Financial Times markets columnist Katie Martin and US financial commentator Robert Armstrong hosted a live Ask an Expert Q&A on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 1pm BST. The session focused on identifying the biggest market risks, with readers submitting questions in advance and during the discussion. This event was part of a weekly text-based expert series by the Financial Times.
Key topics highlighted as market risks included concerns surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and rising US borrowing costs. Specifically, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman delayed the company's IPO, citing it as an "ill-advised moment" due to existential risks associated with AI. This concern about an AI-induced "doomsday scenario" has reportedly dampened the outlook for US tech stocks.
Another significant risk discussed was the surge in US borrowing costs, with the 10-year Treasury yield reaching 5.04 percent, its highest level since 2007. The Q&A aimed to explore whether the burgeoning debt markets could potentially undermine the AI boom, indicating a connection between these two seemingly disparate market concerns. Martin and Armstrong regularly debate market trends on the Unhedged podcast, often discussing issues like foreign investor trust in US assets and bond market dynamics.
