 Fertitta locations, including amusement, entertainment, and aquarium assets. And a new report from Fidelity Investments shows that more people are tapping their retirement accounts due to various financial pressures.

Earlier this year, the average 401k balance fell 4 percent to $141,000. The average individual retirement account balance was also down 4 percent to $131,000. The reason was the outbreak of the Iran War and the immediate stock sell-off. And always great to have a chance to speak with Jeremy Siegel, Wharton Emeritus Professor in Finance and also is Chief Economist at WisdomTree. Jeremy, great to have you back with us. Thanks for a couple of moments.

Thank you very much, Dan. You know, it's interesting. Since the last time we talked to you, we have seen the markets rise. The Dow has gone above 50,000. The conflict in Iran has continued and inflation is heating up. How do you view all that is going on at the moment? Yeah. It's a little confusing in many ways. I think there's two things.

The biggest question is how can the stock market keep on rising to all-time highs given what's going on with oil and everything out there? Well, I think as we mentioned a month ago, thank goodness we are so much less dependent on oil than we used to be. Natural gas is our biggest source of electricity and energy, and that has not gone up in price. And we are exporters of oil.

Yes, on the pump, we do have that problem, but it is not overwhelming. That having been said, you know, w...

AI Stocks, Oil Prices, and the Fed’s Next Move

Transcript

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AI Stocks, Oil Prices, and the Fed’s Next Move

Transcript

Built for investment professionals

Every day you wait, your competitors are findingedge in conversations you're not hearing.

Every day you wait, your competitors are finding
edge in conversations you're not hearing.