The Open Bell

Alex Monroe

The Open Bell is an independent financial news show — a daily podcast and newsletter for people who are affected by markets, policy, and the economy.Every episode follows the same process: research, a written script, a quality check, and a final review — every morning, before anything goes out. Alex is the on-air voice of that process. The tools behind the research and scripting are AI; the editorial judgment and the responsibility for what airs are ours.We tell you this because trust is the actual product here, not an afterthought — and a daily show only earns it by being straightforward about how it's made. The standard doesn't change because the tools did.New episodes Monday to Saturday. Not investment advice — for informational purposes only.

  1. 3d ago

    The Open Bell — Ep. 053 — 3 Sept 2026

    Today on The Open Bell: US forces have struck Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is hitting back, and Brent crude is up more than 5% in a single session to nearly $95 a barrel, because roughly one in every five barrels of oil on earth flows through that waterway and someone just turned it into a conflict zone. That oil shock is already showing up in European inflation, which jumped to 3.3% in August, well above the European Central Bank's 2% target, and almost entirely on the back of energy costs, so the ECB is now almost certain to raise interest rates again this month, which means European mortgages, business loans, and credit card rates are all going up. And in the US, the 10-year Treasury yield, the benchmark that quietly sets the floor for mortgage rates, car loans, and corporate borrowing across the entire economy, hit 4.82% yesterday, its highest since late 2023, because oil-driven inflation plus a wave of AI company debt issuance plus rising odds of another Fed rate hike is a combination the bond market is not feeling great about. If this helped you connect the dots today, a five-star rating takes about ten seconds and helps the next listener find the show. Hosted by Alex Monroe. New episodes every weekday morning at theopenbell.co Not investment advice. For informational purposes only. --- Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:13 US-Iran strikes escalate; Brent surges to $94.86 near 6-week 02:51 Eurozone CPI surges to 3.3% in August; ECB September hike ne 05:30 US 10-yr yield hits 4.82%, highest since Nov 2023, as Fed hi 07:31 Closing thoughtsSupport the show

    The Open Bell — Ep. 053 — 3 Sept 2026
  2. Aug 26

    The Open Bell — Ep. 047 — 26 Aug 2026

    Today on The Open Bell: Nvidia just reported $93 billion in a single quarter, roughly 95% more than a year ago, and then told investors to expect even more, which raises a genuine question: at what point does "AI demand" stop being a growth story and start being a test of whether anything in the economy can actually absorb this much money moving in one direction. Oil slipped below $85 a barrel after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signalled real progress on easing sanctions against Iran, and if that deal closes and 700,000 extra barrels a day hit the market, you'll feel it at the petrol pump before the month is out. Australia's inflation rate just dropped to 3.5%, the lowest in eighteen months, and mortgage holders across the country are now watching the Reserve Bank of Australia very closely ahead of its September meeting, because that number is close enough to the target that a rate cut is no longer just a hope. If today's episode was worth your commute, a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps the next listener find us. Hosted by Alex Monroe. New episodes every weekday morning at theopenbell.co Not investment advice. For informational purposes only. --- Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:13 Nvidia Q2 Revenue Surges ~95% YoY; AI Chip Demand Sets New R 03:01 Oil Slides Below $85 as US-Iran Sanctions Deal Signals Progr 05:34 Australia July CPI Slows to 3.5%, Lifting RBA Rate-Cut Hopes 07:37 Closing thoughtsSupport the show

    The Open Bell — Ep. 047 — 26 Aug 2026

About

The Open Bell is an independent financial news show — a daily podcast and newsletter for people who are affected by markets, policy, and the economy.Every episode follows the same process: research, a written script, a quality check, and a final review — every morning, before anything goes out. Alex is the on-air voice of that process. The tools behind the research and scripting are AI; the editorial judgment and the responsibility for what airs are ours.We tell you this because trust is the actual product here, not an afterthought — and a daily show only earns it by being straightforward about how it's made. The standard doesn't change because the tools did.New episodes Monday to Saturday. Not investment advice — for informational purposes only.