The Bid

An international bank just declared decentralized finance a “decentralized illusion” but the industry continues to gain steam. Greg Schvey, CEO of Axoni, and Robbie Mitchnick, Head of DLT & Digital Assets at BlackRock discuss how blockchain is changing investing, why tokenization is increasing efficiency, and how NFTs fit into the larger blockchain picture.BLACKROCK DISCLOSUREThis material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sources deemed by BlackRock to be reliable and are not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness. This material may contain ’forward looking’ information that is not purely historical i

For more than a decade, BlackRock’s Chairman and CEO, Larry Fink, has written letters to CEOs of public companies around the world on behalf of our clients. In those letters, he has highlighted major issues that can affect corporate performance and investment returns including the importance of capital management, long-term strategy, corporate purpose, and navigating the impact of climate change. In this episode, Larry talks about this year’s letter and how the pandemic has turbocharged an evolution in the operating environment for virtually every company, how capitalism is changing, and what it all means for CEOs.1 BlackRock AUM as of December 31, 2021This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The in

As of 2020, more than 56% of the world's population lives in urban areas and that number is expected to soar. In part two of our tech mini-series, Brooks Rainwater, Director of National League of Cities Center for City Solutions and Jane DiGiacomo, Managing Director with BlackRock's Global Real Assets business explore how technology is improving the quality of life for a city’s most important asset - its people.This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sources deemed by BlackRock to be reliable and are not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness. This material may contain ’forward looking’ information

5G infrastructure is on the rise, boosting connection speeds and slashing lag times. In part one of our tech mini-series, Jeff McElfresh, CEO of AT&T Communications, discusses the benefits of 5G, how edge computing will drive innovation and why fiber may be the key to bringing new tech to the masses.This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sources deemed by BlackRock to be reliable and are not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness. This material may contain ’forward looking’ information that is not purely historical in nature. There is no guarantee that any forecasts made will come to

The much-anticipated climate summit in Glasgow is now over. Did two weeks of debates and negotiations among governments end in an agreement on how the world will address the most pressing climate issues?Paul Bodnar, BlackRock's Global Head of Sustainable Investing, is back from Glasgow and joins the Bid to break down the big takeaways from COP26, how this summit was different than the first 25 meetings and the necessary work ahead to decarbonize the complexities of the global economy.This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sources deemed by BlackRock to be reliable and are not guaranteed as to accurac

What do we do with the power plants, internal combustion engines and fossil fuels that power so much of our economy today? How do we retire the carbon economy and create green jobs for affected workers? How do we build a greener economy?On the last episode of a four-part mini-series on sustainability, Paul Bodnar, BlackRock’s new Global Head of Sustainable Investing, shares our outlook on sustainability. He discusses how we get to a net zero carbon economy and the dramatic changes that we’ll need to get there, how a company’s focus on social issues like diversity and inclusion can impact performance, and the big questions at the center of the sustainability conversation.This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to c

There are just 5 Black CEOs in the Fortune 500. And women of color hold less than 5% of board seats. How can companies increase representation and create leaders at all levels of an organization?On the third episode of a four-part mini-series on sustainability, Carla Harris discusses why diversity, equity and inclusion matters more than ever for companies and their workforces. Carla is a Vice Chairman of Wealth Management and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley, an author, a podcast host and a gospel recording artist.Carla talks about how to find your calling, how Millennials and Gen Z are changing the workforce, and the untapped opportunity in investing in and hiring diverse talent across gender and communities of color.1.    NPR (2021).2.    Deloitte and the Alliance for Board Diversity, Missing Pieces Report: The 2018 Board Diversity Census of Women and Minorities on Fortune 500 Boards (2019).This material is for informational purposes and is

How do companies build corporate culture when most of the workforce is still working from home? Connecting through the screen has become more important than ever – especially as we start to return to the office.On the second episode of a four-part mini-series on sustainability, Erica Dhawan, Author and Keynote Speaker, discusses how employees and the companies they work for can build camaraderie and compassion in a virtual environment. Then, Eric Van Nostrand, BlackRock’s Head of Research for Sustainable Investments, shares how we can translate corporate culture into investment insights.This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from

The clock is ticking when it comes to climate change. And while innovations like solar power and wind have been around for some time, new technologies are emerging – around energy, agriculture, fashion and more – to help the transition to a lower-carbon economy.On the first episode of a four-part mini-series on sustainability, Steve Howard, Chief Sustainability Officer at Temasek, talks about innovation in the fight against climate change. He discusses emerging areas from electric and autonomous vehicles to spider silk; how we can ensure the energy transition is a just transition; and BlackRock and Temasek’s partnership towards a lower-carbon future.This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The informatio

Cyberattacks increased 400% during the Covid-19 pandemic. More people have moved into New York city than out of it in the past year. And both India and China will reach a population of 1.5 billion in the next five years.We’ve learned a lot about megatrends over the course of our five-episode mini-series. And today, we’re wrapping it up with Jeff Spiegel, U.S. Head of Megatrends and International ETFs. We’ll fill in what we missed during the mini-series, talk about today’s most exciting innovations, and share how investors should think about investing in megatrends.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The way we’re hitting the road is changing. Sales of electric vehicles hit a record high in 2020. And right now, there are about 1,400 self-driving cars in the US with over 80 companies testing their potential.On the fourth episode of a five-part mini-series on megatrends, Will Araujo, Director of Autonomous Vehicle Development at Cruise, talks about the transformation of autonomous and electric vehicles over the past decade, how cities and technology have shifted as a result, and how long he believes it will be until we all have our hands off the wheel.  This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from proprietary and nonproprietary s

The middle class is growing around the world, and it’s particularly growing in China. If China continues to grow at the pace predicted, its economy could be bigger than the U.S. by the late 2020s. So, what's behind China's massive growth?On the third episode of a five-part mini-series on megatrends, Molly Rosenman, China Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Country Head, shares the story behind China’s growth over the past few decades. We discuss how China's economy has continued to grow through the COVID-19 pandemic, the ways its wealth has translated to its people and global businesses, and both the risks and opportunities of investing in China. This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The informati

After yet another year of record temperatures and extreme weather events, there’s more and more discussion about how we can fight climate change and get to a net zero future – an economy that emits no more carbon dioxide than it removes from the atmosphere by 2050. But what does this transition look like in practice?On the second episode of a five-part mini-series on megatrends, Chris Ailman, Chief Investment Officer of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, and Salim Ramji, Global Head of iShares and Index Investments for BlackRock, share their perspective. They discuss why divesting is not enough to achieve net zero, what companies need to do to shift their business models, and why the low-carbon transition presents a potential investment opportunity.This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any

The Covid-19 pandemic has put genomics and immunology front and center. On the first episode of a five-part mini-series on megatrends, CEO of Moderna Stéphane Bancel and CEO of CRISPR Therapeutics Dr. Samarth Kulkarni share their perspectives as companies on the frontlines.First, Stéphane shares how Moderna innovated to produce a Covid-19 vaccine in record time and the potential of mRNA technology. Then, Samarth discusses how the medical breakthroughs of CRISPR technology will impact other medical crises like cancer and sickle cell disease in years to come.This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sourc

Climate change is reshaping the global economy. And we believe it’s not just an investment risk – it’s an investment opportunity. But most ignore the effect of climate change in their economic projections. We think that’s wrong.On the last episode of a five-part mini-series on our global outlook, Vivek Paul, Senior Investment Strategist for the BlackRock Investment Institute, shares his outlook for sustainability this year. He details BlackRock’s new climate-aware return assumptions, including the dramatic effects on economic growth and sectoral performance, and explains why the sustainability wave is just getting started.This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The information and opinions containe

We expect a restart of the global economy and more action by policymakers to cushion the virus shock – but the impact on the markets will likely look very different.On the fourth episode of a five-part mini-series on our global outlook, Jean Boivin, Head of the BlackRock Investment Institute, explores what’s next for Covid-19 and policy. He discusses how a resurgence in Covid-19 cases will affect the restart of the global economy, what action we expect from policymakers this year and how everything hinges on the low-rate environment.This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sources deemed by BlackR

The Covid-19 crisis continues to profoundly shape our geopolitical environment. It has heightened U.S.-China tensions, accelerated inequality and caused companies to revamp their supply chains. With a new administration in the White House, what changes can we expect to the geopolitical landscape this year?On the third episode of a five-part mini-series on our global outlook, Tom Donilon, Chairman of the BlackRock Investment Institute and former U.S. National Security Advisor, shares his outlook for the year ahead. He talks about how Covid-19 and a new administration will impact the U.S.-China relationship, technology, climate change and other pressing geopolitical issues.This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to

After a year of dramatic volatility, the U.S. stock market ended 2020 at record highs – and this year already has had a strong start. Can the momentum continue?On the second episode of a five-part mini-series on our global outlook, Tony DeSpirito, Chief Investment Officer for U.S. Fundamental Equities, shares why he’s bullish on the stock market this year. He talks about what vaccine news means for markets, which sectors he sees catching up and where he’s looking for investment opportunities.This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sources deemed by BlackRock to be reliable and are not guaranteed as to

Thirty-two years ago, BlackRock’s Chairman and CEO, Larry Fink, rallied seven other people to found a small bond firm. Since then, BlackRock has grown into a global asset manager. Following the Global Financial Crisis, Larry began an annual tradition of writing a letter to CEOs on behalf of our clients – the institutions and individuals who invest in these companies to achieve their financial goals.On this special episode of The Bid, Larry talks about how the events of 2020 shaped his thinking in developing this year’s letter, why “net zero” will reshape the economy and why companies driven by purpose will thrive moving forward.This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The information and opinions contain

An eventful 2020 changed our perspective on how to invest in 2021. We’ve entered a new investment order – one that calls for a rethink of portfolios.On the first episode of a five part mini-series on our global outlook, Scott Thiel, Chief Fixed Income Officer, shares the three themes we see driving markets this year. He talks about why investors should take risk in 2021, how Covid-19 has added fuel to trends like e-commerce and sustainability, and how to invest in a more divided world. This material is for informational purposes and is prepared by BlackRock, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sources deemed by BlackRock to be reliable and are not guaranteed as to