MoneyMasters Podcast 12/4/25: Torres & Hou Talk AI, Quant Analysis, and 2026 Markets

Markets look calm on the surface, but the forces shaping the environment in 2026 will be anything but subdued.

In this MoneyShow MoneyMasters Podcast episode filmed at our 2025 Sarasota Symposium this week, José Torres of Interactive Brokers and Steve Hou of Bloomberg Index Research break down the real drivers behind inflation, interest rate expectations, consumer behavior, quantitative analysis, and more.

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They also explain what could derail the growth outlook, how stretched consumers are reshaping spending trends, what falling volatility is signaling, and where risk may be hiding in both stocks and fixed income. The conversation also digs into index construction, sector weighting effects, profiting from changes in corporate earnings trends, plus the scenarios that could push the Fed into action sooner than markets expect.

If you want a grounded take on how professional economists and index researchers see 2026 unfolding, this episode will sharpen your framework – and help you navigate the months ahead.

Relevant ETF tickers for this podcast include: (IEF) (QQQ) (TLT) (VXX) and (SPY).