Confidence in a coming economic recovery is growing thanks to the vaccine rollouts and

the promise to further stimulus.

So why have markets been so jittery?

You're listening to Money Talks on Economist Radio, our weekly podcast on the markets,

the economy and the world of business.

I'm Simon Long and coming up on today's show.

Our poor countries trying to renegotiate their debt burdens are caught in a minefield

of lenders competing priorities and egos.

Basically everyone is sitting at the table looking over their shoulders and asking if

someone else getting a better deal than I am.

And we take a lesson from a former hostage negotiator in the secrets of successful listening.

You need to understand what their motives are, you've got to understand facts.

You only ever do that by listening to them, you'll never do that by talking about them.

But first the markets.

Last week inflation fears led to a sharp sell-off in American Treasury bonds with the stock

market following suit.

This week the stock market got off to a remarkably breezy start with the S&P 500 index on

March the 1st, recording its biggest one-day gain since June 2020.

And by this morning, March the 2nd, the mood was already more cautious, nervousness lingers.

It was pretty volatile last week in the bond market, the week is still fairly young, of

course, Simon.

John O'Sullivan is the economist, markets columnist, also known as Buttonwood.

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