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Podcast Episode

SpaceX’s 40% Rally Explained | Inside Apollo’s £5.7bn EasyJet Deal

Market Maker··22 August 2026·46 min

About this episode

SpaceX shares have surged nearly 40% from their recent lows, despite fears that its unusual staggered lock-up structure would unleash a wave of selling. So what actually happened? Anthony Cheung and Stephen Barnett break down how IPO lock-ups work, why SpaceX’s tiny public float matters and how retail buying, index funds and a potential short squeeze helped drive the rebound. We also return to EasyJet following Apollo’s £5.7 billion takeover, unpacking the private equity financing behind the deal, before looking at Cambridge Aerospace — the two-year-old UK defence technology company now valued at more than $3 billion. A packed episode covering IPOs, private equity, debt financing, defence technology and some of the biggest stories moving markets. (00:00) What’s Coming Up(04:21) Why SpaceX Stock Surged(05:27) Staggered Lock-Ups Explained(12:36) Why Investors Bought the Dip(15:45) The SpaceX Short Squeeze(17:24) The Elon factor(21:10) The Success of Staggered Lock-Ups(23:12) Can SpaceX Justify Its Valuation?(24:55) Apollo’s £5.7bn EasyJet Deal(29:21) How Private Equity Funds a Takeover(36:37) Apollo’s Plan for EasyJet(40:00) The UK’s $3bn Defence Startup(44:53) Coming Next: Boeing Deep Dive