BANK EARNINGS. UKRAINE. ELON MUSK: US banks, fueled by more Fed liquidity, face a crossroads this earnings season. Plus, the global consequences of the brutal war in Ukraine. Elon Musk’s Twitter bid

The US Federal Reserve has still not tightened monetary despite a stream of words to the contrary. From the biggest banks such as JP Morgan and Citi to the smaller players in the sector, this Fed liquidity is playing into their outlook and performance, according to DICK BOVE, chief financial strategist at Odeon Capital Group. “Restructuring bank portfolios is going to be very important based on an understanding that the macro environment has changed dramatically,” he says.

BOVE, who has made numerous broadcast appearances during this earnings seasons, says banks and industry commentators have constantly stressed the benefit for their earnings of rising interest rates. However, this misses the complete reason, BOVE says. "Therefore, when bank stocks did not rise sharply in the recent period of interest rate increases, the question keeps coming back: Why aren't these stocks rising when interest rates are rising," he asks.

In this episode, the Conversation opens up with a look at the shocking war in Ukraine and the potential consequences for the West if there is no satisfactory end to the bloodbath and the loss of human life. Also, the episode examines the $43 billion bid by Elon Musk to buy the social media giant, Twitter. The panel all agree he’s undoubtedly an entrepreneurial genius, the Thomas Edison of our day. And we go deeper.