Trending Content - Investment Banking Forum
Career Resources
WSO Free Modeling Series - Now Open Through
July 31, 2026
9 Free Financial Modeling Lessons
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
High Finance Applications
Guaranteed
Get at least one offer GUARANTEED
- 1:1 support
- 92% success rate
- 2,000+ mentor network
- Unlimited Live bootcamps
- AI for resume + LinkedIn
- Networking automation tools
- HireVue simulation tool
- Full course library
- Private Slack community
- 20hrs of mocks
- + much more...
There is no one right way to approach it. Its just important to have a view on the market and being able to back it up.
You could start macro and then narrow down to something like the coronavirus, or simply start with that and expand on how that is affecting the overall markets.
They just want to know how you think and if you actually have a sense of what’s going on right now.
With the markets you can talk about any number of things. You can talk about rates (which can easily get technical fast), equities (pick one or talk macro or global), FX, commodities (wouldn’t advise unless you know), derivs on any of the above, bonds and loans (TLA/TLB), etc
I would just pick a few equities or a sub sector and talk about macro and micro considerations
Who's asking? Like with so many other things it depends on the other person and his/her mood etc, all of which is tough to gauge and impossible to control.
This is a potential trap question because there is no real right or wrong answer. Some people will want to hear "it fluctuates, if it didn't, you wouldn't have a job and I wouldn't be trying to get this job" others will want a deep dive, others will want general bs commentary.
The discussions that have been most productive for me personally, have started out with something like the above re, fluctuation etc and a laugh. And then looking at the other person's card to see what market he/she is in and saying "I see you are in rates" and having a general discussion about that, say yields, the fed, maybe correlation to equity markets and other asset classes (in short, rates low, hy spreads low, companies levering up, PE dry powder, equity markets at all time highs, central bank puts) but keeping it general since the other person probably knows a lot more than I do about the topic...
And then I ask: what do you see and think, since you work in the area? People usually love talking about themselves and their work so just let he/she run with it and smile/nod. Sometimes it backfires because they don't really respond.
In other words your mileage may vary but the above is generally my approach. Keep it lighter, casual but make it known you do your reading/research and are aware but are also hungry and want to hear what the pros think.
Good Luck
I should have probably said IB interviews. What are investment bankers looking to hear when they ask this question ?
Bump
What should we bring up if it's for an IBD interview not S&T?
Quia nihil repellat sit et voluptatem sequi. Laudantium aspernatur omnis quis ea dolor expedita. Deserunt sequi voluptatem omnis explicabo vero voluptas. Dolores voluptas dicta laborum porro eos velit.
Dolorem nisi iusto et recusandae et atque repellendus. Velit expedita incidunt necessitatibus voluptas. Ratione quasi quisquam nobis architecto vero ut voluptas dolor. Sapiente minima et repellat quas. Doloribus aperiam provident voluptas impedit.
Omnis aut sed libero voluptas. Occaecati itaque perferendis animi quo sit. Dolore qui iusto provident ut fuga. Praesentium ut sit possimus ratione.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...