The post-pandemic era transformed private credit into one of the hottest areas in finance as investors chased double-digit returns, creating a multi-trillion-dollar industry. Now, the narrative is quickly shifting as default rates climb, high-profile bankruptcies expose hidden leverage, and some major funds suddenly freeze withdrawals. So just how worried should we be, and what about Asian private credit specifically?

Steve Smith, co-founder of Maybole Capital Partners and a finance veteran who has weathered eight credit cycles over his 40-year career, joins John Lee on the Asia Centric podcast. He outlines why he believes Asia is already in the "bust" phase of the credit cycle and explains why the region's bespoke, multi-jurisdictional private credit market is inherently riskier than the highly standardized US market. Smith also discusses his family office's strategic investments, highlighting catastrophe bonds as an alternative fixed-income asset offering highly consistent, uncorrelated returns.

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The war in Iran and high oil prices are driving a surge in demand for China's electric vehicles abroad, with sales in March jumping more than 50% in countries such as Australia, Brazil and Germany. However, the domestic market paints a bleaker picture. Total domestic auto sales slumped 17% in the first quarter amid a brutal price war, subsidy pullbacks and a new 5% EV tax. Adding to the pressure, global giants like Volkswagen are fighting back with new, highly competitive models, leveraging a localized cost base to regain their footing in the world's largest auto market.

Bloomberg Intelligence's Michael Dean, head of global autos research, and Joanna Chen, Asia autos analyst, join John Lee on the Asia Centric podcast fresh from their trip to the Beijing Auto Show. They unpack the sheer scale of the event, which featured 1,400 cars on display, highlighting the intense competition driven by advanced tech and aggressive pricing. The analysts also discuss how foreign automakers are learning toward exporting vehicles using "China speed" and explore the outlook for Europe's ultra-luxury brands such as Ferrari.

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Earnings season is officially underway and Asia's technology giants are setting the early pace. TSMC, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have all delivered strong numbers, prompting analysts to significantly raise earnings expectations for South Korea and Taiwan – two of the world's best-performing stock markets.

These three tech behemoths are now challenging the "Magnificent Seven" as some of the most profitable companies in the world. Yet despite this massive growth, Korean chipmakers are trading at just a fraction of Mag 7 valuations, suggesting investors aren’t fully convinced we’re in a multi-year memory supercycle.

Meanwhile, why is China lagging behind in the broader AI-fueled rally? And are investors becoming too complacent by fading the geopolitical risks of the Iran war? Marvin Chen, Asia equity strategist for Bloomberg Intelligence, joins John Lee on the Asia Centric podcast to make sense of the latest earnings.

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Singapore's stability and business-friendly environment have long made it the regional hub of choice for tech giants such as Amazon, Google and ByteDance. However, the city-state's traditional role as a bridge between East and West is under pressure. Rising protectionism, technological decoupling and a global retreat from free trade now threaten the open flows of capital that built its wealth.

To defend its crown, Singapore is going on the offensive. The government is pouring a fresh S$1 billion into public AI research, expanding critical infrastructure like Changi Airport, and pursuing capital market reform, including a tie-up with the Nasdaq. Will Singapore continue to thrive as a global hub? And will measures aimed at improving liquidity be enough to revive its IPO market? Sarah Jane Mahmud, senior financials analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, joins host John Lee to discuss Singapore's global ambitions.

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Corporate governance reform has acted as a major catalyst for stock markets in Japan and South Korea. Now, Southeast Asia is eager to get in on the action, with countries from Vietnam to Indonesia rolling out new measures to entice foreign capital back to the region. But is Southeast Asia – a market historically saddled with a perception of poor corporate governance – truly ready to embrace shareholder activism?

Christopher Beselin, CIO and founding partner at Endurance Capital, a shareholder activist fund based in Ho Chi Minh City, joins John Lee on the Asia Centric podcast. Beselin unpacks why the region's $3 trillion market is ripe for a collaborative style of activism. He also explains why Vietnam's export-driven growth model makes it a regional standout, and how lower tax regimes give Southeast Asia a unique advantage over Japan and South Korea in realizing shareholder value.

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Taiwan's economy defied all expectations to post a staggering 8.7% real GDP growth in 2025. This unprecedented expansion was driven by a boom in semiconductor sales, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) fueling a current account surplus of nearly 20% of GDP. The tech giant is so dominant that it now accounts for more than 44% of Taiwan's stock exchange weighted index.

But can this extraordinary, semiconductor-led growth continue? The heavy reliance on TSMC is creating a K-shaped recovery, which poses a headache for the central bank. With inflation relatively low despite the headline growth, policymakers face a dilemma: how to manage interest rates without stifling the broader domestic economy, and whether the Taiwan dollar should be allowed to appreciate beyond the tight trading range it’s maintained for 30 years.

Paul Cavey, an independent economist, founder of East Asia Econ, and former Asia macro strategist at Wellington Management, joins host John Lee from Taipei to unpack these macroeconomic challenges. Cavey discusses Taiwan’s unique re-industrialization story, its strategic pivot away from mainland China, and why demographic constraints and labor shortages are finally pushing domestic wages higher.

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The Iran war is refocusing global attention on the critical supply chains that power modern military arsenals. Rare earths are essential components in advanced weaponry, from fighter jets to interceptor missiles such as THAAD and Patriot. However, with Chinese export restrictions increasingly targeting equipment with military end-uses, Western nations are facing a critical shortage of the materials needed to rearm.

How long will it take for countries to counter China's near-monopoly and achieve true supply independence? And beyond the defense sector, what is the long-term growth potential for the industry as demand accelerates for electric vehicles, AI data centers, and advanced humanoid robotics?

Jack Baxter, Global Metals and Mining Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, joins host John Lee on the Asia Centric podcast. Together, they unpack the unprecedented deals reshaping the market and explore how Western miners – including MP Materials and Lynas Rare Earths – are positioned to capitalize on this shift.

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Manufacturing the world's most advanced semiconductors demands a massive, uninterrupted supply of electricity. In Taiwan, the technology sector alone accounts for a staggering one-quarter of the economy's total power consumption. However, the war in the Middle East is exposing deep vulnerabilities for both South Korea and Taiwan, as these vital chipmaking hubs rely heavily on oil, LNG and chemical gases flowing through the region.

If the conflict drags on, exactly how long can strategic energy reserves last in Seoul and Taipei? Could sudden power shortages during the high-demand summer peak season derail the global rollout of AI infrastructure? And what emergency measures can policymakers implement to secure their grids, such as shifting generation mixes or pivoting back to nuclear power?

Bum Ki Son, Barclays’ senior regional economist covering South Korea and Taiwan, and Dave Dai, its head of APAC sustainable investing research, join John Lee on the Asia Centric podcast. They unpack the energy choke points threatening the region's tech dominance and explore the viable alternatives for sourcing power.

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